G-50T Polymorphism of the Cytochrome P450 Epoxygenase CYP2J2 Gene is Not Associated with the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease among Chinese in Taiwan

Background: Human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2J2 is expressed in the vascular endothelium and metabolizes arachidonic acid to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). The EETs are potent vasodilators and inhibitors of inflammation. Thus, the CYP2J2 gene variants may contribute to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: In total, 209 patients with CAD (114 of them with myocardial infarction [MI]) and 209 age- and sexmatched control subjects were analyzed for the CYP2J2 G-50T polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction. Results: The distribution of CYP2J2 genotype was similar in the CAD cases and controls; the GT genotype was present in 10.5% of CAD patients, as compared to 8.6% of CAD control subjects (odds ratio=1.87, 95% C.I.=0.81-4.32, p=0.146). The frequency of the T allele was also similar in the CAD cases and controls (5.3% vs. 4.3%, p=0.506). There was also no significant association between G-50T polymorphism carriers and the risk of myocardial infarction. Conclusion: From our data, there is no evidence of an association between the CYP2J2 G-50T polymorphism and the risk of CAD and MI among Chinese in Taiwan.