Fine mapping of chromosome 3q22.3 identifies two haplotype blocks in ESYT3 associated with coronary artery disease in female Han Chinese

ObjectiveGenome-wide association study recently identified the chromosome 3q22.3 as a novel locus associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study was designed to identify the critical haplotype blocks within this region in Han Chinese populations.MethodsWe selected 1920 CAD patients and healthy participants from Han Chinese and genotyped 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning 150 kilobases (kb) chromosomal region flanking rs9818870, a SNP associated with CAD at 3q22.3 in Caucasian.ResultsSeven SNPs were found to be strongly associated with CAD in females and clustered in two haplotype blocks of ESYT3 gene. This was validated in two geographically isolated case-control populations. The two blocks were 14 and 25 kb long, respectively. In a combined haplotype analysis, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval, permuted P value) were 0.70 (0.58-0.83, 2 × 10−5) and 1.44 (1.20-1.72, 5 × 10−5) for haplotypes TTG and CCA in block 1 as well as 0.73 (0.61-0.87, 3 × 10−4) and 1.35 (1.13-1.62, 0.0013) for haplotypes TCG and CTT in block 2, respectively. ESYT3 was expressed in human lymphocyte, vascular endothelial cell, and smooth muscle cell. The risk factors including gender, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia exhibited strong effects on the genetic contribution to CAD.ConclusionWe identified two haplotype blocks of ESYT3 gene in 3q22.3 region that likely harbor functional variants, which cooperate with other risk factors and play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease in females.

► We fine mapped 150-kilobase chromosomal region flanking rs9818870 at 3q22.3 and identified two haplotype blocks of ESYT3 gene that are associated with the increased susceptibility of coronary artery disease in female Han Chinese.