In summary, results in our study do not support the hypothesis that the rs4986790 (+896A>G, Asp299Gly) TLR4 variant may influence predisposition for subclinical atherosclerosis and clinically evident CV disease in RA patients.
The G allele of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) gene Asp299Gly polymorphism has been previously associated with decreased development of atherosclerosis and with lower risk of myocardial infractions.
To explore a potential atheroprotective effect, we studied the association between the Asp299Gly polymorphism and atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients undergoing angiography for suspected renovascular disease.
We examined toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) as a candidate gene for AMD susceptibility because: (i) the TLR4 gene is located on chromosome 9q32-33, a region exhibiting evidence of linkage to AMD in three independent reports; (ii) the TLR4-D299G variant is associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease with subendothelial accumulation; (iii) the TLR4 is not only a key mediator of proinflammatory signaling pathways but also linked to regulation of cholesterol efflux and (iv) the TLR4 participates in phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments by the RPE.
The presence of the Asp299Gly allele of the TLR4 gene does not seem to exert a major influence on the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with FH.
1400 participants (mean age: 63 years, 31% female) in the Southampton Atherosclerosis Study were genotyped for the TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism using the tetra-primer PCR method.
The Asp299Gly TLR4 polymorphism, which attenuates receptor signaling and diminishes the inflammatory response to gram-negative pathogens, is associated with a decreased risk of atherosclerosis.