Associations of functional alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 gene variants with atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 17:6:23207. doi: 10.1038/srep23207.

Abstract

Asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginines (ADMA and SDMA) impair nitric oxide bioavailability and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 (AGXT2) is the only enzyme capable of metabolizing both of the dimethylarginines. We hypothesized that two functional AGXT2 missense variants (rs37369, V140I; rs16899974, V498L) are associated with AF and its cardioembolic complications. Association analyses were conducted using 1,834 individulas with AF and 7,159 unaffected individuals from two coronary angiography cohorts and a cohort comprising patients undergoing clinical exercise testing. In coronary angiography patients without structural heart disease, the minor A allele of rs16899974 was associated with any AF (OR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.59-2.68), and with paroxysmal AF (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.44-2.74) and chronic AF (OR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.35-3.06) separately. We could not replicate the association with AF in the other two cohorts. However, the A allele of rs16899974 was nominally associated with ischemic stroke risk in the meta-analysis of WTCCC2 ischemic stroke cohorts (3,548 cases, 5,972 controls) and with earlier onset of first-ever ischemic stroke (360 cases) in the cohort of clinical exercise test patients. In conclusion, AGXT2 variations may be involved in the pathogenesis of AF and its age-related thromboembolic complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Angiography
  • Atrial Fibrillation / genetics*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cohort Studies
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Stroke / genetics*
  • Stroke / pathology
  • Transaminases / genetics*
  • Transaminases / metabolism

Substances

  • Transaminases
  • Alanine-glyoxylate transaminase