SummaryThe arachidonic acid metabolites participate in development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the plaque’s instability.We assessed two common genetic polymorphisms: of cyclooxyge-nase-2 (COX-2) (COX 2.8473, rs5275) and prostaglandin EP2 receptor gene (uS5, rs708494) in patients with CAD. Out of 1,368 patients screened by coronary arteriography, two groups fulfilled the entry criteria and were studied: stable coronary disease (sCAD, n=125) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS, n=63).They did not differ in the main characteristics.All patients were on aspirin at least seven days prior to the study.In 70 control subjects, the same genotypes were ascertained, expression of cyclooxygenases in peripheral blood monocytes was assessed by flow cytometry, and in-vitro biosynthesis of PGE2 was measured by mass spectrometry. COX-2 CC homozygotes (variant allele), were more common, while EP2 GG homozygotes (wild-type) were less common in ACS (p=0.03 and p=0.017) than in the sCAD group.A combined genotype characterized by the presence of the wild-type COX2.8743T allele and the wild type homozygous EP2uS5 genotype (TT or CT | GG) decreased risk ratio of ACS in CAD patients (relative risk 0.41;95% confidence interval 0.21–0.81).COX-2 polymorphism in control subjects did not affect the enzyme expression or PGE2 production by peripheral blood monocytes, but production of PGE2 increased by 40.1% in the subjects homozygous for EP2 receptor allele uS5A following lipopolysaccharide stimulation. In conclusion, the combined COX-2 (COX 2.8473) and the EP2 receptor (uS5) genotypes seem to influence CAD stability, but in peripheral blood monocytes only EP2 receptor modulates PGE2 production.
Expression of the aging gene p66Shc is increased in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome but not with stable coronary artery disease
