Plasma level of adrenomedullin is influenced by a single nucleotide polymorphism in the adiponectin gene.
OBJECTIVE
Adrenomedullin (ADM) and adiponectin are both involved in inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. The plasma levels of these peptides are influenced by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADM and ADIPOQ genes respectively. There is some evidence that ADM may regulate adiponectin gene expression, but whether adiponectin can regulate ADM expression is unclear, and was therefore investigated.


METHODS
Plasma ADM level was measured in 476 subjects in the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study-2 (CRISPS2). We genotyped them for 2 ADIPOQ SNPs that are known to be associated with plasma adiponectin level.


RESULTS
The minor allele frequencies of ADIPOQ SNPs rs182052 and rs12495941 were 40.6% and 42.2% respectively. Plasma ADM level was significantly associated with rs182052 after adjusting for age and sex (β=0.104, P=0.023) but not with rs12495941 (β=0.071, P=0.120). In multivariate analysis, plasma ADM level increased with the number of minor alleles of rs182052 (P=0.013). Compared to subjects with GG genotype, subjects with AA genotype had 17.7% higher plasma ADM level (95% CI: 3.6%-33.7%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the association was significant in diabetic patients (β=0.344, P=0.001) but not in non-diabetic subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma ADM level is related to SNP rs182052 in the ADIPOQ gene. Our findings provide new evidence of the interplay between these two important peptides in cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Knowing the genotype may help to refine the interpretation of these biomarkers.
Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Hoi Kin
HK
Wong
Kwok Leung
KL
Ong
Raymond Y H
RY
Leung
Tommy T
TT
Cheung
Aimin
A
Xu
Tai Hing
TH
Lam
Karen S L
KS
Lam
Bernard M Y
BM
Cheung
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics*; D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
D052242:Adiponectin; D053607:Adrenomedullin