Polymorphism in the promoter of lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14 and ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Background and Purpose-A growing amount of evidence suggests that infectiou s and inflammatory processes may be involved in the initiation of arteriosc lerosis, but the mechanisms are conceivably multifactorial and complex. Two European groups have recently demonstrated that a C(-260)->T polymorphism in the promoter of the CD14 lipopolysaccharide receptor may be a risk facto r for coronary artery disease (CAD). The T allele of this polymorphism repo rtedly increases the expression of CD14 and may be involved in atherogenesi s. In the present study we investigated a possible association between the C(-260)->T polymorphism in the CD14 promoter and the occurrence of symptoma tic ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Methods-Genotype frequencies of the C(-260)->T polymorphism in the CD14 pro moter were determined in 235 patients with CVD, as confirmed by brain CT an d/or MRT, and 309 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Results-The distribution of genotypes was as follows: CVD patients, TIT 24. 3%, CIT 53.2%, and CIC 22.6%; controls, TIT 26.9%, CIT 50.2%, and CIC 23.0% . There was no significant difference between the CD14 promoter genotypes o f the CVD patients and the controls (chi (2)=0.601, P=0.741), We also measu red the concentration of serum soluble CD14 and the density of membranous C D14 on monocytes in the CVD patients, but the polymorphism was not associat ed with either the concentration of soluble CD14 or the density of membrano us CD14 (P=0.358, P=0.238, respectively). Conclusions-Our results indicate that the C(-260)->T polymorphism in the CD 14 promoter is not associated with an increased risk for CVD.