Cardiovascular and metabolic phenotypes in relation to the ADRA2B insertion/deletion polymorphism in a Chinese population.
OBJECTIVE
The functional ADRA2B I/D polymorphism is associated with various cardiovascular and metabolic phenotypes in Caucasians. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the ADRA2B I/D polymorphism is associated with such phenotypes in a Chinese population.


METHODS
We enrolled 247 women and 234 men in a family-based Chinese study. Our statistical methods included generalized estimating equations and quantitative transmission disequilibrium test.


RESULTS
The I allele (62.3 versus 50.8%, P = 0.015) and the II genotype (40.9 versus 23.4%, P = 0.017) were more prevalent among hypertensive than normotensive men. While adjusting for covariates and family clusters, male II homozygotes compared with D-allele carriers had higher systolic pressure (130.0 versus 125.0 mmHg, P = 0.016) and a 2.61 times greater (P = 0.008) risk of hypertension. On the other hand, II homozygous men had lower body weight (65.4 versus 69.6 kg, P = 0.008), body mass index (23.4 versus 24.5 kg/m2, P = 0.037), waist-to-hip ratio (0.838 versus 0.857, P = 0.024), serum insulin concentration (9.5 versus 13.2 mU/l, P = 0.026) and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment index 2.4 versus 3.2, P = 0.051). None of these associations reached statistical significance in women. In 65 informative male offspring, transmission of the I allele was associated with higher systolic pressure (+ 6.0 mmHg, P = 0.10), diastolic pressure (+ 5.5 mmHg, P = 0.021), and faster pulse rate (+ 5.8 beats/min, P = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
In Chinese men, the I allele of the ADRA2B gene is associated with higher blood pressure, but also with a more favourable metabolic phenotype.
Zhang
Haifeng
H
Department of Cardiology, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Li
Xinli
X
Huang
Jun
J
Li
Yan
Y
Thijs
Lutgarde
L
Wang
Zhenzhen
Z
Lu
Xinzheng
X
Cao
Kejiang
K
Xie
Sifeng
S
Staessen
Jan A
JA
Wang
Ji-Guang
JG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D012727:Sex Characteristics
C547771:ADRA2B protein, human; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2