Abstract:

Objective  To explore the relationship between the expression of human protection of telomeres 1 (hPOT1) and pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods  A total of 79 in-patients in the Department of Cardiology of the Second Hospital of Shandong University were recruited. After coronary angiography, 49 patients were taken in the coronary atherosclerosis group, while the other 30 patients were taken as the control group. The height, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of all cases were evaluated. Expression of hPOT1 mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) method. Results  The level of the hPOT1 mRNA in the coronary atherosclerosis group reduced significantly (P<0.05); the expression of hPOT1 mRNA were negatively correlated with hyperglycemia (r=-0.264, P<0.05), high TC (r=-0.213, P<0.05) and hypertension (r=-0.331, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that hPOT1 was a protective factor for coronary atherosclerosis, (OR=0.871, 95%CI=0.852-0.900, P<0.05). Conclusion  The low expression of hPOT1 is positively correlated with the pathogenesis and risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis.

Key words: The human protection of telomeres 1; Coronary angiography; Coronary atherosclerosis; Risk factors