ASSOCIATION OF FACTOR-VII GENOTYPE WITH PLASMA FACTOR-VII ACTIVITY AND ANTIGEN LEVELS IN HEALTHY INDIAN ADULTS AND INTERACTION WITH TRIGLYCERIDES

Plasma factor VII activity (factor VIIc) is one of the independent ris k factors for coronary artery disease and is controlled by both geneti c and environmental factors. Several studies in healthy Caucasian subj ects have revealed an association of a common genetic polymorphism at residue 353 (Arg-->Gln) of the factor VII gene with plasma factor VIIc . We have investigated the influence of this polymorphism (factor VII Arg/Gln(353)) on fasting plasma factor VIlc and antigen (factor VIIag) levels and its interaction with triglyceride levels in 185 healthy Dr avidian Indians of bath sexes (128 men, 57 women). The frequency of Gl n(353) has been found to be significantly higher in Dravidian Indians (0.29; confidence interval, 0.27 to 0.30) than in Caucasians (0.10). T he distribution of factor VII Arg/Gln(353) genotypes was at Hardy-Wein berg equilibrium. The carriers of the Gln(353) allele had significantl y lower plasma factor VIIc and factor VIIag in men (P<.05). The factor VII Arg/Gln(353) polymorphism explained 13% and 11% of the total vari ance of plasma factor VIIc and factor VIIag, respectively, in men (P<. 001) and 6% and 9% in women (P>.1). The genotype-specific correlation of factor VIIc and factor VIIag with triglyceride levels was stronger in carriers of the Gln(353) allele (r=.38 and .41; P<.001) than in Arg (353) homozygotes (r=.09 and .27; P=.19 and .005, respectively).