Kauma H, Päivänsalo M, Savolainen M J, Rantala A O, Kiema T R, Lilja M, Reunanen A, Kesäniemi Y A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
J Hypertens. 1996 Oct;14(10):1183-7. doi: 10.1097/00004872-199610000-00005.
Variations in the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene have been implicated in cardiovascular pathology. Therefore, the association between the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery and the insertion/ deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene was investigated.
Three hundred men and 300 women were selected randomly from the middle-aged population living in the town Oulu, Finland, of whom 515 subjects (85.8%) participated.
The IMT of the carotid arteries was determined by bilateral B-mode ultrasonography. IMT values were adjusted for gender, age, height, plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, smoking and systolic blood pressure. The I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction.
Among non-smokers, the subjects with the DD genotype had significantly higher carotid IMT than did those with II or ID. The association was found also in combined IMT plaque values. In the total population the association was weaker and it was absent in current smokers. Genotype could explain 1.3-2.7% of the variance of carotid IMT in non-smokers. No association between the amount or size of carotid plaques and genotype was observed.
Variations at the ACE gene locus contribute to the degree of the early changes in carotid atherosclerosis in the population. The gene effect is, however, masked by stronger effects of environmental factors such as smoking. The lack of association between atherosclerotic plaques and genotypes may reflect different mechanisms being involved in plaque development and early arterial wall thickening.
血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）基因变异与心血管病理状况有关。因此，研究了颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）与ACE基因插入/缺失（I/D）多态性之间的关联。
从芬兰奥卢镇的中年人群中随机选取300名男性和300名女性，其中515名受试者（85.8%）参与研究。
通过双侧B型超声测定颈动脉的IMT。IMT值根据性别、年龄、身高、血浆低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平、吸烟情况和收缩压进行校正。采用聚合酶链反应测定ACE基因的I/D多态性。
在不吸烟者中，DD基因型受试者的颈动脉IMT显著高于II或ID基因型受试者。在合并的IMT斑块值中也发现了这种关联。在总体人群中，这种关联较弱，而在当前吸烟者中则不存在。基因型可解释不吸烟者颈动脉IMT变异的1.3% - 2.7%。未观察到颈动脉斑块数量或大小与基因型之间的关联。
ACE基因位点的变异对人群中颈动脉粥样硬化早期变化的程度有影响。然而，基因效应被吸烟等环境因素的更强效应所掩盖。动脉粥样硬化斑块与基因型之间缺乏关联可能反映了斑块形成和早期动脉壁增厚涉及不同的机制。
