Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in postmenopausal women, and inflammation is a key mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been used as a biomarker of inflammation. Considering that gene rs1205 polymorphism has been associated with hs-CRP circulating levels, we evaluated whether rs1205 genotypes influence the presence of low-grade chronic inflammation, acting as a marker of cardiovascular risk.
We performed a cross-sectional study with biobanked blood samples from 327 postmenopausal women with no evidence of clinical disease. Genotyping for rs1205 C > T SNP of the gene was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction with allelic discrimination assays.
Mean age was 55.6 ± 5.6 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.3 ± 4.7. Participants were divided according to hs-CRP levels: ≥3 mg/l (low-grade chronic inflammation) or < 3 mg/l. The frequency of allele C at rs1205 was 74.2% in the hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/l group vs. 59% in the hs-CRP < 3 mg/l. In a multivariable model, higher prevalence of hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/l was associated with CC genotype (PR 1.53; 95%CI 1.07-2.18;  = 0.018) and waist circumference ≥ 88 cm (PR 2.45; 95%CI 1.66-3.60;  < 0.001).
rs1205 CC homozygotes may be at higher risk of a low-grade chronic inflammatory status compared to individuals carrying the T allele.

© The Author(s) 2020.

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