Clinical factors such as B-type natriuretic peptide link to factor VII, endothelial NO synthase and estrogen receptor α polymorphism in elderly women

AimsThis study evaluated the presence of genetic mutations in relation to thrombosis or atherosclerosis in elderly women.Main methodsThis is an observational study of 93 Japanese women with a mean age of 80.9 years recruited from outpatient clinics of Nagoya University and its related hospitals. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were studied. Each gene studied acts in or is related to either blood coagulation (factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, factor XIII Val34Leu, factor VII Arg353Gln, MTHFR C677T, β-fibrinogen G-455A, PAI-1 4G/5G), metabolic syndrome-related pathways (PPARα Leu162Val), or endothelium/estrogen system (eNOS Glu298Asp, ERα IVS1-401). SNPs were analyzed for their relation to clinical values including lipids, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), fasting plasma glucose, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, cyclic GMP, and nitric oxide metabolites.Key findingsComparisons between the distributions of different genotypes and clinical values showed three relationships. First, factor VII Arg353Gln and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were linked to Arg/Arg carriers at higher levels (P = .049). The HDL-C to LDL-cholesterol ratio supported this link (P = .027). Second, eNOS Glu298Asp and triglycerides were linked to Glu/Glu carriers at higher levels (P = .031). Third, ERα IVS1-401 and BNP were related to CC genotype at lower levels (P = .031). Additionally, the last two relations showed that genotype does not influence the demarcation line of biomarkers, but the plasma/serum levels of biomarkers instead.SignificanceCorrelations of factor VII Arg353Gln with HDL-C and eNOS Glu298Asp with triglycerides are new findings. Polymorphisms in the endothelium/estrogen system and the heart failure marker BNP are also correlated, with ERα IVS1-401 being the first identified marker. SNPs may be helpful for understanding the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic diseases in elderly women.