Genetics
CETP Ile405Val predicts carotid intima-media thickness in men but not women in the Stanislas Cohort (Clin Genet 2001)
Original title: APOC3, CETP, fibrinogen, and MTHFR are genetic determinants of carotid intima-media thickness in healthy men (the Stanislas cohort)
In 77 men and 84 women aged 35-54 from the French Stanislas Cohort, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was tested against 16 polymorphisms across 11 cardiovascular-risk genes. Several polymorphisms, including APOB Thr71Ile and multiple others, showed no association with CIMT in either sex. However, a distinct sex-specific pattern emerged for CETP Ile405Val along with APOC3, MTHFR, and fibrinogen polymorphisms: none of these were associated with CIMT in women, but all were significantly associated with CIMT variability in men (P<=0.01 to P<=0.05). Together, this gene set explained 20.6% of CIMT variability in men, offering a new avenue for understanding the determinants of this atherosclerosis marker.
Original abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) inter-individual variability and 16 polymorphisms of 11 genes associated with cardiovascular risk factors (genes among lipid and homocysteine metabolisms, blood viscosity, platelet aggregation, leukocyte adhesion and renin-angiotensin system). CIMT was measured by high resolution B-mode ultrasonography in an healthy population of 77 men and 84 women, aged 35-54 years and selected from a French Cohort: the Stanislas Cohort. The polymorphisms studied were genotyped by a multilocus approach. Statistical analyses were carried out by ANOVA, after adjustment of CIMT for age, body mass index, and smoking, and by multiple regression analyses. No association was found with APOB Thr71Ile, APOC3 -482C/T, -455T/C, GpIIIa P1A, AT1R 1166A/C, AGT Met235Thr, CBS Ile278Thr, SELE 98G/T, and SELE Ser128Arg, polymorphisms neither in men nor in women. Although, in women we did not find any association for APOC3 3206T/G, 3175C/G, 1100C/T, CETP Ile405Val, MTHFR 677C/T and fibrinogen -455G/A polymorphisms; in men these polymorphisms were associated with CIMT variability (p< or =0.01; p< or =0.05). The most interesting finding was that altogether these genes in men were able to explain a considerable part, 20.6%, of CIMT variability. Therefore, our study gives a new opportunity to understand CIMT variability.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.