eNOS genotype is without effect on circulating nitrite/nitrate level in healthy male population

• Published in: Thrombosis research 2005, Vol.115 (5), p.375-379
• Main Authors: Nagassaki, Sabrina, Metzger, Ingrid F., Souza-Costa, Debora C., Marroni, Aline S., Uzuelli, Juliana A., Tanus-Santos, Jose E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Brazil; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cholesterol; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS); European Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Genotype; Humans; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nitrate; Nitrates - blood; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase - genetics; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Nitrite; Nitrites - blood; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Polymorphisms; Population - genetics; Reference Values; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2004.09.003

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. It is produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which exhibits genetic polymorphisms. Although the clinically relevant polymorphism T +IhI-786C reduces eNOS-promoter activity, it is not clear whether circulating nitrite/nitrate (NO x ) are affected by this polymorphism. We addressed this issue by studying a homogeneous group of 200 healthy subjects (males, Caucasians, nonsmokers, 18+IBM-56 years of age, and not taking any medication). Genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism and circulating NO x were determined by chemiluminescence. We found nonsignificant effects of the T +IhI-786C polymorphism on circulating NO x (mean+ALE-S.D.=52.2+ALE-21.4, 49.0+ALE-17.8, and 45.9+ALE-16.8 +A7w-mol/L for genotypes +IBw-TT,+IB0 +IBw-TC,+IB0 and +IBw-CC,+IB0 respectively) and on total plasma cholesterol concentrations (both P>.05). No correlation was found between circulating NO x and total plasma cholesterol concentrations ( P>.05). Our study provides strong evidence that the T +IhI-786C polymorphism does not affect plasma NO x concentrations, which are believed to reflect endogenous production of NO. Therefore, our results suggest that this polymorphism does not affect endogenous NO production.