Polymorphisms of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in subjects susceptible to high-altitude pulmonary edema.
OBJECTIVE
A blunted hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) has been observed in some sufferers of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and was proposed as a potential mechanism in its pathogenesis. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the carotid body responding to hypoxia to synthesize dopamine neurotransmitter to heighten ventilation. The association of constitutional susceptibility to HAPE regarding the blunted HVR aspect with polymorphisms of the TH gene was examined.


METHODS
A cross-sectional case control study.


METHODS
Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan.


METHODS
Forty-three subjects with a history of HAPE (HAPE group) and 51 healthy climbers without a history of HAPE (control group).


METHODS
The (TCAT)n tetranucleotide microsatellite repeats within intron 1 and Met81Val variant in exon 2 of the TH gene were investigated by polymerase chain reaction following either direct sequencing or restriction fragment length polymorphism. The HVR in 21 subjects among the HAPE group was also measured.


RESULTS
No significant frequency differences could be found in terms of either of the two polymorphisms between the HAPE and control groups. Meanwhile, no relationships were observed between the HVR values of HAPE subjects and the individual alleles in both polymorphisms of the TH gene.


CONCLUSIONS
The genetic susceptibility of HAPE, specifically the blunted HVR in HAPE, is probably not associated with the mutations of the TH gene, implying that these two polymorphisms may not be a sufficient genetic marker for predicting a predisposition to the susceptibility to HAPE.
Hanaoka
Masayuki
M
First Department of Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan. masayuki@hsp.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
Droma
Yunden
Y
Hotta
Junichi
J
Matsuzawa
Yukinori
Y
Kobayashi
Toshio
T
Kubo
Keishi
K
Ota
Masao
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000235:genetics*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics*
D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase