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Published in: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging 2/2012

01-02-2012 | Original Paper

Polymorphic variation in choline transporter gene (CHT1) is associated with early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis in humans

Authors: Serina A. Neumann, Katherine J. Linder, Matthew F. Muldoon, Kimberly Sutton-Tyrrell, Christopher Kline, Catherine J. Shrader, Elizabeth C. Lawrence, Robert E. Ferrell, Stephen B. Manuck

Published in: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging | Issue 2/2012

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Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a heritable trait with little known about specific genetic influences on preclinical measures of plaque formation. Based on relations of parasympathetic-cholinergic function to atherosclerosis and to a choline transporter gene [CHT1 (G/T)] polymorphism, we investigated whether the same allelic variant predicts variation in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque formation. Carotid IMT and plaque occurrence as well as genotyping for the CHT1 (G/T) variant were measured in a sample (N = 264) of generally healthy adults (age 30–55) of European ancestry. CHT1 GG homozygotes had greater IMT (P < 0.005) and plaque occurrence (P < 0.020) than T allele carriers. This is the first study showing polymorphic variation in the CHT1 gene to predict early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis which may aid in understanding cholinergic-vagal processes potentially underlying atherosclerotic risk.
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Metadata
Title
Polymorphic variation in choline transporter gene (CHT1) is associated with early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis in humans
Authors
Serina A. Neumann
Katherine J. Linder
Matthew F. Muldoon
Kimberly Sutton-Tyrrell
Christopher Kline
Catherine J. Shrader
Elizabeth C. Lawrence
Robert E. Ferrell
Stephen B. Manuck
Publication date
01-02-2012
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 1569-5794
Electronic ISSN: 1875-8312
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-011-9831-4

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