血管紧张素转换酶基因I/D多态性及其血清活性与冠心病的关系

目的 :从分子遗传水平探讨血管紧张素转换酶与冠心病的关系及其对冠状动脉病变程度的预测价值。方法 :3 45例患者包括对照患者 95例、心绞痛患者 10 0例及陈旧性心肌梗死患者 15 0例 ,通过两次聚合酶链反应确定血管紧张素转换酶基因型 ,并测定血清血管紧张素转换酶水平。为分析血管紧张素转换酶基因型与冠心病、心肌梗死的相关性 ,将心绞痛患者与陈旧性心肌梗死患者合称冠心病患者 ,对照患者与心绞痛患者合称非心肌梗死患者。结果 :血管紧张素转换酶活性在对照患者、心绞痛患者及心肌梗死患者间无统计学差异。血管紧张素转换酶基因DD、DI和II型的血清血管紧张素转换酶活性有显著性差异 ,经SpearmanRankCorrelation分析 ,血管紧张素转换酶活性与D等位基因数目存在等级相关 ,相关系数 0 2 2 5 ,P <0 0 0 1。血管紧张素转换酶基因型分布在对照患者与冠心病患者、心肌梗死患者与非心肌梗死患者间无显著性差异 ,然而经Logistic回归分析发现 ,在排除其他因素影响下血管紧张素转换酶基因DD型与II型相比 ,对冠心病及心肌梗死的危险性明显增加 ,调整后的OR值分别为 2 2 9及 1 68(P <0 0 5 ) ,提示血管紧张素转换酶基因DD型是冠心病、心肌梗死发生的危险因素。血管紧张素转换酶基因型分布及血清水平均与冠状动     

血管紧张素转化酶基因插入/缺失多态性与冠心病的关系

为探讨血管紧张素转化酶基因插入／缺失多态性与冠心病的关系，用多聚酶链反应方法检测79例冠心病患者和68例健康人血管紧张素转化酶基因第16内含子中长度为287bP碱基片段的插入／缺入情况、按其存在与否将研究对象分为缺失型纯合子、插入型纯合子和杂合子，同时检测血清血管紧张素转化酶活性。结果发现冠心病组中缺失型基因频率显著高于对照组（P＜0．05），缺失型等位基因频率较对照组亦明显增高（P＜0．05）。对照组与冠心病组间血清血管紧张素转化酶活性比较无明显差别，但两组内不同基因型之间血管紧张素转化酶活性均存在显著差别，缺失型最高，插入型最低。以上结果提示，血管紧张素转化酶基因插入／缺失多态性与冠心病有关，缺失型可能是冠心病发生的危险因素之一，血管紧张素转化酶基因缺失型者冠心病的发生可能与其较高的血清转化酶水平有关。     

急性冠状动脉综合征低/高危人群血管紧张素转换酶基因插入/缺失多态性分析

目的 探讨ACE基因插入/缺失(I/D)多态性在急性冠状动脉综合征低/高危人群发病中的作用.方法 根据apoB、BMI将169例急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)患者及94例正常健康人分为低危和高危人群,利用多聚酶反应(PCR)方法对这些患者的血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因插入/缺失多态性变异进行对比分析.结果ACS患者ACE基因DD型及D等位基因频率明显高于对照组(DD,0.385:0.213.P<0.05;D,0.583:0.441,P相似文献   

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Insertion/Deletion (I/D) Polymorphism,and Diabetic Retinopathy in Subjects with IDDM and NIDDM

Angiotensin 1 converting enzyme (ACE) catalyses the step which generates angiotensin II, and also inactivates bradykinin, peptides which play a key role in modulating vascular tone. Plasma ACE levels are under genetic control and up to 50% of the variation is due to an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of ACE gene with highest levels found in DD homozygotes. Studies have shown an association of diabetic nephropathy and ischaemic heart disease with angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism in subjects with diabetes. We examined the association between diabetic retinopathy and ACE gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in 363 subjects with NIDDM (aged 68.3 ± 10.7 years; 201 male, 162 female), 186 subjects with IDDM (aged 42.4 ± 15.0 years; 100 male, 86 female) and 98 controls. These subjects were characterized for ACE I/D polymorphism employing standard primers. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed by ophthalmoscopy through dilated pupils by an ophthalmologist and classified as non-proliferative or proliferative retinopathy. As expected, diabetic retinopathy was strongly associated with duration of diabetes (p <0.001) in both IDDM and NIDDM. Any retinopathy was present in 51% subjects with IDDM and 49% of subjects with NIDDM, while 22% of IDDM subjects and 5% of subjects with NIDDM had proliferative retinopathy. The frequency of ***I allele was 0.477 vs 0.482 vs 0.510 and D allele was 0.523 vs 0.518 vs 0.490, among subjects with IDDM, NIDDM and controls, respectively. The frequency of ACE ***I/D genotype was similar in subjects with IDDM, NIDDM, and controls (χ² = 0.46, df = 4, p = ns). Presence or absence of retinopathy was not significantly associated with ACE genotype in subjects with IDDM (χ² = 3.42, df = 2, p = ns) or NIDDM (χ² = 0.51, df = 2, p = ns). Among subjects with retinopathy, there was no significant association between ACE genotype and type of retinopathy. Controlled for duration of diabetes, the frequency of I/D genotype was not significantly different in 271 subjects with retinopathy (IDDM and NIDDM combined) when compared with 86 subjects without retinopathy at 15 years or more after diagnosis of diabetes (χ² = 1.29, df = 2, p = ns). These findings indicate that I/D polymorphism of ACE gene is not a useful marker and is unlikely to play a major role in determining genetic susceptibility to diabetic retinopathy or the severity of diabetic retinopathy.     

不同性别血管紧张素转化酶基因型与原发性高血压相关性研究

目的 :探讨男、女不同性别的血管紧张素转化酶 (ACE)基因型与原发性高血压 (EH)的相关关系。方法 :应用聚合酶链反应 (PCR)技术检测 12 8例男性 (其中EH患者 73例 ) ,79例女性(其中EH患者 4 3例 )ACE基因插入 /缺失 (I/D)多态性。结果 :男性组EH患者DD基因型频率(0 .35 6 )和D等位基因频率 (0 .5 75 )显著高于对照者 (0 .182和 0 .4 2 7,分别P <0 .0 5 ,<0 .0 2 )。且ACEDD基因型与男性EH患者的收缩压和脉压增高有关 (P <0 .0 5 )。而女性ACE基因型与EH及血压无显著相关性存在 (均P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :ACE基因I/D多态性对男性EH的发生及血压的增高有显著影响 ,而对女性无此作用。     

急性冠状动脉综合征患者血管紧张素转换酶基因插入/缺失多态性分析

目的 以急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者为研究对象,探讨ACE基因插入/缺失(I/D)多态性在其发病中的作用.方法 利用多聚酶反应(PCR)方法对169例急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者及94例正常健康人的血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因插入/缺失多态性变异进行对比分析.结果 ACS患者ACE基因DD型及D等位基因频率明显高于对照组(DD,0.385:0.213;D,0.583:0.441),而且ACE基因各型间其它冠心病危险因素比较无统计学差异.结论在国人中ACE基因DD型可能是ACS发病的独立因素.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme and apolipoproteins genes polymorphism in coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) as well as apolipoprotein (apo) AI, B, and E polymorphisms and dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease (CAD) is controversial. HYPOTHESIS: This study assessed the distribution of ACE insertion/deletion, apo AI A/G mutation, apo B signal peptide insertion/deletion, apo B XbaI restriction fragment length, and apo E polymorphisms in 388 nondiabetic patients. METHODS: The study population included 112 patients with stable CAD, 139 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 137 age-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed higher prevalence of XbaI X+/X+ genotype in patients with CAD (p = 0.02). Angiotensin-converting enzyme and apo polymorphisms were not associated with lipid levels or severity of CAD. When all genotypes known to be related to CAD; such as ACE DD, apo AI GG, apo B del/del, and XbaI X+X+, and E4 allele of apo E, were pooled, again no significant differences among groups were seen. Multivariate regression analysis disclosed traditional risk factors and elevated levels of apo B for men and reduced levels of apo AI for women as independent variables for CAD. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to traditional coronary risk factors, apo B and AI could be considered predictors of CAD. No association between either form of CAD and polymorphisms was noted.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion genotype is associated with the activities of plasma coagulation factor VII and X independent of triglyceride metabolism

BACKGROUND: The D allele of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and coagulation activity play important roles in cardiovascular events, however, the precise association between these two risk factors remains unclear. METHODS: We identified the ACE I/D genotype and measured the plasma coagulation factor VII and X (FVII and FX) activities and serum lipids in 172 patients (110 men and 62 women, mean age 56.7+/-13.3 years) undergoing coronary angiography. RESULTS: The frequency of the D allele was significantly higher in those with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) than in those with normal coronary arteries, but there was no significant association between FVII and FX activities and the stage of coronary disease. Plasma coagulation factor VII and FX activities were significantly lower in the DD genotype (n=42) than in the II genotype (n=67, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) or the ID genotype (n=63, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). The association of the ACE D allele with lower activities of FVII and FX was also seen in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). There was a significant association between serum triglyceride levels with FVII and FX, but not with the ACE I/D genotype. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the ACE I/D polymorphism may contribute more to the onset of MI than the activities of FVII and FX and that the ACE D allele might be associated with lower plasma activities of FVII and FX. The potential link between ACE I/D polymorphism and the plasma activities of FVII and FX is probably independent of triglyceride metabolism.     

血管紧张素转换酶基因多态性对冠心病患者血管内皮舒张功能的影响

目的:观察血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因多态性对冠心病患者内皮功能的影响及其抑制剂的干预作用.方法:选取冠心病患者(冠心病组)68例,对照组69例,聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测ACE基因插入/缺失(L/D)多态性,超声检测肱动脉内皮功能.结果:冠心病组DD基因型明显高于对照组.冠心病组ACE各基因型内皮依赖性舒张功能均低于对照组,DD基因型最为明显;非内皮依赖性舒张功能差异无显著性.血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂(ACEI)治疗后冠心病组各型肱动脉内皮依赖性舒张功能与治疗前比较均有显著性改善,其中DD基因型改善最为明显.结论:冠心病患者血管内皮功能异常与ACE基因I/D多态性相关.ACEI可以改善内皮功能,特别是对DD基因型患者改善更为明显.     

Lack of sex-specific effects on the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and hypertension in Japanese.

Although several studies of molecular genetics have investigated the relevance of the ACE gene to essential hypertension, the relationship remains controversial. Some studies have recently implicated sex-specificity of this candidate gene in hypertension genetics; that is, significant linkage and association were observed in men but not in women in Caucasian populations. In particular, a male-specific association was seen between the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and hypertension. This could partially explain the negative results for such an association in a number of previous studies in which the subjects were not stratified according to sex. To determine whether the ACE I/D polymorphism is related to essential hypertension in Japanese subjects, we conducted a case-control study in 701 men (387 hypertensive and 314 normotensive subjects) and 542 women (324 hypertensive and 218 normotensive subjects). The genotype distribution (or allele frequencies) and hypertension status were compared between the case and control subjects with the chi2 test statistic. We found no significant association between I/D genotype and hypertension when men and women were analyzed separately or together. The results did not change appreciably when the case group of each sex was subdivided according to more stringent criteria. The odds ratio for D-allele vs. I-allele was estimated to be 0.90 (95% CI; 0.73-1.12) in men and 0.90 (95% CI; 0.70-1.16) in women. Taken together, our data do not support the existence of a sex-specific association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and essential hypertension in the Japanese population.     

血管紧张素转换酶和血管紧张素受体基因多态性与冠心病的关系

目的　探讨深圳地区冠心病 (CAD)与血管紧张素转换酶 (ACE)基因与血管紧张素 的 1型受体 (AT1R)基因多态性的关系。方法　分别采用 PCR及 PCR- Afl II酶切法 ,检测 89例 CAD患者和 14 8例健康对照的 ACE和AT1R基因型。结果　 CAD组与对照组比较 ,ACE DD基因型频率 (2 4 .7%比 8.1% ,P<0 .0 1)及 D型等位基因频率 (4 4 .4 %比 33.4 % ,P<0 .0 5 )均为升高。 CAD组与对照组 AT1R基因型频率分布无显著性差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。携带 AT1R C等位基因的个体患 CAD的风险与其同时携带 ACE DD基因型无关 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论　深圳地区CAD的发生和发展可能与 ACE基因 I/ D多态性有关 ,而与 AT1R基因 A116 6 C多态性无关     

Polymorphism of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, Angiotensinogen, and Apolipoprotein E Genes in a Japanese Population With Cerebrovascular Disease

The homozygous deletion allele of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE/DD), homozygous threonine allele of the angiotensinogen gene (AGN/TT), and the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (apoE/ε4) are reported to be associated with ischemic heart disease. Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is another atherosclerotic disease; and the effects of these polymorphisms on CVD have been confusing. In this study, we investigated whether ACE/DD, AGN/TT, and apoE/ε4 genotypes are associated with CVD and whether genetic risk is enhanced by the effect of one upon another. We ascertained these genotypes in patients with cerebral infarction (n = 55) and cerebral hemorrhage (n = 38), diagnosed by brain computed tomography. Control subjects for the infarction group and the hemorrhage group were randomly selected from 583 subjects matched for age, gender, and history of hypertension with patients. Frequency of ACE/DD genotype was higher in the patients with infarction than in the controls (χ² = 6.1, P < .05). The AGN/TT genotype was not associated with either infarction or hemorrhage, but it increased the relative risk for cerebral infarction in the subjects with ACE/DD genotype (χ² = 8.0, P < .01, odds ratio; 11.7, 95% confidence intervals: 1.4 to 96.0). There was no significant association between apoE/ε4 and CVD. These results suggest that ACE/DD predicts cerebral infarction, but not cerebral hemorrhage, and that AGN/TT enhances the risk for cerebral infarction associated with ACE/DD.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: The association of the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene with cardiovascular disease and diabetic nephropathy remains a controversial issue. This review aims to give an overview of the research to date assessing the impact of the ACE polymorphism in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed in the databases of MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE for the key words 'diabetes mellitus', 'diabetic nephropathy', 'ACE polymorphism' and 'genotype' and relevant articles were considered. RESULTS: A meta-analysis assessing the influence of the ACE polymorphism on disease susceptibility demonstrated significant odds ratios in individuals with the DD genotype for coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and both diabetic and nondiabetic renal disease. No association was found for left ventricular hypertrophy or hypertension in nondiabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The ACE polymorphism appears to have a significant impact on the progression of diabetic nephropathy and may have therapeutic implications for identifying those individuals resistant to the effects of ACE inhibitors. It also appears to be indicative of an increased vascular risk in diabetic patients; however, larger prospective studies are required to clarify this situation.     

血管紧张素转换酶及其基因多态性与血管性痴呆和阿尔茨海默病的关系研究

目的探讨血清血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)活性及ACE基因插入/缺失(I/D)多态性与血管性痴呆(VD)和阿尔茨海默病(AD)的关系。方法应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测2002年7月至2004年5月南京医科大学附属脑科医院和江苏大学附属第四医院62例VD、39例AD患者以及50名健康对照者ACE基因I/D多态性;对其中56例VD、33例AD患者和46名健康对照者以毛细管电泳法测定血清ACE活性,并进行统计学比较。结果VD组和AD组血清ACE活性与正常对照组相比差异无显著性意义;未发现ACE基因I/D多态性与VD的相关性;AD组I等位基因频率高于对照组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论ACE基因I/D多态性与VD无相关性,ACEI等位基因可能是AD发病的危险因素。     

冠心病与血管紧张素转换酶和内皮型一氧化氮合酶基因多态性及交互作用的临床研究

目的联合对冠心病患者血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）基因多态性和内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）基因G894T多态性进行分析,探讨基因多态性与冠心病的关系和交互作用及遗传学机制在冠心病发病及预后中的临床意义。方法应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性（PCR—RFLP）分析技术检测236例冠心病患者及190例正常人ACE和eNOS两种基因多态性。同时测定血脂、血糖、体重指数（BMI）、左室射血分数（LVEF）和血压。结果冠心病组ACE基因DD型频率[36％（86／236）]显著高于对照组[19％（36／190）,P〈0．01],Ⅱ型频率[27％（64／236）]显著低于对照组[49％（93／190）,P〈0．05]。冠心病组DD型甘油三酯（TG）[（2．2±1．7）mmol／L]显著高于Ⅱ型TG[（1．6±0．8）mmol／L和ID型TG[（1．7±0．9）mmol／L,均P〈0．05],DD型高密度脂蛋白胆固醇[HDL—C（1．2±0．4）mmol／L]显著低于Ⅱ型HDL—C[（1．3±0．3）mmol／L,P〈0．05],DD型血糖[（6．2±1．7）mmol／L]和BMI[（25．7±2．8）kg／m^2]显著高于ID型[血糖：（5．6±1．3）mmol／L,BMI：（24．8±3．1）kg／m^2。,P〈0．05],DD型LVEF（56％±14％）显著低于Ⅱ型LVEF（62％±15％）和ID型LVEF（61％±14％）,均P〈0．05。收缩压、舒张压、总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）、糖尿病组与非糖尿病组、急性冠状动脉综合征组与非急性冠状动脉综合征组、单支病变组与多支病变组在ACE和eNOS基因不同基因型之间差异均无统计学意义。冠心病组eNOS基因GT型频率[28％（67／236）]显著高于对照组[17％（32／190）,P〈0．01],GG型频率与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义。TG、HDL—C、血糖、BMI和LVEF在eNOS基因不同基因型之间差异均无统计学意义（均P〉0．05）。携带DD型患冠心病的概率是携带Ⅱ型的1．74倍（P〈0．01）,携带GT型患冠心病的概率是携带GG型的1．73倍（P〈0．05）。两种基因对患冠心病的交互作用显示为如同时携带Ⅱ型和GG型,患冠心病的概率是37．9％,而同时携带DD型和GT型患冠心病的概率是77．8％。结论ACE基因多态性和eNOS基因多态性与冠心病及某些危险因素显著相关,同时携带DD型和GT型两种易患基因型时,患冠心病的概率明显增加,具有显著的遗传倾向。     

The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and coronary calcification. The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study

BACKGROUND: An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the gene encoding angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been associated with serum ACE levels. The association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and coronary heart disease is unclear. Electron-beam-computed tomography (EBT) is a technique to non-invasively quantify the amount of coronary calcification. We investigated the association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and coronary calcification. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study is a population-based study in subjects aged 55 years and over. EBT scanning was performed in 2013 participants. Coronary calcification was quantified according to the Agatston score. The ACE I/D polymorphism was available for 1976 subjects. Geometric mean calcium scores in men with the II, ID and DD genotype were 167, 207 and 219, respectively. However, the difference in calcium score (p=0.19 for ID versus II; p=0.15 for DD versus II) and the trend (ptrend=0.17) were not significant. Calcium scores in women with the II, ID and DD genotype were 44, 42 and 36, respectively. There were no significant differences in calcium score (p=0.78 for ID versus II; p=0.29 for DD versus II), neither was the trend (ptrend=0.27). After we stratified on cardiovascular risk factors, no associations were present. CONCLUSION: The present study failed to show an association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and coronary calcification in the general population. Also, no significant associations were present between the ACE I/D polymorphism and coronary calcification in strata of cardiovascular risk factors.     

Detection of the association between a deletion polymorphism in the gene encoding angiotensin I-converting enzyme and advanced diabetic retinopathy

We investigated the relationship between advanced diabetic retinopathy (ADR) and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in subjects with type 2 diabetes and ADR, pre-proliferative (PrePDR) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) without overt nephropathy. Polymerase chain reactions were used to detect insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms of the ACE gene. There was no difference in the frequency of II, ID, or DD genotypes, or of I and D alleles among subjects with type 2 diabetes without diabetic retinopathy (NDR) or with simple diabetic retinopathy (SDR) and non-diabetic controls. There was also no difference in the frequency of ACE genotypes among subjects with type 2 diabetes with NDR, or SDR and ADR. However, the frequency of the ACE DD genotype in ADR was significantly higher than that in controls (χ²=6.64, P=0.036). On the other hand, the frequency of the D allele in ADR was significantly higher than that in controls (χ²=6.33, P=0.012), NDR (χ²=4.18, P=0.041) and SDR (χ²=4.89, P=0.027), respectively. These results indicate a significant relationship between the presence of the D allele polymorphism in the ACE gene and ADR in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes and no overt nephropathy.     

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in a low-risk European population for coronary artery disease

An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) has been associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI). However, this finding has not been fully investigated in European populations with very low CAD risk. In a case-control study on a population from Southern Europe (Toulouse, France), we evaluated the ACE I/D polymorphism in 405 men, aged 35–65 years, who underwent coronary angiography and in 357 representative control men within the same age range. We also explored associations in the patients between this polymorphism and CAD severity. The ACE genotype was not associated with the presence of either CAD or MI. The ACE genotype was not a marker for angiographically assessed CAD severity. In a sample in one of the European populations with the lowest CAD risk, ACE I/D polymorphism was not associated with an increased risk for CAD or MI and did not influence the extent of CAD.     

The D allele of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene contributes towards blood LDL-cholesterol levels and the presence of hypertension.

Coronary artery disease is a polygenic disease whose phenotypic manifestation depends on the interaction of the genetic background with a number of environmental factors. Recently, the gene coding for the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been characterized and a deletion/insertion (D/I) polymorphism was defined. The prevalence of the three genotypes and their association with coronary artery disease (CAD) differ in different population groups. Mostly, the D allele was found as a significant risk factor for CAD, independently from other risk factors. In the present study, we determined the distribution of ACE alleles (D or I) in a cohort of healthy Israeli men and examined the correlation of the different genotypes with various CAD risk factors. We found LDL cholesterol levels to be highest in the DD genotype group, intermediate in the DI genotype group and lowest in the II genotype group. We also found higher blood pressure levels in subjects bearing the D allele compared to II homozygous subjects. In conclusion, it appears that the genetic influence of the D/I polymorphism on CAD manifests primarily through traditional risk factors.     

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism in Turkish Asthmatic Patients

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Several candidate genes have been identified with a potential role in the pathogenesis of asthma, including the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene. We aimed to investigate the frequency of an ACE gene polymorphism in Turkish asthmatic patients and to determine its impact on clinical parameters and disease severity. Ninety-seven asthmatic patients (M/F 25/72, mean age 39 ± 13 years) and 96 healthy subjects (M/F 26/70, mean age 38 ± 12 years) were included. At baseline, all participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, symptoms, triggering factors, severity of asthma, and the presence of atopism. Blood samples were obtained from all patients and genomic DNA was isolated.

The frequency of the ACE genotypes (I = insertion and D = deletion) among asthmatics and controls were compared: asthmatics showed a 40.2% prevalence of the DD genotype (n = 39), ID was 45.4% (n = 44), and II was 14.4% (n = 14.4). In the control subjects, the frequency of DD was18.8% (n = 18), ID was 50% (n = 48) and II was 31.3% (n = 30). The DD ACEgenotype was significantly more frequent in asthmatics compared with controls (p < 0.001). Asthmatics with the ID ACE genotype showed a higher frequency of drug allergies, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Asthmatics with the DD genotype appeared to have a higher incidence of asthmatic episode exacerbations due to viral infections, but again this was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Patients with mild or moderate-severe asthma had similar frequencies of these mutations.

We found a higher frequency of the ACE DD gene mutation in Turkish asthmatic patients compared with non-asthmatics, suggesting that this ACE gene polymorphism may be a risk factor for asthma but does not increase the severity of the disease.