II-89Posters
POLYMORPHISMS IN THE PROMOTER REGION OF THE BASIC
FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR GENE ARE NOT ASSOCIATED
WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN THE SLOVENE
POPULATION WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES
Stojan Kariž1, Miha Krkovič2, Ines Cilenšek3, Dejan Bregar3, Joško Osredkar3, Daniel
Petrovič3
1 General hospital Izola, Izola, Slovenia
2 Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
3 University Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Ljubljana,
Ljubljana, Slovenia; daniel.petrovic@mf.uni-lj.si
Introduction Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a multifunctional growth factor that induces en-
dothelial cell and smooth muscle cell proliferation and stimulates angiogenesis. bFGF ex-
pression is upregulated in diabetes mellitus and is implicated in diabetes-induced vascular
complications. Polymorphisms within the promoter region of the bFGF gene could inter-
fere with existing transcription factor binding sites or produce new binding sites, and thus
influence the bFGF gene expression.
In this case-control cross-sectional study we investigated a possible association between the
bFGF gene polymorphisms and MI among patients with type 2 diabetes in the Slovene
population (Caucasians).
Methods In the cross-sectional study we investigated the association of genetic polymorphisms (-
553T/A, -834T/A and -921C/G) in the promoter region of the bFGF gene with myocardial
infarction (MI) in a group of patients with type 2 diabetes. The study population consisted
of 443 subjects with type 2 diabetes of more than 10 years’ duration: 149 patients with MI
(MI group) and 294 patients (control group) with no history of coronary disease (CAD),
no signs of ischemia on electrocardiogram and no ischemic changes during submaximal
stress testing. The bFGF gene polymorphisms were evaluated as described previously. More-
over, we were interested in the effect of the polymorphisms (-553T/A, -834T/A and -921C/
G) of the bFGF gene on the BFGF serum level. Chi-square test was used to compare discrete
variables and to compare genotype distributions. Statistical analysis was performed using
the SPSS program for Windows 2000 version 13 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Statistical
significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results The bFGF genotype distributions in patients (MI group) and controls were compatible with
Hardy-Weinberg expectations (BFGF-553: MI group χ2 = 0.48, p = 0.488; controls χ2 = 1.1, p
= 0.29; bFGF-834: MI group χ2 = 0.31, p = 0.577; controls c2 = 0.344, p = 0.557; bFGF-921:
MI group χ2 = 3.37, p = 0.066; controls χ2 = 3.38, p = 0.065).
The -553 T/A polymorphism (dominant model: OR = 0.9, 95 % CI = 0.5–1.7, p = 0.7), the -
834 T/A polymorphism (dominant model, OR = 1.0, 95 % CI = 0.5–2.1, p = 0.9) and the -
921 C/G polymorphism (dominant model, OR = 1.3, 95 % CI = 0.7–2.0, p = 0.36) of the
bFGF gene were not found to be risk factors for myocardial infarction in patients with type
2 diabetes. Moreover, In the study an association between the gene polymorphism of the
BFGF gene and the BFGF serum level was demonstrated.
Conclusion The polymorphisms -553 T/A, -834 T/A and -921 of the bFGF gene are not risk factors for
myocardial infarction in patients with type 2 diabetes, therefore they cannot be used as
genetic markers for myocardial infarction in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes.