Lack of association between angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism and Korean Behçet's disease

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-308, -1031, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) DD/II polymorphisms' role in Behcet's disease with and without uveitis: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

There are conflicting results of studies investigating the association between the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms and Behcet's disease (BD). The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the association between these gene polymorphisms and ocular involvement in BD.

METHODS

We identified relevant studies and reviewed the full-text manuscripts of the studies in order to select those for inclusion. Heterogeneity of studies was evaluated using Cochran Q-test and I-square index. To modify the heterogeneity in the variables we used random effects model. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA.

RESULTS

We analyzed TNF-1031, -308 and ACE DD/II genotype difference between BD patients with and without uveitis. Among these polymorphic genetic loci TNF-308 AA genotype has a statistically significant protective effect against BD uveitis (OR = 0.45 vs 1.23, p = .017). Such a statistically significant effect was not seen for other studied genotypes.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis revealed a significant protective effect of TNF-308 AA genotype against ocular involvement in Behcet's disease.

Insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene increased risk of Behcet disease: evidence from a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Endothelial dysfunction has a role in the development of the Behcet disease (BD). Local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a crucial role in the endothelial control, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is the monitoring component of the RAS. We investigated the relationship between the ACE Ins/Del (I/D) variants and the risk of BD.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

A meta-analysis was conducted from all published studies on the associations be.tween the ACE I/D polymorphism and BD.

METHODS

We systemically searched all published studies from PubMed and EMBASE, and data were quantitatively synthesized. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for allele, homozygous, heterozygous, and combined genetic models.

RESULTS

Out of 5 eligible studies, 676 healthy controls and 534 BD cases were included in the present meta.analysis. D allele carrier was significantly associated with increased BD risk (D vs I: P=.002; OR=1.321, 95% CI=1.111-1.570). Homozygous mutant DD genotype also revealed 1.5-fold increased risk (DD vs II; P=.004; OR=1.573, 95% CI=1.156-2.141). In addition, the dominant genetic model demonstrated an increased risk of developing BD (DD vs II+ID: P=.001; OR=1.610, 95% CI=1.242-2.087).

CONCLUSION

The current study suggests that ACE gene polymorphism (Ins/Del) contributes an increased susceptibility to BD. However, larger studies with stratified case control population and biological characterization are needed to validate this finding.

Associations between the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and susceptibility to vasculitis: a meta-analysis

Introduction: To explore whether the insertion (I) and deletion (D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE) confers susceptibility to vasculitis.

Materials and methods: A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the ACE I/D polymorphism and vasculitis.

Results: Twelve studies, including four on Behçet’s disease (BD), four on Henoch–Schenlein purpura (HSP), three on Kawasaki disease (KD), and one on Wegener’s granulomatosis, were available for the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that the DD + ID genotype was associated with susceptibility to vasculitis (odds ratio [OR] 1.468, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.214–1.468, p = 7.4 × 10−5). The overall OR for the D allele was significantly increased in BD (OR 1.313, 95% CI 1.017–1.695). Meta-analysis of the DD+ID genotype, the DD genotype and the DD vs. II genotype showed marginal associations with BD, but meta-analysis of the D allele, and the DD+ID genotype showed significant associations with HSP (OR 1.446, 95% CI 1.021–2.049, p = 0.038; OR 1.881, 95% CI 1.385–2.595, p = 6.6 × 10−5). On the other hand, meta-analysis showed no association between KD and the ACE I/D polymorphism.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that the ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with vasculitis susceptibility, especially in BD and HSP.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in Korean patients with systemic sclerosis

To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with the development and clinical features of systemic sclerosis (SSc) in Korean, we studied seventy two Korean patients with SSc fulfilling the ACR preliminary classification criteria. The controls were 114 healthy, disease free Koreans. ACE I/D genotypes were determined by PCR method using oligonucleotides. Sixty eight patients (94.4%) were women and age at diagnosis was 43.5+/-12.6 yr old (mean+/-SD). Thirty nine patients (54.2%) had a diffuse type of SSc. There were no statistical differences in the frequencies of all ACE I/D genotypes and D allele between patients and controls, and neither between diffuse and limited types of SSc. ACE I/D gene polymorphism was not associated with the development of SSc in Korea. The investigation for the pathogenesis of SSc requires more studies about the role of other candidate genes such as endothelin, TGF-beta, nitric oxide, or angiotensin II receptor in addition to the ACE genes.