RESUMEN
Objective To assess the association of polymorphism at rs12645561 locus of Nei endonuclease Ⅷ-like 3 ( NEIL3) gene with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in Han population of Hubei and Henan regions in central China. Methods In 947 cases undergoing coronary angiography, the severity of coronary atherosclerosis was calculated by lesion vessel number scores and Gensini scores.The genotypes of rs12645561 were analyzed by high resolution melting curve. The plasma NEIL3 levels were measured by en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The minor allele T of rs12645561 was significantly associated with the risk of coronary ar-tery disease (χ2=12.165, P<0.05) including increased lesion vessel scores and Gensini scores (χ2=14.745 and 15.615,P<0.05). The variant risk genotypes ( CC+CT) of rs12645561, body mass index of more than 25 kg/m2 , hypelipidemia and smoking habit were all the independent risk factors for higher Gensini scores ( OR=1.50, 1.54, 2.01 and 1.42, respectively, P<0.05) . There were signifi-cantly inverse correlations of plasma NEIL3 levels with the distribution of rs12645561, lesion vessel number scores and Gensini scores ( P<0.05) . Conclusion rs12645561 may correlate with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, and contribute to the development of coronary atherosclerosis of Han population of Henan and Hubei regions. rs12645561 may also affect the levels of NEIL3 protein.