Association between ACE gene polymorphism and carotid stenosisand and construction of related gene regulatory networks

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between DD, ID and II genotypes of ACE gene and carotid stenosis, and to construct a network of ACE-related genes regulating carotid stenosis. APPROACHES: Meta-analysis was used to study the association between three genotypes DD, ID and II of carotid stenosis susceptibility gene ACE; functional annotation of ACE gene was conducted by GO analysis; and a network of ACE-related genes that regulate the mechanisms of carotid stenosis was established. RESULTS: Meta-analysis showed that DD and II genotypes of ACE gene were associated with carotid stenosis. GO analysis showed that the main biological processes involved in ACE include: the process of transforming angiotensinogen into mature angiotensin; angiotensin’s mediation of the brain's response to alcohol consumption and thirst control; any chemical reaction involving the regulation of angiotensin; and the process of catalyzing the release of a C-terminal dipeptide from a polypeptide chain. A network of ACE gene regulation of carotid stenosis was constructed in combination with KEGG analysis. CONCLUSION: The ACE gene is a susceptibility gene for carotid stenosis. Through the functional annotation and pathway analysis of ACE gene, an ACE gene-involved carotid stenosis regulatory mechanisms network was constructed.