title: ALK7 gene polymorphism is associated with metabolic syndrome risk and cardiovascular remodeling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) is a type I receptor for the TGF-β superfamily and has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association of the ALK7 gene polymorphism with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular remodeling in MetS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The single nucleotide polymorphism rs13010956 in the ALK7 gene was genotyped in 351 Chinese subjects undergoing carotid and cardiac ultrasonography. The associations of the ALK7 gene polymorphism with the MetS phenotype, MetS parameters, and cardiovascular ultrasonic features were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rs13010956 polymorphism in the ALK7 gene was found to be significantly associated with the MetS phenotype in females (p < 0.05) and was also significantly associated with blood pressure in the total (p < 0.05) and female populations (p < 0.01). Further analysis revealed that rs13010956 was associated with mean intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries in females (p < 0.05). After control for body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides, rs13010956 was also found to be significantly associated with left ventricular mass index in the total (p < 0.05) and female populations (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggested that the ALK7 gene polymorphism rs13010956 was significantly associated with MetS risk in females and may be involved in cardiovascular remodeling in MetS patients.
authors.forename: Wenchao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ruijuan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Zhihao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Yuguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mengxiong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C424205:ACVR1C protein, human; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I