ASSOCIATION BETWEEN METHYLENETETRAHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE AND INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN THE INCHIANTI STUDY
Abstract number: P-M-417
Gori1 A.M., Giusti1 B., Corsi2 A.M., Sestini1 I., Saracini1 C., Bolli3 P., Lauretani2 F., Bandinelli4 S., Ferrucci5 L., Gensini1 G.F., Abbate1 R.
11Medical and Surgical Critical Area, University of Florence 22Tuscany Regional Health Agency 33S.Maria agli Ulivi Center, Don C.Gnocchi Foundation onlus IRCCS 44Geriatric Rehabilitation, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Florence, Italy 55Longitudinal Studies Section, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, United States
How-to-cite Gori AM, Giusti B, Corsi AM, Sestini I, Saracini C, Bolli P, Lauretani F, Bandinelli S, Ferrucci L, Gensini GF, Abbate R. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN METHYLENETETRAHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE AND INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN THE INCHIANTI STUDY. J Thromb Haemost 2007; 5 Supplement 2: P-M-417
Abstract
Introduction: Homocysteine levels (Hcy) were affected by both environmental and genetic factors, and were associated with the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Prospective studies have identified many markers of systemic inflammation as predictors of future cardiovascular events. A link between Hcy levels and a pro-inflammatory state has been documented in several studies.
Methods: Aim of this study was to evaluate the association between CRP or IL-6 levels and genetic polymorphisms both of methionine metabolism enzymes [MTHFR C677T and A1298C, MTR A2756G gene polymorphisms] and of inflammatory gene polymorphisms [CRP 1059 G/C and IL-6 -174 G/C] in the InCHIANTI Study, a prospective population-based Italian study of risk factors for disability in late life.
Results: In the InChianti participants (586 men and 784 women), serum CRP and IL-6 were 2.38 (0.2-147.0) mg/L and 1.27 (0.0-90.0) pg/mL, respectively. The genotype frequencies were 23.3%, 53.9%, 22.8% for CC, CT and TT genotypes of C677T MTHFR, respectively. Adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking habit, physical activity and creatinine levels, CRP serum levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher in TT compared to CC and CT genotypes of C677T MTHFR polymorphism [CC: 2.29 (2.03-2.58) mg/L; CT: 2.24 (2.07-2.42) mg/L; TT: 2.92 (2.58-3.30) mg/L]. Similarly, IL-6 levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher in subjects carrying 677 TT genotype than in subjects with 677CT and 677CC genotypes [CC: 1.19 (1.08-1.31) pg/mL; CT: 1.21 (1.13-1.29) pg/mL; TT: 1.44 (1.31-1.59) pg/mL] after controlling for the aforementioned confounders. No significant effect of the MTHFR A1298C and MTR A2756G polymorphisms on CRP and IL-6 serum levels was observed. In the InChianti participants we did not observe a significant association between CRP 1059 G/C polymorphism, IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism and CRP, IL-6 and homocysteine levels.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that homocysteine-related polymorphisms may be implicated in mechanisms that modulate the inflammatory response.
