G1359A polymorphism in the cannabinoid receptor-1 gene is associated with coronary artery disease in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest that endocannabinoids modulate food intake, energy balance, and lipid and glucose metabolism through the cannabinoid receptor-1 (CNR1) gene. Treatment of cannabinoid receptor antagonists resulted in an improvement of cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and measures of inflammation. G1359A polymorphism of the CNR1 may be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Chinese Han population.

METHODS

A total of 242 patients with CAD and 86 healthy subjects from Tianjin, China were studied. G1359A polymorphism of CNR1 was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymerphism method.

RESULTS

GG genotype frequency of CNR1 was significantly higher in patients with CAD (94.63%) than in controls (86.05%, p = 0.019). Logistic analysis indicates that the GG genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk for developing CAD compared with the GA and AA genotypes (p = 0.013; OR 2.857; 95.00% CI 1.249 - 6.533). Compared with the GG genotype of the CNR1 in patients with CAD the GA and AA genotypes had relatively lower levels of body mass index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and serum triglycerides, and elevated levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that the G1359A polymorphism of the CNR1 gene may be associated with the risk for developing CAD in the Chinese Han population.