Extended single nucleotide polymorphism and haplotype analysis of the elastin gene in Caucasians with intracranial aneurysms provides evidence for racially/ethnically based differences

Background: There is growing evidence that genetic variants have an impact on the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm (IA). Recently, the genetic locus around the elastin gene (7q11) has been identified as linked to IA in a Japanese population. Our aim was to confirm these results in Caucasian populations. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in 120 Caucasian patients with IA and 172 controls to investigate 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and various haplotypes within the elastin gene, which were frequently found and associated with the phenotype in the Japanese populations. Real-time PCR and melting curve analysis were used for the detection of genotypes. Results: Allele frequencies and genotypes were equally distributed between Caucasian cases and controls. We failed to identify haplotypes that are associated with the phenotype in our population, which is in contrast to the Japanese study. However, allele frequencies in control populations differ between Caucasians and Japanese. Conclusions: We found no association between SNPs and haplotypes of the elastin gene and the occurrence of IA in our Caucasian populations. However, our data provide strong evidence for racial/ethnic differences in the association of SNP and specific haplotypes of the elastin gene with the phenotype. There might be other genetic variants of the elastin gene associated with IA in Caucasians.