OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of CD14 promoter gene -159(C>T) polymorphism in Hubei Han population of China and analyze the association of CD14 polymorphisms with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSGenotypes of CD14 were typed in 162 CHD patients and 196 controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Selected coronary angiography was performed in 162 CHD patients.

RESULTSCD14 promoter -159 genotype frequencies of CC, CT and TT were 27.4%, 45.6%, 27.0% and 14.8%, 46.5%, 38.7% in normal control group and CHD group respectively. Genotype distribution was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There existed statistically significant difference in frequencies of allele and genotype in CD14 C-159T polymorphism between CHD group and control group (Genotype: Chi2=0.654, P < 0.05, CT vs CC, OR=1.245, 95%CI: 1.001-1.473, TT vs CC, OR=2.374, 95%CI 2.012-2.649; Allele: Chi2=0.547, P < 0.05, T vs C, Chi2=0.547, P < 0.05, OR=3.105, 95%CI: 2.493-3.539). The distributions of allele and genotype in CD14 -159(C>T) were of statistically significant difference between non-myocardial infarction subgroup and myocardial infarction subgroup (Genotype: Chi2=0.782, P < 0.05, CT vs CC, OR=2.375, 95%CI: 2.017-2.689, TT vs CC, OR=3.459, 95%CI: 3.003-3.846. Allele: Chi2=2.374, P < 0.05, T vs C, Chi2=2.374, P < 0.05, OR=4.011, 95%CI: 3.814-4.279). However, no statistically significant difference was found among the subgroups of oneìtwo and three stenosed vessels.

CONCLUSIONThe T allele of the C-159T polymorphism of CD14 gene may be a risk factor for myocardial infarction.