Ali Mohammed Saoud
Department of Medical Chemistry, College of Medicine, University of AL -Qadisiyah, Al-Diywaniyah, Iraq
Ferdous A Jabir
Department of Medical Chemistry, College of Medicine, University of AL -Qadisiyah, Al-Diywaniyah, Iraq
Mohammed Abdulwahab Ati Al-Askeri
Department of biotechnology College of biotechnology, university of AL-Qadisiyah, Al-Diywaniyah, Iraq
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among cardiovascular disease patients. Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is a well-established risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), often linked to genetic mutations affecting homocysteine metabolism, including variations in the Methionine Synthase (MTR) gene. The MTR A2765G polymorphism has been implicated in MI pathogenesis due to its impact on methionine synthase enzyme activity, which is crucial for homocysteine metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the association between MTR A2765G polymorphism, methionine synthase activity, and homocysteine levels in Iraqi patients with MI. Methods: This case-control study was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024, involving 116 participants: 58 MI patients (24 females, 34 males; mean age 56.91 ± 9.15) and 58 healthy controls (24 females, 34 males; mean age 56.53 ± 9.02). The MTR A2765G polymorphism was analyzed using the TETRA-ARMS PCR technique. Serum homocysteine and methionine synthase levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The genotype distribution of MTR A2765G significantly differed between MI patients and controls. Among MI patients, the frequencies were 27.6% (GG), 17.2% (AG), and 55.2% (AA), whereas in controls, the distribution was 8.6% (GG), 17.2% (AG), and 74.1% (AA). The G allele was more prevalent in MI patients (36.2%) compared to controls (17.2%). Furthermore, MI patients exhibited significantly higher homocysteine levels and lower methionine synthase activity than controls (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a strong association between MTR A2765G polymorphism and elevated homocysteine levels in Iraqi MI patients. The presence of the G allele appears to increase MI risk by impairing methionine synthase activity, leading to homocysteine accumulation. These findings highlight the potential role of genetic screening for MTR polymorphisms in cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management.
Keywords: Myocardial Infarction (MI), Methionine Synthase (MTR), Gene Polymorphism, Homocysteine (Hcy), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
