Association between aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2)-344C/T polymorphism and atrial fibrillation among Han and Kazak residents of the Xinjiang region

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one the most common and complex types of clinical arrhythmia syndromes. In recent years, an association between CYP11B2 gene polymorphisms and atrial myocardial fibrosis has received a significant amount of attention. This study explores the relationship between CYP11B2 gene-344C/T polymorphism and AF among Kazak and Han residents in the Xinjiang region and further clarifies the molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrillation. Methods: The study is a case-control study using traditional methods. We selected 156 Kazak and 203 Han patient cases in the Xinjiang region who had non-valvular atrial fibrillation as well as 307 Kazak and 418 Han cases of non-AF patients as a control group. Blood samples were collected, and DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples. The presence of the CYP11B2 gene-344C/T polymorphism was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Differences in the genotypes and allele distributions among the 2 groups were compared using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 17.0 statistical software. Student's t test, the chi-squared test and logistic regression methods were used for the data analysis. Results: The genotypes of both ethnic groups followed a Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium distribution. The 2 patient groups, compared with their respective control groups, showed significant dominant models in CYP11B2 gene-344C/T polymorphism genotype frequency and B1 allele frequency (P<0.05). The frequencies of the CYP11B2 gene-344C/T polymorphism in the Kazak patient group were higher compared with the control groups (P<0.05). The frequencies of the CYP11B2 gene-344C/T polymorphisms in the Han patient group was also higher compared with the control group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the frequencies of the CYP11B2 gene-344C/T genotypes were significantly different between the Kazak and Han patient groups and the control groups. Conclusion: CYP11B2 gene -344C/T polymorphism is associated with AF.