Background: The CD14 receptor is a myeloid cell-specific receptor, which plays a role in host defense and cell stimulation. CD14 positive cells have been detected in lung, and also in brain, and the CD14 receptor is thought to play a role in asthma and allergy reactions. C-159-->T polymorphism in the promoter of the CD14 gene has been associated with myocardial infarction, but not in all studies. Our goal was to establish whether this polymorphism is associated with some of the risk factors of MI.
Material/methods: With PCR and subsequent restriction analysis we evaluated C-159-->T polymorphism in the CD14 gene in 135 representative selected male Caucasians.
Results: We detected a significantly higher frequency of T/T homozygotes (p<0.025) in subjects who had never smoked (15 of 60, 25.0%) as compared to smokers and past smokers (6 of 75, 8.0%).
Conclusions: The C-159-->T polymorphism in the CD14 gene could be a genetic marker associated with smoking dependence, but confirmation in a large population study is necessary.