Higher DNA methylation of ABO gene promoter is?associated with acute myocardial infarction in a hospital-based population in Karachi

摘要

Objective: To find out if there is any relationship of methylation status of ABO gene promoter withthe risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a hospital-based Pakistani population in Karachi,Pakistan.Methods: A case control study comprising of 39 adult AMI patients (both males and females; age range30-70 years) and 39 normal healthy controls (both males and females and similar age range) nested in alarge study (to see the relationship of ABO genotypes with AMI) was designed to investigate the methylationstatus of ABO gene promoter and its association with AMI. The study was carried out at the Aga KhanUniversity, Karachi during July 2018 to June 2019. DNA isolated from samples of AMI patients and normalhealthy controls were converted into bisulphite DNA using a kit method. Methylation specific polymerasechain reaction was carried out to determine the methylation status of ABO gene promoter in both cases andcontrols. Logistic regression was used to find out any association between increased methylation status ofABO gene promoter and risk of AMI.Results: A significantly higher percentage of DNA methylation of the ABO gene promoter was observedin AMI patients as compared to normal healthy controls (82.1% vs. 35.9%; p value 0.001). This highermethylation status of ABO gene promoter was associated with AMI and the odds of AMI in this populationwere more than 6-fold in subjects with methylated gene promoter compared to those with unmethylatedgene promoter after adjusting with age and waist circumference [AOR (95% CI) = 6.27 (1.76-22.3); p value= 0.005].Conclusion: The ABO gene promoter’s hypermethylation appears to be increasing the risk of AMI in ahospital-based Pakistani population in Karachi, Pakistan.