A second common variant in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)gene and its relationship to MTHFR enzyme activity, homocysteine, and cardiovascular disease risk
Kja. Lievers et al., A second common variant in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)gene and its relationship to MTHFR enzyme activity, homocysteine, and cardiovascular disease risk, J MOL MED-J, 79(9), 2001, pp. 522-528
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research General Topics
Molecular defects in genes encoding enzymes involved in homocysteine metabo
lism may account for mild hyperhomocysteinemia, an independent and graded r
isk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined the relationship o
f two polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene
, the 677C -->T and 1298A -->C variants, to MTHFR activity, homocysteine co
ncentrations, and risk of CVD in a population of 190 vascular disease patie
nts and 601 apparently healthy controls. The mean specific and residual MTH
FR activities were significantly lower in 677CT and 677TT individuals (both
P <0.001). The 1298A -->C mutation alone showed no effect on MTHFR activit
ies. However, when the 677C -->T genotype was taken into account, the 1298A
-->C mutation also caused a significant decrease in MTHFR activities, whic
h was observed in both the homozygous 1298CC (P <0.001) and the heterozygou
s 1298AC states (P=0.005). Both the 677TT as the 677CT genotypes were assoc
iated with significantly higher fasting and postload homocysteine, levels t
han 677CC (P <0.001 and P=0.003, respectively). The 1298A -->C mutation had
no effect on fasting, or postload homocysteine levels. Since homocysteine
itself is considered to be positively associated with the risk of CVD, thes
e findings indicate that the 1298A -->C mutation cannot be considered a maj
or risk factor for CVD.