Haptoglobin genotype 2-2 associated with atherosclerosis in patients with ischemic stroke.

AIM: Ischemic stroke (IS) is multifactorial disease and therefore different genes and proteins play a role in its development. Haptoglobin (Hp) removes free hemoglobin and protects from iron-induced oxidative damage, inflammatory response, atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate Hp genetic variants in patients with carotid atherosclerotic lesions and IS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 121 subjects with IS participated in the study, 81 male and 40 female. RESULTS: Among 121 patients with IS, 79 had diffuse atherosclerotic plaques and stenosis. Hp genotype was statistically significantly associated with CDFI neck carotid artery stenosis findings (p = 0.006). Patients with Hp1-2 genotype had statistically significantly larger odds for atherosclerotic changes compared to those with Hp1-1 genotype, as well as those with Hp2-2 genotype. CONCLUSION: This study has shown an association of the Hp2-2 genotype and atherosclerosis in patients with IS, indicating Hp2-2 genotype as a genetic biomarker for precision medicine and personalized healthcare.

Can the choice of diet undermine the potential genetic risk of AT1R 1166A>C gene polymorphism?

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) gene 1166A>C polymorphism is strongly associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and predicts the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). There is little information about the gene-diet interactions associated with MetS. This investigation examined the interaction between dietary patterns and AT1R polymorphism in relation to development risk of MetS. METHODS: A prospective, non-interventional, case-control study included 265 MetS patients and 262 healthy controls in an adult population from Croatia. Collected data included clinical variables, type of diet (Mediterranean, continental and mixed), biochemical tests and AT1R genotyping. AT1R 1166A>C genotyping was performed by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. To examine gene-diet interactions, a total predictive model was built using a hierarchical backward elimination approach. RESULTS: Participants on Continental-diet were nearly 20 times more likely to have MetS than those on Mediterranean or mixed diet (OR = 19.96; 95% CI 10.44-38.18). In multivariate prediction, control subjects with AT1R 1166AC or CC genotype had a higher risk for high triglycerides compared to the AA genotype carriers. 1166AC or CC genotype carriers more often chose Mediterranean or mixed-diet versus 1166AA genotype carriers whose choice often was continental diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are the first to suggest the possibility that the choice of diet can undermine the potential genetic risk of the AT1R polymorphism as polymorphism carriers may spontaneously choose the Mediterranean-diet.