Summary
The arachidonic acid metabolites participate in development of coronary artery disease
(CAD) and the plaque’s instability.We assessed two common genetic polymorphisms: of
cyclooxyge-nase-2 (COX-2) (COX 2.8473, rs5275) and prostaglandin EP2 receptor gene
(uS5, rs708494) in patients with CAD. Out of 1,368 patients screened by coronary arteriography,
two groups fulfilled the entry criteria and were studied: stable coronary disease
(sCAD, n=125) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS, n=63).They did not differ in the
main characteristics.All patients were on aspirin at least seven days prior to the
study.In 70 control subjects, the same genotypes were ascertained, expression of cyclooxygenases
in peripheral blood monocytes was assessed by flow cytometry, and in-vitro biosynthesis
of PGE2 was measured by mass spectrometry. COX-2 CC homozygotes (variant allele), were more
common, while EP2 GG homozygotes (wild-type) were less common in ACS (p=0.03 and p=0.017)
than in the sCAD group.A combined genotype characterized by the presence of the wild-type
COX2.8743T allele and the wild type homozygous EP2uS5 genotype (TT or CT | GG) decreased
risk ratio of ACS in CAD patients (relative risk 0.41;95% confidence interval 0.21–0.81).COX-2
polymorphism in control subjects did not affect the enzyme expression or PGE2 production by peripheral blood monocytes, but production of PGE2 increased by 40.1% in the subjects homozygous for EP2 receptor allele uS5A following
lipopolysaccharide stimulation. In conclusion, the combined COX-2 (COX 2.8473) and
the EP2 receptor (uS5) genotypes seem to influence CAD stability, but in peripheral
blood monocytes only EP2 receptor modulates PGE2 production.
Keywords
Arachidonic acid - coronary artery disease - cyclooxygenase-2 - genetic polymorphisms
- prostaglandin E2