Role Of The PAF-AH Activity And G994T Genotype Associated With Carotid Unstable Plaque

Objective:To investigate the activities of the plasma PAF-AH and the mutation of gene 994(G→T) in exon 9 in the patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction(ACI) and its relation to carotid unstable plaque.Methods:The authors conducted a case control study including 184 patients with ACI in two groups(stable plaque group and unstable plaque group) and 109 normal subjects as control.The genotype of PAF-AH was determined with allele-specific polymerase chain reaction(AS-PCR) method,at the same time the activities of PAF-AH was measured using PAF-AH EIA kit.Results:The frequency of the mutant genotype in the 184 patients with ACI was 41.30%(36.96%heterozygotes and 4.34%homozygotes)(P＜0.005 ACI vs control group),and was 59.21%(52.63%heterozygotes and 6.58%homozygotes) in the unstable plaque group(P＜0.005 unstable plaque group vs stable plaque group).The activities of the plasma PAF-AH with ACI(6.46±2.20umol/ml)were significantly higher than that of control group(4.79±1.68 umol/ml)(P＜0.001),while the activities of the plasma PAF-AH of the unstable plaque group(6.49±2.14 umol/ml ) were no obvious higher than of the stable plaque group(6.37±2.13 umol/ml)(P＞0.5).Conclusion:These findings show that the 994(G→T)mutation of plasma PAF-AH gene may be an risk factor for ACI,and is upregulated in unstable plaque.