Allelic Polymorphism in the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene in Coronary Artery Diseases

Nitric oxide (NO) has an important role in the relaxation of the vascular smooth muscles, inhibits adhesion of platelets and leucocytes to the endothelium, reduces vascular smooth muscle cells migration and proliferation and limits the oxidation of atherogenic LDL. Nitric oxide is constitutively produced in the endothelium of blood vessels from L- arginine by the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Polymorphism in the (eNOS) gene is an important risk factor in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease( CAD) . In this study the polymorphism in (eNOS) gene was investigated in 30 patients with CAD and 20 control subjects using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Patients were classified into 10 patients with unstable angina and 20 patients with myocardial infarction Results : The distribution of (eNOS) genotypes in patients affected by unstable angina was 50% for GG genotype , 40% for GT genotype and 10% for TT genotype and in patients affected by myocardial infarction was (45%) for GG genotype, (35%) for GT genotype and (20%) for TT genotype. In control subjects it was (50%) for GG genotype, (45%) for GT genotype and (5%) for TT genotype. Conclusion: there is a great controversy about the role of (eNOS) gene polymorphism in the pathophysiology of CAD.