Gene polymorphisms and sport attitude in Italian athletes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the distribution of polymorphisms in the ACE, ACTN3, NOS3, UCP2, and UCP3 genes, which has been reported to be correlated with different physiological parameters, played a role in sport performance. We focused on a cohort of 82 Italian athletes: first of all, athletes were divided according to type of sport: team (n=72) versus individual (n=10), and subsequently, according to the performance, into "power" sports (n=29; sprinters, short distance swimmers, and volleyball players) and "intermittent" sports (n=53; football, basketball, and hockey players).


RESULTS
All the populations studied were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the following polymorphisms: ACE (I/D), ACTN3 (R577X), NOS3 (-786 T/C), UCP2 (A55V), and UCP3 (-55 C/T). We observed that the frequency of NOS3-786 T and UCP2 C alleles was higher among power athletes compared with controls (p=0.011 and p=0.012, respectively); these alleles were also overrepresented in individual athletes (p=0.02 and p=0.045, respectively), although a small sample was analyzed. The frequency of NOS3 298G allele was higher among power athletes compared with controls (p=0.015); these data remained suggestive after correction for multiple testing.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a suggestive association between NOS3 (-786 T/C; G298A) and UCP2 (A55V) polymorphisms and power athletes, whereas no significant correlation was found with UCP3 (-55C/T), ACE (I/D), and ACTN3 (R577X) polymorphisms, in contrast to previous studies. Analysis of multiple performance-associated genetic polymorphisms needs further examination to explain the relationship between genetic background and potential success in sport performance.
Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. f.sessa@unifg.it
Francesco
F
Sessa
Massimiliano
M
Chetta
Annamaria
A
Petito
Mauro
M
Franzetti
Valeria
V
Bafunno
Daniela
D
Pisanelli
Michelina
M
Sarno
Salvatore
S
Iuso
Maurizio
M
Margaglione
D000185:Actinin / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001290:Attitude; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3; D055815:Young Adult
C118456:ACTN3 protein, human; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; C000604392:UCP3 protein, human; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3; D000185:Actinin; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A