Association of the PDE4D gene variant with selected markers in individuals with ischaemic heart disease: a pilot study

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the variant (rs2910829) of the PDE4D gene in relation to its influence on biochemical, anthropometric and physiological parameters in patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects of the Eastern Slovak population.

Methods: The male group consisted of 72 individuals and the female group consisted of 132 individuals. On the basis of clinical screening the subjects were divided into two groups - with ischaemic heart disease and control group. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using a commercial NucleoSpin^® Blood Machenery-Nagel kit. Molecular genetic analysis of the polymorphism under study was performed using the StepOne™ Real-Time PCR System instrument. The lipid profile markers TC, HDL, LDL, TG were measured by Cobas Integra 400 plus biochemical analyser, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure using a digital blood pressure monitor. Among anthropometric parameters, body height and weight, waist and hip circumference were measured and BMI and WHR indices were calculated.

Results: A statistically significant (p = 0.018) possible association between the mutant T allele and ischaemic heart disease was found in men. In women, we found a statistically significant difference in the systolic (p = 0.013) and diastolic blood parameters (p = 0.005) in the CC genotype. In the group of women, we found statistically significant differences in all observed anthropometric parameters and in LDL and TC markers. In the group of men divided on the basis of BMI, statistical significance was found in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.028). In the group of women with ischaemic heart disease, we found a negative correlation between BMI and HDL.

Conclusion: The study contributes to new findings of the representation of genotypes and alleles of the rs2910829 PDE4D gene polymorphism in the Slovak population. This is a pilot study. Interactions between genotype and observed anthropometric, physiological and biochemical markers were confirmed.