Association between Phe206Leu allele polymorphism of L-selectin gene and coronary artery disease

Background and Polymorphisms found in genes encoding some of adhesion molecules reported to be associated with severity of atherosclerosis. Little is known about the role of L-selectin polymorphism in atherosclerotic inflammaory process. The aim of this study was to assess L-selectin Phe 206 Leu polymorphism in subjects with clinical and instrumental evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 149 (108 men and 41 women) patients with atherosclerotic disease in one or more vessels documented by angiography were studied. Also 215 subjects (128 men and 87 women) without atherosclerosis according to angiographic findings were considered as control. All subjects were genotyped for L-selectin Phe206Leu gene polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSCP). To assess the disease severity, all patients were classified by number of coronary artery with ≥50% stenosis. A significantl increased frequency of the 206Leu mutant allele was observed in patients with CAD compared to those without CAD. The 206Leu allele frequency in the patients with CAD compared to individuals without CAD was 25.9 vs 14.6%, P<0.05. However, no association between L-selectin Phe206Leu polymorphism and the disease severity was found (P=0.35). Our findings suggest that L-selectin 206L/L genotype could represent a genetic risk factor for CAD in the Iranian population.