Age and sex dependent genetic effects of neuropeptide Y promoter polymorphism on susceptibility to ischemic stroke in Koreans

Background: In our previous study, the neuropeptide V (NPY) C-399T promoter polymorphism (rs16147C>T) was identified as a risk factor for ischemic stroke in Koreans. In this study, we investigated whether age and sex modify the genetic effect of C-399T on susceptibility to ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 1,350 subjects (802 ischemic stroke patients, 548 healthy controls) were genotyped for C-399T using a primer extension method. The results were statistically analyzed for the genetic association of C-399T with ischemic stroke and clinical parameters. Results: The TT genotype for C-399T was observed at a significantly lower frequency in stroke patients relative to control (CC + CT vs. TT, odds ratio [OR] = 0.578, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.360-0.927, P<0.05). This trend was also observed in female (OR = 0.495, 95% CI = 0.240-1.022) and older subjects (y> 60, OR = 0.556,95% CI = 0.304-1.018) with borderline statistical significance (P = 0.0571 and P = 0.0574, respectively). However, C-399T allele frequency was not different between controls and stroke patients in any groups. The C-399T polymorphism was found to be associated with body mass index and levels of some blood lipids. Conclusions: The C-399T NPY promoter polymorphism should be considered a genetic risk factor for ischemic stroke in the older adult and female Korean populations. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.