Abstract: To investigate the correlation between the -420C＞G polymorphism of the resistin gene and cerebral infarction. MethodsThe single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of resistin was demonstrated by means of PCR and digested by restriction endonucleases in 176 cases of cerebral infarction and 140 healthy controls. The study group was subdivided into two groups: the cerebral thrombosis group（94 cases） and the cerebral embolism group（82 cases）. ResultsThere were three genotypes at the site of -420 of resistin gene: CC, CG and GG. Also there were significant differences of the CC/(CG+GG) genotype(P=0.016?2) and the C/G allelic frequencies(P=0.014?3) between patients with cerebral thrombosis and healthy subjects. Subjects with cerebral infarction showed a significant association between cardiovascular diseases and SNP-420C＞G(P=0.014). The CG+GG genotype had a high frequency. There were no associations between type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance or SNP-420C＞G. ConclusionSNP-420C＞G of the resistin gene may play a role in cerebral infarction and cardiovascular diseases probably by accelerating atherosclerosis.

Key words: Resistin, Polymorphism, Cerebral infarction, Atherosclerosis