Genetic Variation and Atherosclerosis

Abstract

A family history of atherosclerosis is independently associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events. The genetic factors underlying the importance of inheritance in atherosclerosis are starting to be understood. Genetic variation, such as mutations or common polymorphisms has been shown to be involved in modulation of a range of risk factors, such as plasma lipoprotein levels, inflammation and vascular calcification. This review presents examples of present studies of the role of genetic polymorphism in atherosclerosis.

Vascular Genetic Variants and Ischemic Stroke Susceptibility in Albanians from the Republic of Macedonia

“…Arteriosclerosis of the large vessels is the cause of cerebral infarction in almost half of all ischemic events [10]. Arteriosclerosis involves numerous genes and some pathways thought to be involved in the development and rupture of atherosclerotic lesions [11]. …”

An Application of Logistic Regression and Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction Analyses for Detecting Genotype-Phenotype Interactions Associated with Developing of Atherosclerosis in Bulgarian Cohort

“…The velocity of progression depends on many factors, such as gender, genetics and some well recognized risk factors-obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, ageing and etc. (8). The development of advanced atherosclerosis is a slow progressive process that starts in childhood and remains asymptomatic for many decades, with complications such as myocardial infarction, stroke or peripheral ischemia usually occurring in later life (9).…”

“…The development of advanced atherosclerosis is a slow progressive process that starts in childhood and remains asymptomatic for many decades, with complications such as myocardial infarction, stroke or peripheral ischemia usually occurring in later life (9). However, different epidemiological studies suggest that a positive family history together with major genetic determinants of traditional cardiovascular risk factors could be associated with the incidence of cardiovascular events -unstable angina pectoris and/or myocardial infarction (8). It is likely that a large number of additional genetic factors could interact with environmental factors to determine overall cardiovascular risk progression.…”

“…PON1 gene polymorphisms have been associated with various human diseases, including coronary heart disease (35), but other investigation did not indicate effects of PON1 55 Leu/Met polymorphism (rs854560), either alone or in combination with the Q192R polymorphism, on CVD risk (5). Further evidence of a link between lipid metabolism, inflammation, and atherosclerosis comes from different studies correlating inflammatory markers with atherosclerosis (8).…”

Strategy for clinical evaluation and screening of sudden cardiac death relatives

“…Thus, CMP and AS are usually inherited in a Mendelian fashion; CAD is considered a complex disease, where gene-gene interactions in combination with environmental factors lead to the phenotype. However, premature CAD was also found to be associated with monogenic inheritance, like in familial hypercholesterolemia [23]. For the purpose of this review, the diseases will be categorized as either autopsy positive (CMP and CAD) or autopsy negative (AS).…”