The aim of our study was to investigate the potential association of mRNA expression and plasma levels of the LIM domain 7 (LMO7) gene with the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Two SNPs of the LMO7 gene were genotyped in 310 patients with DCM and 415 controls. Our results showed that SNP rs7986131 (p = 0.002, OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.12-1.71), but not SNP rs4884021, was associated with DCM in the Han Chinese population. Haplotype analysis showed that the haplotype GT was associated with increased DCM susceptibility while AC was a protective haplotype. The Cox multivariate survival analysis indicated that the rs7986131 TT genotype (HR 1.659, 95% CI = 1.122-2.454, p = 0.011) was an independent multivariate predictor for shorter overall survival in patients with DCM. LMO7 mRNA expression and plasma LMO7 levels were significantly decreased in DCM (p < 0.0001). Spearman correlation test revealed that the plasma LMO7 level was negatively associated with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = -0.384, p = 0.01), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = -0.375, p = 0.012), and brain natriuretic peptide (r = -0.482, p = 0.001). Our study suggested that the LMO7 gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis of DCM in the Han Chinese population.
Keywords: DCM; LMO7; SNP; Survival analysis; Ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS).