Association study between the polymorphisms of nitric oxide synthase gene and carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic in the Chinese Han population

Objective To investigate the association between 27-base pair repeats polymorphism in intron 4 of eNOS gene and carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic in the Chinese Han population.Methods The two polymorphisms were analyzed in 189 patients of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic and 240 controls of Chinese origin using polymerase chain reaction and its products were directly sequenced.Results The eNOS4a allele distribution frequency of eNOS gene in carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic group(9.78%) was higher than that in control group(6.04%),and4a/4b + 4a/4a distribution frequency of eNOS gene in carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic group(17.38%) was also higher than that in control group(11.65%).Both differences between carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic group and control group were significant(all P 0.05).Marker eNOS4a allele was found associated with carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic(OR = 1.594,95%CI = 1.256-1.741,P = 0.000).After adjusted,a association was observed for eNOS4a allele using multivariate logistic regression analysis(P = 0.001,OR = 0.717).Conclusions eNOS gene promoter polymorphisms are associated with ischemic stroke.the eNOS4a allele may rise the risk of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients in the Chinese Han population.