Novel 6-bp deletion in MEF2A linked to premature coronary artery disease in a large Chinese family

The aim of the present study was to identify the genetic defect responsible for familial coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction (CAD/MI), which exhibited an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, in an extended Chinese Han pedigree containing 34 members. Using exome and Sanger sequencing, a novel 6-base pair (bp) 'CAGCCG' deletion in exon 11 of the myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) gene was identified, which cosegregated with CAD/MI cases in this family. This 6-bp deletion was not detected in 311 sporadic cases of premature CAD/MI or in 323 unrelated healthy controls. Determination of a genetic risk profile has a key role in understanding the pathogenesis of CAD and MI. Among the reported risk conferring genes and their variants, mutations in MEF2A have been reported to segregate with CAD/MI in Caucasian families. Causative missense mutations have also been detected in sporadic CAD/MI cases. However, this suggested genetic linkage is controversial, since it could not be confirmed by ensuing studies. The discovery of a novel MEF2A mutation in a Chinese family with premature CAD/MI suggests that MEF2A may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of premature CAD/MI. To better understand this association, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required.