Stroke. 2005;36:2566-2570
Published online before print November 10, 2005,
doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000190833.43791.be
(Stroke. 2005;36:2566.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.
Disparate Associations of a Functional Promoter Polymorphism in PCK1 With Carotid Wall Ultrasound Traits
Robert A. Hegele, MD;
Khalid Z. Al-Shali, MD;
Andrew A. House, MD;
Anthony J.G. Hanley, PhD;
Stewart B. Harris, MD;
Mary Mamakeesick, BScN;
Aaron Fenster, PhD;
Bernard Zinman, MD;
Henian Cao, MD
J. David Spence, MD
From the Robarts Research Institute (R.A.H., K.Z.A.-S., A.F., H.C., J.D.S.) London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine (A.A.H.), University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine and Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute (A.J.G.H., B.Z.), Mount Sinai Hospital and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Thames Valley Family Practice Research Unit (S.B.H.), University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; and Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project (M.M.), Sandy Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Correspondence to Robert A. Hegele, MD, FRCPC, FACP, Blackburn Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory, Robarts Research Institute, 406-100 Perth Dr, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5K8. E-mail hegele{at}robarts.ca
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Abstract
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Background and Purpose Cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate
carboxykinase (PEPCK; EC 4.1.1.32), encoded by
PCK1, catalyzes
the first committed step in gluconeogenesis. We previously showed
that a 232C>G promoter polymorphism within a
cis-acting
element required for basal and cAMP-mediated
PCK1 gene transcription
results in loss of negative regulation by insulin, contributing
to worsened metabolic control in the context of insulin resistance.
We hypothesized that this polymorphism would be associated with
carotid atherosclerosis in a sample of 150 aboriginal Canadians.
Methods Dependent variables were 2 distinct carotid traits, namely intima-media thickness (IMT) assessed using B-mode ultrasound and total carotid plaque volume (TPV) assessed using 3D ultrasound.
Results Multivariate analysis showed significant but opposite associations of PCK1 genotype with these traits. Specifically, subjects with the PCK1232G/G genotype had more carotid IMT (0.80±0.02 versus 0.73±0.03 mm; P=0.007) but less TPV (0.10±0.09 versus 0.38±0.13; P=0.03) than subjects with other genotypes.
Conclusions The findings connect the key enzyme in gluconeogenesis with atherosclerosis. The meaning of the opposing associations of PCK1 genotype with IMT and TPV is unclear; more work is required to confirm whether these might be distinct quantitative traits with different biological determinants.
Key Words: atherosclerosis diabetes mellitus genetics risk factors
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Introduction
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Diabetes mellitus and related disturbances such as hyperglycemia
and insulin resistance are potent risk factors for atherosclerosis.
1 Biochemical and genetic advances have specified many candidate
proteins for hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
2 A key candidate protein for glycemia and diabetes is cytosolic
phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK; EC 4.1.1.32), which
catalyzes the first committed step in hepatic gluconeogenesis.
3,4 In the
PCK1 gene that encodes PEPCK, we identified a common
promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), namely 232C>G,
within a
cis-acting element, that governs basal and stimulated
PCK1 gene transcription.
5 In vitro, the 232G-containing
promoter showed 5- to 100-fold increased basal expression with
no downregulation by insulin compared with the 232C-containing
promoter.
5 Furthermore, in 2 independent populations, the odds
ratios for type 2 diabetes mellitus was

2-fold greater in subjects
with 232G than in subjects with 232C.
5 Given the
reported dysfunction and genetic associations, we evaluated
the relationship between
PCK1232C>G SNP promoter genotype
with measures of carotid atherosclerosis in 150 Canadian Oji-Cree
individuals.
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Methods
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Study Sample
The Sandy Lake community is located at the 55th parallel of
latitude in the subarctic boreal forest of central Canada. Baseline
demographic, clinical, and biochemical attributes from an ongoing
study of diabetes risk and complications have been described.
6,7 Seventy-two percent of community members >10 years of age
were studied with medical history and physical examination.
In 2001, 278 adult community had ultrasound (US) assessment
of the carotid arteries. Of these, 150 had baseline demographic
data and sufficient DNA for
PCK1 genotyping, and this subset
was demographically representative of the overall sample (data
not shown). All subjects provided informed consent, and the
study received approval from the Sandy Lake Band Council and
from the institutional review boards of the universities of
Toronto and Western Ontario.
DNA Analysis PCK1232C>G
We genotyped the PCK1232C>G promoter SNP, as described.5 Briefly, we amplified the PCK1 promoter using primers F: 5'- TCT AAG TGA GTT TGG TCG GAG G 3' and R: 5'- CTG CAG AGT GCT GCT AAG GG 3'. Samples were amplified for 30 cycles, each of which consisted of denaturing at 94°C for 30 seconds, annealing at 56°C for 30 seconds, and extension at 72°C for 30 seconds. Digestion of the 1640-bp promoter product with MaeIII yielded fragments of 494, 483, 393, 180, 38, 34, and 18 bp for the 232C allele and fragments of 674, 483, 393, 38, 34, and 18 bp for the 232G allele. Sequence-proven controls were run with each reaction and fragments were resolved in 8% polyacrylamide gels.
General US Logistics
General procedures to measure intima-media thickness (IMT) and total carotid plaque volume (TPV) were described previously.810 Briefly, US images were obtained using an HDI-5000 US machine and an L125 transducer (both from Advanced Technology Laboratories) that had been flown to the community and housed there. A single certified operator used the same instrument over a 4-week period to obtain carotid US images for determinations of IMT and TPV.
IMT Measurement
A single blinded observer measured combined IMT of the far wall of both common carotid arteries, with technical details as described.810 Still images were analyzed using computerized edge-detection software (Prowin)11 using a stepwise algorithm, edge detection, and linear interpolation as described.810 Mean IMT was computed from 80 to 120 measurements over a 10-mm span ending 5 mm proximal to the transition between the common carotid and bulb regions. Intraoperator and interoperator coefficients of variation of 3.0% and 3.1%, respectively, and intraoperator and interoperator intraclass correlations were both 0.97.
TPV Measurement
Two-dimensional US images of the carotid arteries were obtained and immediately reconstructed into a 3D volume to verify scan quality, as described.12,13 Three-dimensional US images were acquired with a freehand scanning system scanning system and analyzed with L3Di visualization software (Life Imaging Systems). Each 3D image was displayed using multiplanar texture mapping, and plaque volumes were measured using manual planimetry as described.810 Plaques were identified based on visible morphological changes, in which local intimal thickening exceeded 1.0 mm. Plaque boundaries were traced using a mouse-driven cross-haired cursor, as described.810 Slice areas were summed and multiplied by interslice distance to give plaque volume; TPV was the sum of plaque volumes between clavicle and angle of the jaw for both carotids. Intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities were 0.94 (n=40) and 0.93 (n=40), respectively.
Statistical Analysis
SAS version 8 (SAS Institute) was used to evaluate the association of carotid US traits and PCK1232C>G genotypes. IMT and TPV measurements were significantly nonnormally distributed in this data set, so both variables were transformed: 1/IMT and the natural logarithm (log) of TPV were normally distributed. ANOVA (general linear models procedure) was used to determine sources of variation. F-tests were computed from the type III sums of squares, which applies to unbalanced study designs and reports effects of independent variables after adjusting for all other variables in the model.9,10,1417 Dependent variables were transformed IMT and TPV. Independent variables were PCK1232C>G genotype (assuming a recessive model), age, sex, body mass index, diabetes status, current smoking, hypertension, and the ratio of plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB):A1. The general linear model procedure for least-squares means (also called population marginal means) was used to determine the level of significance in pairwise comparisons. Least-squares means are the values for class means after adjustment for all covariates.
2 analysis was used to evaluate deviation of genotype frequencies from HardyWeinberg law.
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Results
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Baseline Demographic Features
Clinical attributes of the 150 subjects overall and according
to sex are shown in
Table 1. None of the discrete or quantitative
traits were significantly different between males and females.
The simple Pearson correlation coefficient between untransformed
carotid artery quantitative traits was 0.505 (
P<0.0001).
This increased somewhat to 0.633 (
P<0.0001) when transformed
values (ie, 1/IMT and log TPV) were used.
Allele and Genotype Frequencies
Frequencies for PCK1232C/C, 232C/G, and 232G/G genotypes were 0.24, 0.48, and 0.28, respectively, with no difference between genders. 232G allele frequency was 0.52, and the observed genotype frequencies did not deviate from HardyWeinberg expectations. In this sample, the odds of diabetes related to 232G/G genotype was 1.26 (95% CI, 0.61 to 2.59; NS). Furthermore, there were no significant between-genotype differences in age, body mass index, proportion of females, ratio of apoB:A1, plasma glucose concentration, smoking, or hypertension (data not shown).
Determinants of Carotid IMT and TPV
Representative IMT and TPV images are shown in the Figure. ANOVA in Table 2 showed that transformed IMT was significantly associated only with age and with PCK1232C>G genotype in this sample, each with a nominal P<0.05. The ratio of apoB:A1 and hypertension each tended to be associated with IMT. ANOVA in Table 2 also showed that transformed TPV was significantly associated only with age and PCK1232C>G genotype, each with a nominal P<0.05. The ratio of apoB:A1 and diabetes each tended to be associated with TPV. Significant associations detected by ANOVA were evaluated by comparing least-squares means for genotype classes (Table 3). Subjects homozygous for 232G had significantly more carotid IMT than others (0.80±0.02 versus 0.73±0.03 mm; P=0.007) but significantly less carotid TPV than others (0.10±0.09 versus 0.38±0.13; log transformed; P=0.030).

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Representative US images for determinations of right carotid artery anatomy using IMT and TPV from 3 study subjects (A, B, and C). The left panels for each study subject show typical images used to determine IMT, with arrows at the far carotid wall indicating IMT. The right panels show images used to determine TPV, which are defined as colored regions. Values of each trait for each subject are shown. Among these 3 subjects, the relationship between IMT and TPV was modest. For instance, subjects A and B each had IMT of 1 mm, whereas subject C had considerably less IMT. However, the quantity of TPV was markedly different between subjects A and B, whereas subject C, who had a small IMT measurement, had a markedly high TPV throughout the carotid arterial system. PV indicates plaque volume.
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Discussion
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In Canadian Oji-Cree, we found disparate associations between
PCK1 promoter genotype and quantitative carotid US phenotypes.
Specifically, homozygotes for the 232G allele, which
is associated with higher in vitro expression of PEPCK at baseline
and a failure to normally downregulate in response to insulin,
was associated with significantly greater carotid IMT but significantly
less carotid plaque volume measured in the same individuals.
As with any genetic association finding in a small study sample,
the results may have represented a chance finding and thus require
replication. However, if replicated, the findings indicate that
a functional polymorphism in the focal enzyme of gluconeogenesis
is associated with carotid intermediate traits of atherosclerosis.
The distinctive nature of these carotid US traits is highlighted
by their moderate degree of correlation with each other (r

0.6)
and by the fact that the same functional genetic polymorphism
has an opposite association with each. Indeed, we have previously
shown that IMT and TPV have different relationships with specific
risk factors.
8,9 Also, we previously found an analogous disparate
relationship of the association between
PPARG genotype and IMT
versus TPV.
10 The current
PCK1 findings add to the growing evidence
that carotid US traits have different determinants likely reflecting
different aspects of "atherosclerosis."
810
Atherosclerosis is a complex, multistage, multifactorial disease process18,19 that connotes varied phenotypes ranging from clinical events to measurements taken from images acquired noninvasively. IMT and plaque measurements such as TPV likely reflect different attributes of atherosclerosis and are not necessarily well correlated as shown in the Figure. In this sample, there was no association between PCK1232C>G genotype and risk factor traits that might have explained the disparate association with the carotid arterial changes. Specifically, we found no association of PCK1 genotype and obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, the metabolic syndrome defined using current criteria,20 or diabetes (data not shown). Risk factors themselves, such as lipids and hypertension, tended to be associated with atherosclerosis traits, with none showing significance. These observations may be attributable to the relatively small sample size, but the signals for the genetic associations might also reflect the possible pleiotropic effects of this functional polymorphism through unmeasured intermediate mechanisms and pathways.
IMT is a linear variable that is determined from standardized portion of the carotid wall by measuring combined thickness of intima and media at specified intervals and then determining their mean.2131 As such, IMT probably more closely reflects a hypertrophic response of intimal and medial cells to hypertension or growth factors.18 We have previously shown that among risk factors, hypertension is most strongly associated with IMT.8 In contrast, formed plaques that contribute to TPV measurement represent a later stage of atherogenesis related to inflammation, oxidation, or myocyte proliferation.1,2 In this context, 232G may exert differential effects on IMT compared with TPV; these are not always well correlated (Figure) and could represent different phenotypes. As always, genetic association studies performed in small samples have limitations and will require replication.32
The results of this small study indicate that although functional genetic variation in PCK1 encoding the focal enzyme of gluconeogenesis PEPCK is associated with atherosclerosis, specific relationships with IMT and TPV differ somewhat. In addition to small sample size, the limitations include the relatively young age of the sample, which tended to limit the generalizability of the study. PEPCK is emerging as a key metabolic determinant of carbohydrate metabolism and glycemia, which is, in turn, a determinant of atherosclerosis risk. Also, the findings support the concept that IMT and TPV are different stages along a continuum that reflect different attributes of atherosclerosis. Therefore, their use as surrogates for atherosclerosis might lead to different conclusions in a particular sample. Carotid US phenotypes represent new and interesting quantitative markers for study of genetic and other determinants.33,34 However, it is becoming clear that different US phenotypes are only modestly related to each other and have different determinants.3537 Future work in individual study samples, with careful and extensive collection of intermediate phenotypes and genetic markers, may help to clarify whether these traits actually reflect different aspects of atherosclerosis.
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Acknowledgments
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This work was supported by grants from the Heart and Stroke
Foundation of Ontario (T4772), the Canadian Institutes for Health
Research (FRN 44087 and MOP 44076), Genome Canada and the Blackburn
Group. R.A.H. and A.F. hold Canada research chairs (tier I).
R.A.H. is a career investigator of the Heart and Stroke Foundation
of Ontario (CI4380). S.B.H. is a career scientist of the Ontario
Ministry of Health. A.J.G.H. was supported through a Canadian
Diabetes Scholarship and a University of Toronto Banting and
Best Diabetes Centre New Investigator Award. B.Z. holds the
Sam and Judy Pencer Family Chair in Diabetes Research.
Received July 8, 2005;
revision received August 18, 2005;
accepted August 28, 2005.
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