Skinfold thickness and blood pressure across C-344T polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain whether body adiposity is associated with the C-344T polymorphism of the CYP11B2 gene codifying for aldosterone synthase.


METHODS
A cross-sectional epidemiological evaluation of a highly homogeneous unselected general population of Caucasians.


METHODS
Lifestyle, medical history, anthropometrics, subscapular, triceps and suprailiac skinfold thickness, lying blood pressure and biochemical measures were recorded in a population-based study among 1386 unselected subjects (56.5% women) living in a secluded valley. All were genotyped for C-344T allele status. Continuous variables were compared across genotypes with analysis of covariance and correlations evaluated using the Pearson method. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for the TT and CT genotype versus the CC homozygotes and compared with the T-carriers with a logistic model.


RESULTS
The C-344T genotypic frequency did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In women, higher values of triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness were found in the CC homozygotes than in the T-carriers. In this sex, skinfold thickness also directly correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the T-carriers only. The logistic regression for the dependent variable arterial hypertension showed an influence of triceps [OR 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.12, P=0.006], subscapular (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.20, P<0.0001) and suprailiac (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.15, P=0.03) skinfold in T-carrier women only. These relationships were not detectable in men. The aldosterone-to-renin ratios were comparable across genotypes and sexes.


CONCLUSIONS
The C-344T polymorphism of the CYP11B2 gene seems to exert a sex-specific influence on body adiposity, independent of adrenal aldosterone.
Casiglia
Edoardo
E
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Thiene-Schio, Thiene-Schio, Italy. edoardo.casiglia@unipd.it
Tikhonoff
Valérie
V
Schiavon
Laura
L
Guglielmi
Francesco
F
Pagnin
Elisa
E
Bascelli
Anna
A
Basso
Giancarlo
G
Mazza
Alberto
A
Martini
Bortolo
B
Bolzon
Monica
M
Guidotti
Federica
F
Caffi
Sandro
S
Rizzato
Enzo
E
Pessina
Achille C
AC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2 / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
D017931:DNA Primers; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2