C242T polymorphism of the p22 phox gene is not associated with peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Formation of reactive oxygen metabolites is vital for the microbicidal acti vity of phagocytes. As an unwanted side effect, these metabolites may contr ibute to oxidative stress in the vasculature and thus lead to arteriosclero sis. p22 phox, a component of the NADH/NADPH oxidase in phagocytes and vasc ular smooth muscle cells, is essential for production of reactive oxygen me tabolites. Recently, a C/T polymorphism at position 242 of the p22 phox gen e has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), suggesting a prot ective effect of the 242 T allele on the vasculature. In the present study, we analysed the relation of this polymorphism to peripheral arterial occlu sive disease (PAOD). C242T polymorphism was determined by restriction fragm ent polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in 324 patients with documented PAOD and 2 95 control subjects without any known arterial disease. p22 phox 242 T alle le frequencies and genotype distributions were not significantly different between patients and controls; the adjusted relative risk associated with t he 242 T allele was 1.14 (95% CI 0.84-1.54, P = 0.39), assuming an additive effect of the T allele. C242T polymorphism was not associated with the age of patients at the onset of the disease. Our data indicate that C242T poly morphism of the p22 phox gene is not associated with PAOD. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.