Association Between Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism And Cerebral Infarction

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and cerebral infarction, cerebral infarction with hypertension, plasma lipids and fibrinogen; and to analyze their possible mechanisms in the presence of cerebral infarction in order to prevent the onset of cerebral infarction.Methods: 80 patients with cerebral infarction (among which 52 patients with hypertension) were investigated and compared with 70 age-and sex-matched healthy control subjects. The insertion/deletion polymorphism of ACE gene was determined by one-stage polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and visualized on 2% agarose gels. At the same time, we also collected the clinical data of plasma lipids and fibrinogen in cerebral infarction with hypertension subjects and healthy controls.Results: The length of ACE genomic DNA is 21kb, which is composed of 26 exons and 25 introns. An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism had been found in 16th intron. When PCR amplification is performed, 2 DNA fragments 490bp/190bp are generated. Therefore, three genotypes DD and II homozygotes, and ID heterozygote are expressed.This study found: 1 .The frequencies of DD genotype and D allele in patients with cerebral infarction (27.5%, 49.4%) were higher than that of controls (15.7%,40.7%), but they had not statistical significance (p>0.05) . 2.The frequencies of DD genotype and D allele in patients with hypertensive cerebral infarction (32.7%,53.8%) were higher than that of controls, and the difference issignificant (p<0.05).3. The TG, TC, LDL, Fib levels and HDL level in DD genotypic cerebral infarction with hypertension subjects were significant higher/lower than those of controls.Conclusions: There was not a significant correlation between the polymorphism of ACE gene and cerebral infarction. The polymorphism of ACE gene played an important role in cerebral infarction with hypertension. The treatment of hypertension and decreased plasma lipids would reduce the onset of cerebral infarction with hypertension.