Association of polymorphism in glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit gene with coronary vasomotor dysfunction and myocardial infarction

Objectives The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the promoter region of the glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) gene may be associated with coronary endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and myocardial infarction (MI). Background Glutamate-cysteine ligase is a rate-limiting enzyme for synthesis of glutathione (GSH) that plays a crucial role in the intracellular antioxidant defense systems. Oxidants transcriptionally upregulate the GCLC gene for GSH synthesis, providing a protective mechanism against oxidant-induced endothelial dysfunction or activation, which plays a pathogenetic role in cardiovascular diseases. Methods The association of the possible polymorphisms with coronary arterial diameter responses to acetylcholine was determined in 62 male subjects. The frequency of polymorphisms was compared between 255 male patients with MI and 179 male control subjects. Results We found a polymorphism (−129C/T) in which the T allele showed lower promoter activity (50% to 60% of the activity of the C allele) in response to H2O2 in human endothelial cells. Endothelium-dependent dilation of coronary arteries was impaired in subjects with the −129T allele (n = 31), as compared with the age-matched subjects without the −129T allele (n = 31). The T allele was highly frequent in patients with MI as compared with control subjects, and it was a significant risk factor for MI, independent of traditional coronary risk factors (odds ratio [OR] 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08 to 3.03; P = 0.03). Conclusions The −129T polymorphism of the GCLC gene may suppress the GCLC gene induction response to an oxidant, and it is implicated in coronary endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and MI.