Genetics
CETP TaqIB is the only tested genetic system linked to atrial fibrillation, especially when combined with kidney or inflammation markers (BMC Med Genet 2006)
Original title: A role for CETP TaqIB polymorphism in determining susceptibility to atrial fibrillation: a nested case control study
This nested case-control study within the PREVEND cohort investigated associations between environmental factors and candidate gene loci with atrial fibrillation (AF), matching 194 AF cases to age- and sex-matched controls, using logistic regression, multifactor-dimensionality reduction (MDR), and interaction entropy graphs to assess gene-gene and gene-environment interactions across genes in the renin-angiotensin, bradykinin, and CETP systems. AF subjects had higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, renal dysfunction, elevated C-reactive protein, and increased urinary albumin excretion. Renin-angiotensin and bradykinin gene polymorphisms showed no significant AF association (p greater than 0.05), but the CETP TaqIB polymorphism was significantly associated with AF (p less than 0.05). The best MDR genotype-phenotype models combined albuminuria, elevated CRP, renal dysfunction, or ischemic heart disease with CETP TaqIB genotype (all P less than 0.05 after permutation testing), with albuminuria plus CETP TaqIB removing the most entropy.
Original abstract
Background: Studies investigating the genetic and environmental characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) may provide new insights in the complex development of AF. We aimed to investigate the association between several environmental factors and loci of candidate genes, which might be related to the presence of AF.
Methods: A nested case-control study within the PREVEND cohort was conducted. Standard 12 lead electrocardiograms were recorded and AF was defined according to Minnesota codes. For every case, an age and gender matched control was selected from the same population (n = 194). In addition to logistic regression analyses, the multifactor-dimensionality reduction (MDR) method and interaction entropy graphs were used for the evaluation of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Polymorphisms in genes from the Renin-angiotensin, Bradykinin and CETP systems were included.
Results: Subjects with AF had a higher prevalence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, renal dysfunction, elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and increased urinary albumin excretion as compared to controls. The polymorphisms of the Renin-angiotensin system and Bradykinin gene did not show a significant association with AF (p > 0.05). The TaqIB polymorphism of the CETP gene was significantly associated with the presence of AF (p < 0.05). Using the MDR method, the best genotype-phenotype models included the combination of micro- or macroalbuminuria and CETP TaqIB polymorphism, CRP >3 mg/L and CETP TaqIB polymorphism, renal dysfunction and the CETP TaqIB polymorphism, and ischemic heart disease and CETP TaqIB polymorphism (1000 fold permutation testing, P < 0.05). Interaction entropy graph showed that the combination of albuminuria and CETP TaqIB polymorphism removed the most entropy.
Conclusion: CETP TaqIB polymorphism is significantly associated with the presence of AF in the context of micro- or macroalbuminuria, elevated C-reactive protein, renal dysfunction, and ischemic heart disease.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.