Genetic variation at the ADAMTS7 locus is associated with reduced severity of coronary artery disease

Background– Genome-wide association studies identified ADAMTS7 as a risk locus for coronary artery disease (CAD). Functional studies suggest ADAMTS7 may promote cellular processes in atherosclerosis. We sought to examine the association between genetic variation at ADAMTS7 and measures of atherosclerosis using histological, angiographic and clinical outcomes data. Methods and results– The lead CAD-associated single-nucleotide polymorphism rs3825807 at the ADAMTS7 locus was genotyped. The G-allele (reduced ADAMTS7 function) was associated with a smaller fibrous cap (p=0.017) and a smaller percentage area of α-actin (smooth muscle cell marker) in the intima (p=0.017), but not associated with calcification or plaque thickness, following ex-vivo immunohistochemistry analysis of human coronary plaques (n=50; mean age 72.2±11.3). In two independent cohorts (Southampton Atherosclerosis Study (SAS; n=1359; mean age 62.5±10.3; 70.1% male) and the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank (EmCAB; n=2684; mean age 63.8±11.3; 68.7% male)), the G-allele was associated with 16-19% lower odds of obstructive CAD (SAS, OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.67-0.98); EmCAB, OR 0.84 (95% CI 0.75-0.95)) with similar effects for multi-vessel, left anterior descending and proximal CAD. Furthermore, each copy of the G-allele was associated with lower angiographic severity Gensini score (SAS, p=0.026; EmCB, p<0.001), lower Sullivan Extent score (SAS, p=0.029; EmCB, p