ADAM8 and its single nucleotide polymorphism 2662 T/G are associated with advanced atherosclerosis and fatal myocardial infarction: Tampere vascular study.

Objective. Previously, we scanned all 23,000 human genes for differential expression between normal and atherosclerotic tissues and found the involvement of ADAM8. Methods. We investigated the expression of ADAM8 mRNA and protein level in human atherosclerotic tissues and non-atherosclerotic internal thoracic arteries as well as the association of ADAM8 2662 T/G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and with the risk of fatal myocardial infarction. Results. ADAM8 mRNA was up-regulated in carotid, aortic, and femoral atherosclerotic plaques (n = 24) when compared with non-atherosclerotic arteries. ADAM8 protein expression was increased in advanced atherosclerotic plaques as compared to control vessels wherein it was localized to macrophages and smooth muscle cells. The G allele carriers of the ADAM8 2662 T/G SNP had significantly larger areas of fibrotic, calcified, and complicated plaques in coronary arteries (P = 0.027, P = 0.011, and P = 0.011, respectively) and significantly higher occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) (P = 0.004) and fatal pre-hospital MI (P = 0.003) than did the TT homozygotes. Conclusion. ADAM8 is a promising candidate to be involved in atherosclerosis, and its 2662 T/G allelic variant significantly associates with advanced atherosclerotic lesion areas and MI.