Age and Sex-Related Chromogranin A Gene Polymorphisms and its Association with Metabolic Syndrome Components

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible differences in genetic polymorphisms and serumlevels of chromogranin A (CgA), according to age and sex, in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methodology. The genotyping and serum level of CgA and biochemical parameters were measured by the T-ARMS-PCRand PCR-RFLP and ELISA and spectrophotometer methods, respectively. Results. A comparison of males with and without MetS showed significantly lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C) levels than those of females.At ages 30-70 years, both sexes showed significant differences in triglycerides (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), CgA levelsand waist circumference (WC) when compared to the two groups. Both sexes with MetS indicated significant differences insystolic blood pressure (SBP) at ages 40-70 years, while at ages 40-59 years, there was a significant difference in HDL-Clevel in males.There was a significant correlation between serum levels of FBS, TG, SBP and WC (in both sexes), and CgA in subjectswith MetS. Significant correlation was found between HDL-C level and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and CgA level inmales and females, respectively. CgA genotype frequency (T-415C and C+87T polymorphisms) showed no significantdifferences between males and females with and without MetS, while there was only a significant difference in frequencyof the genotypes T-415C when compared to males with and without MetS. Conclusion. The CgA appears to be strongly associated with MetS components in both sexes. Variation in CgA geneexpression may affect the T–415C polymorphism in males. This may mean that the structure of CgA genetics differsin different ethnic groups. Differences in the serum level and expression of CgA gene may show valuable study resultsthat it may be expected a relationship between these variables and the MetS