常染色体显性遗传性多囊肾病患者与血管紧张素转换酶基因多态性的关系

目的 研究人常染色体显性遗传性多囊肾病（ADPKD）与血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）基因多态性的关系。 方法 用PCR方法对103例ADPKD患者及16个ADPKD家系（患者35例,非患病直系亲属30人）进行ACE基因多态性分析。收集患者及家系成员的临床资料,以发病年龄、肝囊肿、高血压、尿路感染、尿路结石、血尿等为主要参数,用统计学方法研究该病ACE基因多态性与ADPKD的关系。 结果 DD型患者的发病年龄比DI型患者早7.2岁[（31.90±11.41）岁比（39.10±10.08）岁];DD型患者的发病年龄比Ⅱ型患者[（46.15±14.74）岁]早14.25岁;DI型患者的发病年龄比Ⅱ型患者早7.05岁,各型间的差异均有统计学意义（均P ＜ 0.05）。3组间高血压、血尿差异有统计学意义。11个家系检查结果显示,ACE基因多态性在ADPKD家系中具有遗传连锁关系,但无统计学意义;家系中患病与非患病者ACE基因型频率差异无统计学意义;家系中患病与非患病者男女之间ACE基因型频率差异无统计学意义;家系中肾功能不全组与肾功能正常组之间DD型及D等位基因频率差异有统计学意义（P ＜ 0.05）。 结论 DD型患者的发病年龄较早,Ⅱ型患者的发病年龄较晚,DI型居中。DI型患者血尿的发生率较高,Ⅱ型患者血尿的发生率较低。DI型患者高血压的发生率较高。ACE基因多态性在ADPKD家系中不提供基因诊断信息; ACE基因多态性与人ADPKD的发病无显著相关性;ACE基因多态性与性别无明显关系。DD型基因型是ADPKD发生肾功能不全的易感因素。     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion polymorphism and survival in a cohort of chronic hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting reports regarding the relationship between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, there is no report regarding the relationship between the ACE I/D polymorphism and the prognosis of chronic dialysis patients. METHODS: We examined the frequency of the ACE I/D polymorphism in 727 chronic hemodialysis patients in Okinawa, Japan, and observed the prognosis over 2 years in 407 men and 320 women with mean age (SD) of 55.5 (13.9) years with a mean duration of dialysis of 84.3 (66.6) months. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies were 42.1% for II, 43.2% for ID, and 14.7% for DD. The relative risks of death were examined by Cox-proportional hazards analysis after adjusting for age, sex, age at the start of dialysis, presence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and total cholesterol and serum albumin levels. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.03 (0.38 - 2.85) for DD genotype and 1.50 (0.83 - 2.70) for DD+ID genotype when compared to II genotype. CONCLUSION: ACE I/D polymorphism appears to have no relation to the short-term prognosis in chronic hemodialysis patients.     

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism with serum level and development of pulmonary complications following esophagectomy

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications remain the major cause of postoperative mortality in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. It was unclear whether this dismal complication has a genetic predisposition. We therefore investigated the role of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion polymorphism in developing these complications. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study including 152 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy in National Taiwan University Hospital between 1996 and 2002. The ACE genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification of leukocyte DNA obtained before surgery. The serum ACE concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (23%) developed pulmonary complications following esophagectomy. As compared with patients with the I/I and I/D genotypes, those with the D/D genotype had a higher risk for pulmonary complications (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-9.65). The risk was additively enhanced by combination of the ACE D/D genotype with other clinical risk factors (old age, hypoalbuminemia, and poor pulmonary function). The circulating ACE level was also dose-dependently with the presence of ACE D allele. As compared with the patients with circulating ACE less than 200 ng/mL, the patients with circulating ACE of 200 to 400 ng/mL and over 400 ng/mL had ORs (95% CI) of 2.75 (1.12-6.67) and 15.00 (4.3-52.34) to present with ACE D allele, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism might modulate the function of ACE gene and play a role in affecting individual susceptibility to pulmonary injury following esophagectomy in patients of esophageal cancer.     

Polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene in end-stage renal failure patients

The plasma levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) are modulated by the insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism within the ACE gene locus. An association between progressive renal disease, raised cardiovascular risk, and ACE plasma levels has been shown. To evaluate the genotype frequencies of the I/D polymorphism in terminal renal failure, we have enrolled 341 dialysis patients (321 on hemodialysis and 20 on peritoneal dialysis) in a district of southern Italy (Foggia). As controls, 1,307 subjects from the same area have been enrolled. Genomic DNA was obtained from leukocytes, and the ACE I/D polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Among uremics, 151 subjects (44.3%) carried the DD genotype, 149 (43.7%) the ID, and 41 (12.0%) the II genotype. In controls, 560 subjects (42.8%) had the DD genotype, 577 (44.1%) the ID, and 170 (13.1%) the II genotype (p = n.s.). Among patients, the frequency of DD subjects was higher in men (48.3%) than in women (39. 7%, p < 0.01). A slight different frequency of the DD genotype was found according to the duration of dialysis treatment: 47.5% in patients on dialysis up to 60 months and 41.7 and 40.6% in those with a dialytic age of 60-120 and >120 months, respectively (p for trend: 0.53). Patients with or without cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary artery disease, and chronic cardiac failure, did not exhibit any difference in ACE I/D allele and genotype frequencies (p always >0.05). In conclusion, frequencies of the ACE DD genotype were similar in uremics and in controls and did not differ between patients with and without cardiovascular diseases. A nonsignificant inverse relationship with the time spent on dialysis was observed, suggesting that ACE I/D polymorphism may influence the cardiovascular death rate.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphisms do not predict the course of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in Swiss children

AIM: Contradictory reports exist about a correlation of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms to the outcome of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children. We investigated the frequency of ACE polymorphisms and their impact on the clinical course of INS in children in a Swiss hospital. METHODS: The ACE gene polymorphism (I, insertion; D, deletion) was assessed in 32 children - 22 with steroid-sensitive INS and 10 with steroid-resistant INS - with a median age at onset of INS of 2.9 years (range 1.1-15.0). Polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed on genomic DNA isolated from blood leucocytes. Results were correlated to clinical course and renal morphology. RESULTS: The ACE genotype was I/I, I/D and D/D in two, 12 and eight patients, respectively, with steroid-sensitive INS, and in one, eight and one patient, respectively, with steroid resistance. Renal morphology, available in 25 patients showed minimal change glomerulopathy in 17 patients (14 steroid-sensitive; three steroid-resistant) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in eight (one steroid-sensitive; seven steroid-resistant). There was no significant correlation between ACE genotype and steroid responsiveness, histology or outcome. ACE genotype was I/I, I/D and D/D in none, 12 and five patients, respectively, with minimal change glomerulopathy, and in one, five and two patients, respectively, with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Six patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome went into end stage renal disease; ACE genotype was I/I in one and I/D in five, but none were D/D. CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous reports, ACE gene polymorphism is irrelevant for clinical outcome, steroid responsiveness or morphology in Swiss children with INS.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in Kuwaiti Arab children

OBJECTIVE: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism influence the circulating and cellular levels of ACE and has been shown to be a risk factor in a number of diseases including IgA nephropathy. We have investigated the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with the clinical presentation of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in Kuwaiti children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The genotypes for ACE gene I/D polymorphism were determined in 102 subjects (54 INS cases and 48 healthy controls) using a PCR method. RESULTS: The distribution of DD, ID and II genotypes was 70%, 20% and 10% in INS cases compared with 52%, 46% and 2% in the controls. The mean age of onset of the disease was significantly lower in the INS cases with DD genotype (37 months) compared with cases with II genotype (65 months, p < 0.05). The clinical manifestation of the disease was considerably severe in cases with DD genotypes compared with cases having ID and II genotypes. The INS cases with DD genotype also showed a significantly higher incidence of steroid sensitivity and steroid dependence. Seventy-three per cent of the INS cases with minimal change lesion had a DD genotype. Also 70% of the cases which needed cytotoxic drugs had DD genotype. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest an association of the D-allele of the ACE gene I/D polymorphism with the clinical manifestation of INS in Kuwaiti Arab children.     

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in non-diabetic renal disease.

BACKGROUND: The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene determines the concentration of ACE in serum and local tissues. The role of this polymorphism in progressive chronic renal disease is still not fully clear. METHODS: We analysed the impact of the D/D polymorphism on the rate of decline in renal function in patients with non-diabetic, chronic progressive renal insufficiency. Seventy non-diabetic patients, aged 21-69 years at baseline, with moderately advanced renal insufficiency due to primary chronic renal disease were followed for an average of 3 years with repeated measurements of their glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Their mean GFR at baseline was 41 ml/min/1.73 m(2) body surface area (BSA). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification method was used to detect the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene. GFR was measured as the clearance of (51)Cr-EDTA and the individual rate of progression was calculated using linear regression. RESULTS: The distributions of the genotypes were: D/D 30%, I/D 49%, and I/I 21%. The rates of progression in the three ACE genotype groups were an annual decline in renal function of -4.2 (SD 4.6) ml/minx1.73 m(2) BSA in the D/D group, -2.7 (SD 3. 4) in the I/D group and -1.7 (SD 3.4) in the I/I group (ANOVA P=0. 12). In patients with proteinuria below 3.5 g/24 h, the D/D group had a significantly higher rate of progression than patients with the I allele. The same was found in a separate analysis when only patients with normal apoliprotein B (below 155 mg/dl) levels were analysed. Furthermore, the D/D genotype was a significant predictor of a more rapid decline in renal function in male, but not female, patients. CONCLUSION: The results in this study in non-diabetic patients with chronic renal disease indicate that the presence of the D allele in the ACE genotype may be of particular importance as a predictor of a high rate of progression in male patients who otherwise do not have a major burden of documented and important prognostic factors for progressive renal insufficiency.     

DD genotype of ACE gene in boys: may it be a risk factor for minimal change nephrotic syndrome?

It has been shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism affects the circulating and cellular levels of ACE and may be a risk factor in several renal diseases. We analyzed the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with the clinical presentation of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) in a Turkish child population. This study consisted of 97 children with MCNS and 144 healthy controls. Genotyping of ACE gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The distributions of ACE genotypes were II in 13%, ID in 49%, and DD in 38% in patient group, and 9%, 49%, and 42% in control group, respectively. The frequency of the D allele was 63% and that of the I allele was 37% in patients. There were no relevant differences in the allele frequencies and genotypes of ACE I/D polymorphism between patients and controls. However, DD genotype was higher in boys in children with MCNS (78.4%. vs. 50.0%, p = 0.004). The frequencies of DD genotype and D allele in boys were 7.25 and 2.56 times higher than II genotype and I allele in the patient group, respectively. We suggest that DD genotype in boys may be one of the risk factors for MCNS.     

Influence of ACE (I/D) and G460W polymorphism of alpha-adducin in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: The deleterious effect of the DD genotype of ACE in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) remains controversial. Small sample size, population admixture and lack of consideration of parameters modulating the effects of ACE genotype, such as gender or alpha-adducin (ADD) genotype, might explain the discrepancy. METHODS: We investigated the effect of ACE (I/D) polymorphism on the age at end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a homogeneous population of 191 ADPKD patients, according to gender and genotype for the G460W polymorphism of ADD. Cumulative renal survival was assessed in 276 patients from the same families. RESULTS: Though no effect was detected in the whole population, analysis of the male subset (n = 97) showed that patients harbouring the DD genotype of ACE had a 5-year lower mean age at ESRD than DI + II patients [47.8 +/- 1.8 (n = 31) vs 52.8 +/- 1.1 (n = 66), respectively] (P = 0.02). Furthermore, cumulative renal survival was lower in the corresponding pedigrees [47 +/- 1 years, 95% confidence interval (CI) 45-49, vs 51 +/- 1 years, 95% CI 48-54]. The G460W polymorphism of ADD had no effect on the age at ESRD and cumulative renal survival, either alone or in combination with the ACE (I/D) polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: In this large series of ADPKD patients, we found no effect of the ACE (I/D) polymorphism on the age at ESRD, either alone or in combination with the G460W polymorphism of ADD. However, a deleterious effect of the DD genotype of ACE on renal disease progression was observed in ADPKD males.     

Cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling in relation to ACE and angiotensinogen genes genotypes in Chinese dialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphisms of the angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genes are associated with increased risk of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive subjects. However, the extent to which these polymorphisms are related to LVH and remodeling in dialysis patients remains unknown. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-six end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on peritoneal dialysis and 183 control subjects, all of Chinese origin, were genotyped for the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) and the AGT M235T gene polymorphisms. Left ventricular mass index (LVMi) and relative wall thickness were measured using echocardiography. RESULTS: Prevalence of ACE DD and AGT TT genotype was 14% and 83%, respectively, in ESRD patients and did not differ significantly from controls. A total percentage of 95% of our patients had LVH (171 with concentric and 63 with eccentric hypertrophy). Adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, duration of dialysis, diabetes, renal diagnosis, hematocrit, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, dialysis urea clearance, residual glomerular filtration rate, and use of converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, AGT TT genotype remained independently associated with greater LVMi (coefficient = 28.73; 95% CI, 5.72 to 51.75; P = 0.015) and relative wall thickness (coefficient = 0.072; 95% CI, 0.022 to 0.122; P = 0.005) than MT/MM genotypes. LVMi and relative wall thickness did not differ significantly among patients with DD, DI, and II genotypes. No statistical significant interaction was noted between ACE and AGT gene polymorphism in relation to LVMi and relative wall thickness. CONCLUSION: Polymorphism of the AGT M235T gene but not ACE I/D gene is associated with greater LVMi and relative wall thickness, indicating more concentric LVH, in Chinese peritoneal dialysis patients. Possible synergistic effects between AGT and ACE gene polymorphism require further evaluation in a larger population.     

The angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype and microalbuminuria in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (AD-PKD) has a variable clinical course. Clinical parameters associated with a worse prognosis are hypertension and proteinuria or microalbuminuria (MA). Because chronic stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system is likely to be present in ADPKD patients, the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) genotype on the variability of these clinical parameters was examined in untreated ADPKD patients. Proteinuria and MA were determined in 24-h urine collections. BP measurements were performed with an ambulatory monitor, over 24 h. With analysis of covariance, the ACE genotype was found to be significantly associated with MA, corrected for age, gender, GFR, mean arterial pressure, body surface area, and urinary Na+ excretion (P < 0.05). The patients homozygous for the deletion (DD) had the highest rate of MA (P < 0.05) compared to the patients homozygous for the insertion (II). There was no relationship between the ACE genotype and BP or renal function. A significant positive correlation was found between MA and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.31, P < 0.05), whereas a significant negative correlation was found between MA and renal function (r = -0.28, P < 0.05). In conclusion, in ADPKD patients, MA is partly determined by the ACE I/D polymorphism. Because MA is associated with an enhanced progression toward renal failure, the ACE genotype could help in identifying patients at risk for a worse prognosis.     

Deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene as a genetic risk factor for sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Genetic control of serum angiotensin I converting enzyme (SACE) levels has been suggested. A study was undertaken to elucidate the role of this polymorphism in sarcoidosis. METHODS: Three hundred and forty one unrelated healthy controls and 103 consecutive patients with sarcoidosis participated in the study. SACE levels and an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene were studied in each subject and new reference intervals for SACE activity for each genotype were determined. The difference in genotype and allele frequencies between controls and patients was analysed and odds ratios were calculated to estimate the relative risk. RESULTS: A significant association was seen between ACE gene polymorphism and SACE levels in both patients and controls. The new reference intervals for each genotype discriminated abnormal SACE levels in patients more accurately, especially those with genotype II. In women the frequencies of allele I were 0.68 (allele D 0.32) in controls and 0.58 (allele D 0.42) in patients, and the difference between the two female groups was significant (p < 0.05). Thus, an excess of genotype ID or DD was observed in female patients (odds ratio 2.18; 95% confidence interval 1.18 to 4.01; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ACE gene polymorphism is associated with SACE levels in both patients with sarcoidosis and controls. ACE gene polymorphism should be further evaluated as a candidate marker for an increased risk of sarcoidosis.     

Lack of an association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and intracranial aneurysms in a Caucasian population in the United States

OBJECT: The identification of polymorphisms associated with an increase in the risk of developing disease is integral to the development of genetic biomarkers to identify individuals at risk. Based on reports indicating a role for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) as well as hypertension, an independent risk factor for IAs, the authors investigated the association between an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the ACE gene and IAs in a Caucasian population in the US. METHODS: The patient population consisted of 162 randomly selected Caucasian patients who underwent surgical repair of an IA at Memorial-Hermann Hospital (Houston, TX) and had no family history of the disease. The ACE I/D polymorphism was typed using polymerase chain reaction amplification of genomic DNA, and allele and genotype frequencies were compared between the patients with IAs and 143 healthy Caucasian volunteers (control group) by performing logistic regression and chi-square tests. The ACE I/D allele frequencies did not differ significantly between the patient and control populations. There were similar allele and genotype frequencies in male and female study participants in both patient and control populations. The authors found no evidence of an association between the allelic or genotypic distribution of the ACE I/D polymorphism and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or unruptured IAs. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to findings in two European Caucasian populations (one British and one Polish), this polymorphism did not contribute to the risk of developing IAs in a Caucasian population in the US.     

Is ACE gene polymorphism a risk factor for renal scarring with low-grade reflux?

The possible relationship between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and renal scarring secondary to vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has recently attracted attention and the DD genotype was postulated to be a risk factor for renal scarring. However, available data represent conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate the ACE gene I/D polymorphism and the other known risk factors for renal scarring in children with low- and high-grade VUR. The study included 96 (67 females, 29 males) patients (mean age at diagnosis 3.7±3.3 years) with VUR that were assessed for ACE I/D gene polymorphism. ACE genotypes were determined as II, ID, and DD using the polymerase chain reaction. The control group consisted of 103 healthy children with the same ethnicity to find the distribution of ACE gene I/D polymorphism in the population. The frequency of renal scarring was 80.8% in the high-grade reflux group and 34.3% in the low-grade reflux group. There was no difference between groups with renal scarring and without scarring with respect to gender, family history of VUR, age at diagnosis of VUR, associated urological abnormalities, frequency of urinary tract infection episodes, and the occurrence of bilateral or unilateral VUR. Genotype DD was found to be a significant risk factor for renal scarring in the study group by multivariate regression analysis (odds ratio 3.79, P=0.011). It was not a risk factor in high-grade reflux patients (odds ratio 0.60, P=0.62). However, it was a risk factor in low-grade patients with respect to renal scarring (odds ratio 4.0, P=0.024). Although renal scarring is not common in low-grade reflux patients, there may be scarring in some patients. DD polymorphism of the ACE gene is a significant risk factor in low-grade reflux patients with renal scarring.     

Association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and erectile dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome

This study was designed to investigate whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) in Russian men with metabolic syndrome (MS). A total of 331 men with MS were studied. All patients underwent complex evaluation including the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. The ACE I/D polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Overall, 182 men (55.0%) had ED according to the IIEF erectile function domain score. In the ED group, the prevalence of DD genotype was found to be significantly higher compared to the non-ED group (P<0.001). In both groups, patients with DD genotype were significantly younger than patients with other genotypes (P<0.001). In addition, in the ED group, the disease affected patients with DD genotype at a significantly younger age (P<0.001). Obtained results give evidence to support the finding that the D allele is a risk factor for the micro- and macrovascular diseases.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and the ACE Alu polymorphism in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies concerning Alu I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene and ADPKD severity have used the Alu genotypes as a representative of the true biological variable, namely ACE activity. However, wide individual and ethnic differences in the proportion of variance in ACE activity explained by the I/D genotype may have confounded these studies. This investigation examines the association between ADPKD severity and ACE in terms of plasma enzyme activity and I/D genotypes in individuals from three different countries. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 307 ADPKD patients (116 Australian, 124 Bulgarian and 67 Polish) for determination of ACE activity levels and I/D genotypes. Chronic renal failure (CRF) was present in 117 patients and end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in 68 patients. RESULTS: ACE activity was related to the I/D genotype, showing a dosage effect of the D allele (P=0.006). The proportion of variance due to the Alu polymorphism was 14%. No difference in ACE activity and I/D genotype distribution was found between patients with CRF versus normal renal function (P=0.494; P=0.576) or between those with ESRF versus those without ESRF (P=0.872; P=0.825). No effect of the I/D genotype on age at development and progression to renal failure (CRF; ESRF) was detected in the overall group, and in subgroups based on ethnic origin, linkage status and sex. CONCLUSION: ACE is not likely to play a role as a determinant of ADPKD phenotype severity.     

ACE DD genotype: a predisposing factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of polymorphisms in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, I/D) and angiotensin II receptor (AT1R, A1166C) in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 250 consecutive patients, 217 males and 33 females (median age 72, range 50-83), undergone AAA elective repair and 250 healthy controls, comparable for sex and age. ACE and AT1R polymorphisms were studied by PCR-RFLP analysis. The genotype distribution was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for all polymorphisms. RESULTS: The genotype distribution and allele frequency of ACE I/D, but not AT1R A1166C polymorphism were significantly different between patients and controls (ACE I/D: p=0.0002 and p<0.0001, respectively, and AT1R A1166C: p=0.6 and p=0.4, respectively). An association between the ACE DD genotype and the predisposition to AAA was found (OR DD vs. ID+II=1.9 95% CI 1.3-2.9, p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, traditional vascular risk factors and other atherosclerotic localizations, showed ACE DD genotype to be independently related to the disease (OR DD vs. ID+II=2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.2 p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings document that ACE DD genotype represents a susceptibility factor for AAA.     

血管紧张素转换酶基因多态性与糖尿病及其肾脏合并症发病的关系

目的探讨血管紧张素转换酶（ＡＣＥ）基因插入／缺失（Ｉ／Ｄ）多态性与Ⅱ型糖尿病（ＮＩＤＤＭ）及其肾脏合并症发病的关系。方法应用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）扩增技术检测了１０９例ＮＩＤＤＭ患者及１５５例健康对照者的ＡＣＥ基因Ｉ／Ｄ多态性。结果位于ＡＣＥ基因第１６内含子的Ｉ／Ｄ多态性经ＰＣＲ技术扩增后分为三种基因型：纯合子缺失型（ＤＤ）,纯合子插入型（Ｉ）及杂合子插入／缺失型（ＩＤ）。１０９例ＮＩＤＤＭ患者与１５５例正常对照组之间基因型及等位基因频率差异均无显著意义;ＮＩＤＤＭ合并肾病者（ＤＮ）的基因型与未合并肾病者无显著性差异,但等位基因则有显著性差异（Ｄ、Ｉ等位基因为０４５和０５５对０３０和０７０）（Ｐ＜００２）;ＮＩＤＤＭ病程≤１年即伴有肾病者与病程≥５年仍无肾病者比较,ＤＤ型及Ｄ等位基因均显著高于无肾病组（Ｐ均＜００５）,后者以Ｉ型及Ｉ等位基因占绝对优势。结论ＡＣＥ基因多态性与ＮＩＤＤＭ发病无关,而与其肾脏合并症则明显相关,ＤＤ型是ＤＮ的易感基因,而Ｉ型则为其保护基因。     

Excess of DD homozygotes in haemodialysed patients with type II diabetes. The Diabetic Nephropathy Study Group

The role of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin- converting enzyme (ACE) gene in the genesis of diabetic nephropathy has been controversial. It has recently been proposed that progression occurs more rapidly in individuals with diabetic and non-diabetic renal disease who are homozygous for the D allele. We studied 658 patients with type II diabetes, 347 without diabetic nephropathy and 311 with various stages of diabetic nephropathy, and determined the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene. Patients at the extremes of renal risk, i.e. normotensive patients without antihypertensive treatment and without nephropathy (n = 144), vs patients on dialysis (n = 61), differed with respect to genotype (DD 36.8% vs 57.4%; P = 0.007) and allele frequencies (D 0.59 vs 0.76; P < 0.001). In contrast, patients with and without presumed nephropathy as assessed by albuminuria did not differ with respect to DD genotype. In conclusion, in this study, which was limited by sample size, patients with the highest renal risk more frequently had the DD genotype. This would be compatible with a greater risk of (or rate of) progression to end-stage renal failure.      

Impact of ACE I/D gene polymorphism on congenital renal malformations

To investigate the role of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism on prevalence and progression of disease in children with chronic renal failure (CRF), we determined the ACE I/D genotype in 95 children with CRF due to renal malformations (hypo- /dysplasia, obstructive uropathy, reflux nephropathy; n=59), other congenital or hereditary diseases (n=23), or acquired glomerular disorders (n=13), who had been followed prospectively over a 2-year period. CRF progression rate was followed in each individual by linear regression analysis of estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) obtained every 2 months. Actuarial renal ’survival’ analysis was performed, using a GFR loss of 10 ml/min per 1.73 m² as a cutoff point. The distribution of the ACE genotype did not differ among the disease groups. There was also no difference in ACE genotype distribution between the patients and a control group of healthy Caucasian children (n=163). Among the children with renal malformations, the 2-year renal survival was significantly lower in those with the DD genotype (61%) than in patients with ID or II genotype (89%, P<0.01). In the other disease groups, the ACE I/D genotype was not predictive of CRF progression. In a multivariate analysis of risk factors, the adverse effect of the DD genotype (risk ratio 10.2, P<0.05) was independent of and additive to those of arterial hypertension (RR 13.2, P<0.001) and gross proteinuria (RR 4.7, P<0.05). We conclude that the ACE DD genotype is a significant risk factor for children with congenital renal malformations to develop progressive CRF. The effect of the ACE polymorphism in this patient group is independent of hypertension and proteinuria. Received: 25 August 2000 / Revised: 10 December 2000 / Accepted: 15 December 2000