Lymphotoxin-α gene 252A>G and metabolic syndrome features in Korean men with coronary artery disease

Background: Associations between variations in the lymphotoxin-α (LTA) gene and coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes have previously been reported. We investigated the influence of the LTA 252A>G and 804C>A polymorphisms on circulating parameters related to metabolic syndrome in Korean patients with CAD. Methods: The study subjects comprised 446 Korean male patients with CAD (age 53.9 y, BMI 25.2 kg/m²). Results: The LTA 252A>G and 804C>A polymorphisms were almost in complete linkage disequilibrium (R² = 99.4%). The LTA 252A>G polymorphism was associated with LDL particle size (P = 0.046), HOMA-IR (P = 0.022) and circulating levels of triglyceride (P = 0.006), HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.008), apo A1 (P = 0.031), insulin (P = 0.046), and adiponectin (P = 0.018), after adjustment for BMI. CAD patients with LTA 252G/G (n = 96) had a lower concentration of HDL-cholesterol, a smaller LDL particle size, and a higher triglyceride level, compared to those with 252A/A (n = 121) or 252A/G (n = 229). In addition, CAD patients with LTA 252G/G had lower concentrations of adiponectin and higher levels of insulin, and HOMA-IR than those with 252A/A. Conclusion: Homozygosity for rare alleles of the LTA 252A>G polymorphisms was associated with features of metabolic syndrome such as hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, small LDL particle and low adiponectin level in CAD patients, suggesting that CAD patients with LTA 252GG are at high risk and needed an intensive intervention against further progression.