Does neuregulin-1 play a role in Type A behavior? The cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.
BACKGROUND
Neuregulin-1 proteins are related to physiological correlates of Type A in terms of cardiac reactivity. Furthermore, neuregulin-1 gene (NRG1) may play a role in cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease i.e. the suggested "outcomes" of Type A behavior. Therefore, NRG1 is hypothesized to be associated with Type A behavior.


METHODS
The study examined whether Type A behavior pattern is associated with the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) SNP8NRG221533 of the NRG1. The subjects were 631 men and women participating in the population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study in 1992 and 2001. Type A was self-assessed with the Framingham Type A Scale and reassessed nine years later.


RESULTS
Type A was associated with NRG1 genotype. Carriers of genotype CC scored lower on Type A compared to the others.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study has pinpointed a SNP in NRG1 that predicts Type A behavior. As previous evidence suggests an association for NRG1 with beta-adrenergic stimulation, its role underlying Type A is discussed.
Service
Helena M
HM
Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Finland. liisa.keltikangas-jarvinen@helsinki.fi.
Hintsanen
Mirka
M
Hintsa
Taina
T
Lehtimäki
Terho
T
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
Viikari
Jorma S
JS
Keltikangas-Järvinen
Liisa
L
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