Polymorphisms in the AT1 gene have been associated with various parameters related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and to myocardial infarction.
To assess the association of the angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor (-1332 G/A) gene polymorphism with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and investigate for a further role in both myocardial infarction and predominantly stenotic atherosclerosis requiring revascularisation.
The angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor is thought to play a role in cardiovascular disorders such as neointima formation after vascular injury, cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial infarction (MI).
We analyzed the evolution with age of the frequencies of the I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a1166c of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor (AT1R), M235T of the angiotensinogen (AGT) and A225V of their methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in a healthy (H) population and the subsequent comparison to age- and sex-matched groups of myocardial infarction (MI) subjects.
Myocardial AT1 receptor density increases in association with ACE expression, and AT1 receptor activation is related to collagen formation following myocardial infarction in rats.
We have now investigated the role of a common polymorphism of the AT1 receptor gene (an A-->C transversion at position 1166 of AGT1R) and looked for an interaction between ACE and AGT1R gene polymorphisms on the risk of myocardial infarction.