Candidate gene polymorphisms in cardiovascular disease: A comparative study of frequencies between a French and an Italian population

A multilocus assay was used to genotype up to 27 variable sites in 15 genes in French and Italian, presumed to be healthy populations (n=1480, n=162, respectively). These genes are involved in lipid metabolism (APOE, APOB, APOC3, CETP, LPL, PON), homocysteine metabolism (CBS, MTHFR), blood viscosity (Fibrinogen, FV), platelet aggregation (GpIIIa), leukocyte adhesion (SELE), and renin-angiotensin system (AT1R, ACE, AGT). Allele frequencies for all the markers were compared between the two populations. Five allele frequencies differed between the two European countries: APOB 71Ile (p less than or equal to 0.001), SELE 98T (p <0.001), SELE 128Arg (p less than or equal to0.01), APOE epsilon4 (p less than or equal to 0.01) and MTHFR 677T tp I 0.01), suggesting the existence of a north-south gradient in European allele frequencies. The other allele frequencies : APOC3 -482T, -455C, 1100T, 3175G, 3206G; LPL -93G, 9Asn, 291Ser; CETP 405Val; PON 192Arg; ACE Del; AGT 235Thr; AT1R 1166C; CBS 278Thr, GpIIIa P1(A2); Fibrinogen -455A, N 506Gln and SELE 554Phe, were similar between the two populations. They were also similar to those observed in other European countries.