title: Coronary artery disease predisposing haplogroup I of the Y chromosome, aggression and sex steroids--genetic association analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Amongst middle-aged men, haplogroup I is associated with ≈ 50% higher risk of coronary artery disease than other paternal lineages of Y chromosome. We hypothesised that carriers of haplogroup I had higher levels of aggression and estrogens and/or lower levels of androgens early in life and thus might be more prone to cardiovascular disease than men with other lineages of Y chromosome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reconstructed phylogenetic tree of the Y chromosome in >1000 young apparently healthy white men from the general population. Each Y chromosome was classified into one of 13 most common European lineages. Androgens (DHEA-S, androstenedione, total testosterone) and their metabolites (total estradiol, estrone) were measured by radioimmunoassays. Information on five dimensions of aggression (total, physical, verbal, anger and hostility) was collected using Buss and Perry questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 17% men inherited haplogroup I from their fathers. Carriers of haplogroup I showed lower scores of verbal aggression than men with other haplogroups (β = -0.72, SE = 0.29, P = 0.012) and when further compared to carriers of most common R1a lineage and other haplogroups (β = -1.03, SE = 0.34, P = 0.003). However, these associations did not survive a correction for multiple testing. Sex steroids did not show even nominal level of association with haplogroup I.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show no overall association between haplogroup I and sex-related phenotypes in young white men. These results also suggest that the previously identified association between haplogroup I and coronary artery disease is not likely mediated by unfavourable profile of sex steroids or heightened aggression early in life.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors: Lisa D S
authors: LD
authors: Bloomer
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Leicester National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
authors: Christopher P
authors: CP
authors: Nelson
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Denniff
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors: Paraskevi
authors: P
authors: Christofidou
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors: Radoslaw
authors: R
authors: Debiec
authors: Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Thompson
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetology and Nephrology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Zukowska-Szczechowska
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Leicester National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
authors: Nilesh J
authors: NJ
authors: Samani
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; School of Health Sciences, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia.
authors: Fadi J
authors: FJ
authors: Charchar
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Leicester National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK. Electronic address: mt142@le.ac.uk.
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Tomaszewski
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones
keywords: Aggression; Coronary artery disease; Sex steroids; Testosterone; Y chromosome