Association between angiotensin II receptor gene polymorphism and serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) activity in patients with sarcoidosis
- Yuji Takemotoa,
- Mitsunori Sakatania,
- Seijyu Takamib,
- Teruo Tachibanac,
- Jitsuo Higakib,
- Toshio Ogiharab,
- Tetsuro Mikib,
- Tomohiro Katsuyab,
- Tessei Tsuchiyamaa,
- Akira Yoshidaa,
- Hisahiro Yua,
- Yoshiro Tanioc,
- Einosuke Uedaa
- aDepartment of Medicine, National Kinki Central Hospital, Nagasonecho 1180, Sakai City, Osaka 591, Japan, bDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka, 565, Japan, cDepartment of Medicine, Osaka Prefectural Hospital, Manndai Higashi 3-1-56, Sumiyosu-ku, Osaka City, 558 Japan
- Dr Y Takemoto.
- Received 15 September 1997
- Revision requested 24 November 1997
- Revised 3 February 1998
- Accepted 9 February 1998
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) is considered to reflect disease activity in sarcoidosis. SACE activity is increased in many patients with active sarcoid lesions. The mechanism for the increased SACE activity in this disease has not been clarified. ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism has been reported to have an association with SACE levels in sarcoidosis, but no evidence of an association between angiotensin II receptor gene polymorphism and SACE in this disease has been found. A study of the association of angiotensin II receptor gene polymorphisms with sarcoidosis was therefore undertaken.
METHODS ACE (I/D), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1), and angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AGTR2 ) gene polymorphisms were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and SACE levels were measured in three groups of patients: those with sarcoidosis or tuberculosis and normal controls.
RESULTS There was no difference in allele frequency of AGTR1 and AGTR2 polymorphism among the three groups. Neither AGTR1 nor AGTR2 polymorphisms were associated with sarcoidosis. SACE activity was higher in patients with sarcoidosis with the AGTR1 A/C genotype than in others. However, this tendency was not detected in patients with tuberculosis.
CONCLUSIONS The AGTR1 allele C is associated with high activity of SACE in patients with sarcoidosis. It is another predisposing factor for high levels of SACE in patients with sarcoidosis and is considered to be an independent factor from the ACE D allele for high levels of SACE in sarcoidosis. This fact could be one of the explanations for the increased SACE activity in sarcoidosis.
