DNA POLYMORPHISMS IN ADHESION MOLECULE GENES - A NEW RISK FACTOR FOR EARLY ATHEROSCLEROSIS

To contribute to the analysis of the genetic background of atheroscler osis, especially endothelial dysfunction, we searched for DNA polymorp hisms in the genes encoding E-, P-, and L-selectin, and ICAM-I and VCA M-I. We detected 17 mutations by single-strand conformation polymorphi sms analysis and direct sequencing. Five of them resulted in an amino acid substitution. In E-selectin, exchanges from serine to arginine (p osition 128), from leucine to phenylalanine (position 554), and a DNA mutation from guanine to thymine (position 98) present significantly d ifferent allele frequencies in young patients with angiographically es tablished, severe atherosclerosis, compared with an unselected populat ion. Results suggest that these polymorphisms are associated with a hi gher risk for early severe atherosclerosis.