Polymorphisms in NAT2 Gene and Atherosclerosis in an Algerian Population

Background and AimsThe etiology of atherosclerosis is multifactorial. Genetic and environmental factors are involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is an important metabolizing enzyme that exhibits genetic polymorphisms and modifies individual response and/or toxicity to many xenobiotics. We undertook this study to investigate the NAT2 polymorphisms in patients with atherosclerosis.MethodsGenotyping for NAT2 alleles was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 285 Algerian patients with atherosclerosis and 286 controls.ResultsThere was no association between NAT2 polymorphisms and atherosclerosis risk. However, the haplotype NAT2∗5F decreased susceptibility to the disease (p = 0.005, OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.37–0.84). The frequency of the slow acetylator phenotype was ∼50% in both cases and controls.ConclusionsThese results suggest that NAT2 polymorphisms may not be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.