Research Article Polymorphisms of the genes <i>eNOS</i>, <i>GSTT1</i> and <i>GSTM1</i> are significantly associated with atherosclerotic disease in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in response to endothelial aggression. Systemic arterial hypertension is the main risk factor for the formation of atheromas, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Several genes are involved in atherogenesis and hypertension. We analyzed polymorphisms of candidate genes that potentially participate in processes related to this pathology, including G894T and T786C of eNOS, as well as GSTT1 and GSTM1 in 167 hypertensive patients and 100 controls. Blood samples were from patients attended at the Angiogenesis/Vascular Surgery and Cardiology Department of the Angiogyn clinic in Goiania. There was significant prevalence of the genotype GT (76%) and the mutant allele T (56%) of the T786C (eNOS) polymorphism in the patients. For the polymorphism T786C (eNOS), the heterozygote genotype (TC) was found in 58% of the samples; allele C was found in 61%, but there was no significant difference compared to controls. The ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 18 (1): gmr18089 M.P. Moraes et al. 2 GSTT1 genotype was found in 84% and GSTM1 was found in 73%; for both their predominance was significant. There are many possible explanations for how these polymorphisms affect the development of atherosclerosis and hypertension, but more studies are necessary for their elucidation.