The p22 phox polymorphism C242T is not associated with CHD risk in Asian Indians and Chinese

Background Oxygen free radicals such as superoxide anion have been implicat ed in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). The nonglycosylated 22 kDa alpha-subunit of the NADH/NADPH oxidase (p22 ph ox) of the vasculature acts as the final electron transporter in the genera tion of superoxide anion. Recently, a common polymorphism (C242T) at codon 72 in the p22 phox gene has been reported to be associated with CHD risk. Study design We examined the role of the C242T polymorphism with the risk o f CHD in a biracial sample of Asian Indians and Chinese from Singapore. The sample comprised angiographically confirmed CHD patients (126 Asian Indian s and 151 Chinese) and age-and sex-matched healthy control subjects (154 As ian Indians and 167 Chinese). Results The frequency of the T allele was significantly higher in Asian Ind ian control subjects than in Chinese control subjects (0.38 vs. 0.09; P < 0 .0001). However, there was no difference in the frequency of this allele be tween case patients and control subjects either in Chinese (0.10 vs. 0.09) or Asian Indians (0.38 vs. 0.40). This polymorphism was also not associated with plasma lipid and apolipoprotein levels in any group. Conclusions The p22 phox codon 72 polymorphism is not associated with the r isk of CHD in the present samples of Asian Indians and Chinese.