Association of the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the eNOS Gene with ischemic heart disease in Japanese diabetic subjects

We analysed the association of the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and albuminuria in 337 Japanese diabetes patients. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of Glu298Asp of the eNOS gene was performed by amplification of genomic DNA isolated from whole blood followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme BanII. Individuals with IHD were identified by review of medical records and were identified based on apparent ischemic change of electrocardiography, significant stenosis of coronary artery, or a history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, or catheter intervention. Albuminuria was confirmed by a positive test on at least two separate examinations. Of the 337 subjects analysed for polymorphisms of the eNOS gene, 45 with the GluAsp and five with the AspAsp genotype were combined into 1 group (GluAsp or AspAsp group). Among these 50 subjects, 16 (32%) had IHD, and among 287 subjects with the GluGlu genotype, 38 (13.2%) had IHD. The number of subjects with IHD was significantly greater in the GluAsp or AspAsp group than in the GluGlu group (P = 0.0006). There was no difference in the frequency of albuminuria among the genotypes. The GluAsp or AspAsp genotype of the Glu298Asp polymorphism was significantly associated with IHD, but not albuminuria in these Japanese diabetic subjects.