THE –11377 C>G PROMOTER VARIANT OF THE ADIPONECTIN GENE PREDICTS VASCULAR EVENTS IN MALE CORONARY PATIENTS

Background: Low serum levels of the adipocyte-derived peptide adiponectin are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The –11377 C>G promoter variant of the adiponectin gene recently has been linked to decreased adiponectin levels. No prospective data demonstrating an increased cardiovascular risk in individuals with the G versus the C allele are available.
Methods: In a consecutive series of 402 men who had undergone coronary angiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease, vascular events were recorded over 4.1 ± 0.4 years.
Results: The prevalence rates of the –11377 CC, GC, and GG genotypes among our patients were 56.5%, 37.1% and 6.5%, respectively. At baseline, serum adiponectin levels decreased significantly from the CC over the GC to the GG genotype (p for trend = 0.003), and the prevalence of significant coronary stenoses ≥50% increased gradually from the CC over the GC to the GG genotype (63.9%, 73.2%, and 88.5%, respectively; p for trend = 0.004). Prospectively, the presence of the G allele of the adiponectin gene –11377 C>G polymorphism strongly and significantly predicted future vascular events (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.703 [1.074-2.699]; p = 0.023). Adjusted hazard ratios were 1.582 [0.971-2.577] and 2.403 [1.108-5.214] for patients with the CG and GG genotypes when compared to patients with the CC genotype (p for trend = 0.011).
Conclusions: Among male coronary patients the –11377 C>G promoter variant of the adiponectin gene is i) associated with decreased serum adiponectin levels, ii) correlated with an increased prevalence of significant coronary stenoses and iii) strongly predictive of future vascular events.