Renin-angiotensin system and associated gene polymorphisms in myocardial infarction in young South African Indians.

The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in cardiovascular regulation. Abnormalities in genetic components of this system, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene, angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 ) receptor gene and angiotensinogen (AGT) gene, may cause a variety of adverse cardiovascular effects. It was the aim of this study, therefore, to investigate the involvement of the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D), AT 1 receptor 1166 A→C and AGT M235T polymorphisms as predisposing factors for myocardial infarction (MI) in 195 young South African Indians (≤ 45 years). Results were compared with those obtained in 107 unaffected siblings (18-45 years old) and 300 healthy age- and race-matched control subjects. The distribution of the ACE genotypes was the same in each of the three study groups (p-value ranged between 0.83 and 0.98). No differences were observed in the 1166 A→C AT 1 receptor polymorphism with respect to both genotype and allelotype (p > 0.70), or in the genotype or allele frequency distribution of the AGT M235T polymorphism (p > 0.44). However, a significant increase was noted for both the AT 1 receptor C variant (p = 0.025) and the AGT T variant (p = 0.047) in hypertensive patients compared with those who were normotensive. In conclusion, results of this study indicate that the ACE I/D, the 1166 A→C AT, receptor and AGT M235T polymorphisms do not confer any increased risk for MI in young South African Indians.