Association between the G protein β3 subunit C825T polymorphism and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease in hypertensives: The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).
BACKGROUND
Several studies examining the C825T polymorphism of the G protein β3 subunit (GNB3) have shown inconsistent results regarding susceptibility to hypertension. With twice the length of earlier studies, the aim of our study was to further investigate this association with a cross-sectional design over an 11.5-year follow-up period in a Norwegian population.


METHODS
Two randomized selected population samples from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 1995-1997 (HUNT 2) were genotyped. One sample included individuals reporting use of antihypertensive medication (n = 969), and the other did not report use of antihypertensive medication, cardiovascular disease (CVD), or diabetes (n = 1,867). Of those genotyped, 2,254 participants (79.5%) also attended HUNT 1 in 1984-1986.


RESULTS
There was no significant higher prevalence of hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg and/or antihypertensive medication) in T-allele carriers than in C allele carriers. However, TT homozygous men with treated hypertension showed statistical significant association with self-reported CVD compared to the CC genotype (odds ratio (OR) 3.19, P = 0.001). No statistical significant association between hypertension and the C825T polymorphism was found during the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
No association was found between the C285T polymorphism of the GNB3 and hypertension. However, CVD was more common among treated hypertensive men with the TT genotype compared to men with the CC genotype. Thus, further studies are needed to explore whether this finding could be caused by other mechanisms than elevated blood pressure.
HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway. oddgeir.lingaas.holmen@gmail.com
Oddgeir L
OL
Holmen
Solfrid
S
Romundstad
Oyvind
O
Melien
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; C454420:G-protein beta3 subunit; D004247:DNA; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins