Correlation between adiponectin polymorphism and atherosclerotic plaque compositions under intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the correlation between polymorphism of rs266729 (-11377C/G, Cytosine/Guanine) (adiponectin promoter) site and atherosclerotic plaque compositions as well as related indicators under intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 76 patients with coronary heart disease from December 2014 to December 2016 were enrolled. The PCR-RFLP method was used to analyze the adiponectin gene polymorphism in rs266729 site. All the objects were divided into CC type group (n=26), CG type group (n=23), and GG type group (n=27) according to the results of polymorphism. The amount of lesions and length of lesion in the vessel were determined according to the images of coronary angiography. The indicators from each group, including minimum external elastic membrane area, the smallest lumen area, the patch area, the patch load, the lipid pool area, the lipid pool/plaque area, the fiber cap thickness, the reconstruction index, the positive reconstruction, the negative reconstruction and the patch character were measured according to the IVUS results.

RESULTS: The baseline data from distinct the gene types showed no significant difference. The results of quantitative IVUS plaque analysis indicated a statistical difference of factors such as plaque area, plaque burden, lipid pool area, lipid pool/plaque area, and remodeling index between the CC and GG types (p<0.05). The levels of aminopeptidase N (APN), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), fasting serum insulin (FIN), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) among diverse groups presented statistical difference (p<0.05). Of note, the analysis results of IVUS qualitative components of plaque showed that soft plaque in CC group was 42.3% (11/26), which was significantly lower than GG group 11.1% (3/27) (p<0.05). The vascular remodeling ratio in CC group 26.9% (7/26) was also significantly decreased compared to that in GG group 66.7% (18/27) (p<0.05). The tubular and diffuse ratio in CC groups according to the comparison of diseased vessel, count, length of the lesion were 34.6% (9/26) and 42.3% (11/26), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data on biochemical indicators demonstrates CC type gives rise to poor prognosis compared to GG type does, which suggests that close attention should be paid in the impact of adiponectin polymorphism on atherosclerotic plaque compositions.