Synergistic effect of ACE and AGT genes in coronary artery disease

Polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system genes influence the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and are connected with heart diseases. We explore the potential associations of ACE (I/D) and AGT (M235T) gene polymorphisms with coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of one hundred and twenty Egyptian patients (Sixty with CAD and sixty without CAD) and fifty healthy control subjects were included in the study. Genotyping of ACE (I/D) and AGT (M235T) were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C) were measured by the enzymatic colorimetric method. Our data showed that the ACE D allele frequency (P < 0.0001; odds ratio [OR] = 2.538, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.468-4.388), DD genotype (P < 0.0001, OR = 0.239, 95% CI = 0.066-0.866), the frequency of AGT T allele (P < 0.0001, OR = 2.915, 95% CI = 1.666-5.097) and TT genotype (P < 0001, OR = 0.316, 95% CI = 0.078-1.280) were significantly more prevalent among CAD patients and may be predisposing to CAD. We further found that the concomitant presence of the ACE-DD and AGT-TT genotypes increased the risk of CAD (P = 0.017, OR = 0.120, 95% CI = 0.042-0.347). This study demonstrated the contribution of ACE (I/D) and AGT (M235T) gene polymorphisms individually or in combination to the presence of CAD risk in the Egyptian population. The ACE D allele and AGT T allele may be predictive in individuals at risk of developing CAD.