Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease Revealed

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death, both in the United States and many other developed nations.   The CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium, comprised of over 170 researchers, has identified fifteen new genetic regions associated with CAD, providing insights into the molecular pathways causing coronary artery disease, which is also known as coronary atherosclerosis. The massive meta-analysis combined genetic data from over 190,000 research participants and utilized the technique of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), that scans the entire genome to identify differences in the DNA code, or “polymporphisms,” that predispose people to various common but genetically complex diseases.   Interestingly, about a quarter of the genetic regions associated with coronary disease or heart attack were also found to be strongly associated with cholesterol, especially high levels of the so-called bad cholesterol known as LDL. Another 10% were associated with high blood pressure. Both of these conditions are known risk factors for coronary artery disease. Observing that: “The four most significant pathways mapping to these networks are linked to lipid metabolism and inflammation, underscoring the causal role of these activities in the genetic etiology of [coronary artery disease],” the study authors conclude that: “ Our study provides insights into the genetic basis of [coronary artery disease] and identifies key biological pathways.”