Beta2-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms and risk of ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2-AR) mediate vasorelaxation in response to adrenergic agents. Genetic polymorphisms of beta2-AR were implicated in various cardiovascular and noncardiovascular traits.


METHODS
We tested the role of the beta2AR-16 and beta2AR-27 gene variants in the susceptibility to the development of ischemic stroke in a genetically homogenous and clinically well-characterized case-control sample that included 294 cases and 286 controls from Sardinia, Italy. This population was shown to be an optimal study sample for carrying out genetic analyses.


RESULTS
Age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atrial fibrillation were independent risk factors for stroke in this cohort. We found that the presence of the Glu27 allelic variant was associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke when assuming a recessive mode of inheritance (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-2.41; P = .005). The same results were obtained for the subgroup of ischemic strokes of arterial origin (n = 215): OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.14-2.57; P = .009. Furthermore, haplotype analysis confirmed that the presence of the Glu27 allele increased the risk of cerebrovascular accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the Glu27 allelic variant of the beta2-AR gene may be a determinant of ischemic stroke.
Stanzione
Rosita
R
Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Neuromed, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Di Angelantonio
Emanuele
E
Evangelista
Anna
A
Barbato
Daniela
D
Marchitti
Simona
S
Zanda
Bastianina
B
Pirisi
Angelo
A
Quarta
Giovanni
G
Volpe
Massimo
M
Rubattu
Speranza
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005973:Glutamine; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D004247:DNA