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Polymorphic variation in choline transporter gene (CHT1) is associated with early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis in humans

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Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a heritable trait with little known about specific genetic influences on preclinical measures of plaque formation. Based on relations of parasympathetic-cholinergic function to atherosclerosis and to a choline transporter gene [CHT1 (G/T)] polymorphism, we investigated whether the same allelic variant predicts variation in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque formation. Carotid IMT and plaque occurrence as well as genotyping for the CHT1 (G/T) variant were measured in a sample (N = 264) of generally healthy adults (age 30–55) of European ancestry. CHT1 GG homozygotes had greater IMT (P < 0.005) and plaque occurrence (P < 0.020) than T allele carriers. This is the first study showing polymorphic variation in the CHT1 gene to predict early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis which may aid in understanding cholinergic-vagal processes potentially underlying atherosclerotic risk.

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Acknowledgments

This research supported by NIH grants K01 MH 074766 (SAN), P01 HL 40962 (SBM) and HL 07560.

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Correspondence to Serina A. Neumann.

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Neumann, S.A., Linder, K.J., Muldoon, M.F. et al. Polymorphic variation in choline transporter gene (CHT1) is associated with early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis in humans. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 28, 243–250 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-011-9831-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-011-9831-4

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