2363 Polymorphisms In The Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) Gene Associated With Behçet's Disease
J. KARASNEH1, J. WORTHINGTON1, M.H. THORNHILL2, A.H. HAJEER1, A. GUL3, and W.E.R. OLLIER1, 1University of Manchester, United Kingdom, 2Bart's and the London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, United Kingdom, 3University of Istanbul, Turkey

Objective: Behçet's disease (BD) is a recurrent acute systemic vasculitic disease characterised by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers. In BD, endothelial damage is caused by oxygen superoxides and intermediates produced by neutrophils. Endothelial nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of monocyte, neutrophil and platelet adhesion, produced from L-arginine by NOS. The promoter region –786 T→C polymorphism has been reported to reduce eNOS promoter activity, and the 27bp VNTR in intron 4 affects the circulating NO level. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of eNOS gene polymorphisms in BD.

Methods: Blood samples from 160 Turkish BD patients (56 with a family history) fulfilling the International Study Group criteria and 105 healthy Turkish controls were genotyped for the eNOS –786 T→C and 894 G→T polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP. The 27 bp VNTR was genotyped using PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. Chi-square analysis was used to compare the allele and genotype frequencies of cases and controls.

Results: There was a significantly increased allele and genotype frequency for the eNOS –786 T polymorphism (p=0.02; p=0.048 respectively) in BD cases compared to controls. The associations was even stronger in cases with a family history (p=0.0006; p=0.003 respectively). The bb genotype of the 27bp VNTR also occurred more often in BD and the combined *TT –786/*bb VNTR genotype occurred significantly more often in BD cases than controls (p=0.0012). Again the significance was even greater when analysis was restricted to BD cases with a family history (p£0.00001). No significant association was found with the 894 polymorphism.

Conclusion: Individuals having the eNOS genotype *TT –786/*bb VNTR have an increased risk of developing BD disease (OR=2.42, 95%CI (1.4 - 4.13)) and the risk is even higher in those individuals having the genotype and a family history of BD (OR=4.61, 95%CI (2.3-9.3).

Seq #213 - Pathological Mechanisms - Mucosal Diseases, Odontogenic Cysts and Tumours
11:00 AM-12:15 PM, Friday, 8 March 2002 San Diego Convention Center Exhibit Hall C

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