Association of polymorphisms in thromboxane A2 receptor and thromboxane A synthase 1 with cerebral infarction in a Korean population

Thromboxane A2 (TBXA2) is a potent vasoconstrictor in cerebral circulation and is a known contributor to the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction. Thromboxane A2 synthase 1 (TBXAS1) and thromboxane A2 receptors (TBXA2R) are key components in TBXA2 function. We examined whether genetic variants in TBXA2R and TBXAS1 are risk factors for cerebral infarction by genotyping 453 Korean patients with noncardiogenic cerebral infarction and 260 controls. A few, specific polymorphisms in the TBXA2R (-3372G greater than C, +4710T greater than C and 4839T greater than C) and TBXAS1 (+16184G greater than T, +141931A greater than T and +177729G greater than A) genes were chosen and investigated. Logistic regression showed the frequencies of TBXAS1 + 16184G greater than T and TBXAS1 - ht3 were significantly more frequent in cerebral infarction (P = 0.002, OR = 2.75 and P = 0.01, OR = 1.57, respectively), specifically in small-artery occlusion (SAO) type of cerebral infarction (P = 0.0003 and 0.005, respectively). These results suggest specific TBXAS1 gene polymorphisms may be a useful marker for development of cerebral infarction, especially SAO type in Korean population.