Association of lymphotoxin‐alpha gene polymorphisms (rs909253, rs1800683 and rs2229094) and risk of large‐artery atherosclerosis stroke in Iranian population

Abstract

Background: Lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA), a proinflammatory cytokine, is significantly associated with the progression of atherosclerosis as an independent hazard factor for stroke. According to new genetic studies, polymorphisms in the LTA gene that influence its expression or biological function may play a role in the progress of stroke; thus, the present case-control study investigated LTA gene polymorphisms (rs909253, rs1800683 and rs2229094) and the risk of large artery atherosclerosis stroke (LAA) in an Iranian population. Methods: For 211 large artery atherosclerosis patients and 186 ischemic strokefree controls, genotypes were determined using the tetra-primer amplificationrefractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction method. Linkage disequilibrium and estimated haplotypes were analyzed using SNP Analyzer 2 software. The strength of the link between LTA gene polymorphisms (rs1800683, rs909253, and rs2229094) and the risk of stroke was determined using conditional logistic regression. Results: Analysis revealed that the patterns of the rs1800683, rs909253 and rs2229094 genotypes showed no significant difference between the LAA and control group, although the distribution of the GAT (rs1800683G, rs909253A and rs2229094T) haplotype was significantly higher in the control group (odds ratio = 0.707, 95% confidence interval = 0.53-0.942, p = 0.0355). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the GAT haplotype in LTA gene is associated with a decreased risk of LAA incidence in a northeastern Iranian population.