Transcription factor 7-like 2 rs77961654 polymorphism is related to stable angina and acute coronary syndrome in a Chinese population.

Background: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is a key member of the T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor family, and it plays a pivotal role in human physiological processes and has been implicated in various pathological conditions. TCF7L2 has been associated with inflammation, metabolic regulation, and the development of atherosclerosis. Notably, TCF7L2 exerts an anti-atherosclerotic effect by activating specific molecular pathways. Furthermore, TCF7L2 polymorphisms have been associated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and related mortality. This study aimed to investigate whether the TCF7L2 gene polymorphism rs77961654 A/C influences the risk of CAD. Methods: A total of 262 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 313 patients with stable angina, and 488 healthy individuals were enrolled. The rs77961654 variant of TCF7L2 was genotyped. Results: The frequency of the CC genotype of TCF7L2 was higher in the stable angina and ACS groups compared to the healthy controls. After adjusting for confounding factors including age, sex, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and smoking status, the CC genotype was associated with 10.46-fold and 8.00-fold higher risks of ACS and stable angina, respectively, than the AA genotype. In addition, the CC genotype was positively correlated with both stable angina and ACS, while the AA genotype was negatively correlated with ACS. Furthermore, the patients with stable angina or ACS carrying the CC genotype had significantly elevated levels of HbA1C, total white blood cell count, and lymphocyte count, and lower levels of adiponectin and secreted frizzled-related protein 5 compared to those with the AA genotype. A significant association was also identified between TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes mellitus (p for trend < 0.039). Conclusion: Polymorphisms in the TCF7L2 gene may be associated with a higher risk of stable angina and ACS.