Association of the GNAS1 gene variant with hypertension is dependent on alcohol consumption.
The beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR)-stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding (Gs) protein system has been shown to play important roles in the cardiovascular system. The gene encoding the alpha-subunit of Gs proteins (GNAS1) is a candidate genetic determinant for hypertension. Because alcohol consumption is known to affect blood pressure partly through the beta-AR-Gs protein system, we examined the possible interaction between GNAS1 T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with hypertension in the present study. As a result, a non-significant but reasonable trend supporting the presence of an interaction was shown (p = 0.076). In line with this trend, the T393C polymorphism significantly interacted with drinking status in the association with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.028). Moreover, supporting the presence of an interaction, T allele carriers consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than CC homozygotes in non-drinkers and light drinkers. In contrast, CC homozygotes consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than T allele carriers in moderate to heavy drinkers. The present study also showed a significant interaction between the T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with pulse pressure (p = 0.026), reflected by a significant association between the T393C polymorphism and pulse pressure in moderate to heavy drinkers (p = 0.026). These findings may be helpful in conducting further molecular and biological studies on the relationship among the effects of alcohol, the beta-AR-Gs protein system, and hypertension.
Chen
Yusen
Y
Department of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Ehime University, Ehime, Japan.
Nakura
Jun
J
Jin
Jing-Ji
JJ
Wu
Zhihong
Z
Yamamoto
Miyuki
M
Abe
Michiko
M
Tabara
Yasuharu
Y
Yamamoto
Yoshikuni
Y
Igase
Michiya
M
Bo
Xiao
X
Kohara
Katsuhiko
K
Miki
Tetsuro
T
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000483:Alleles; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics; D002864:Chromogranins; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D002864:Chromogranins; D004247:DNA; C406732:GNAS protein, human; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs