The T-allele of the C825T polymorphism is associated with higher arterial stiffness in young healthy males

• Published in: Journal of human hypertension Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 267 - 271
• Main Authors: Nürnberger, J, Saez, A Opazo, Mitchell, A, Bührmann, S, Wenzel, R R, Siffert, W, Philipp, T, Schäfers, R F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.04.2004; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Alleles; Aorta - physiopathology; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - genetics; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Flow Velocity - genetics; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - genetics; Body mass index; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diastole - physiology; Epidemiology; Femoral artery; Gene polymorphism; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Genotype; Health Administration; Heart rate; Heart Rate - genetics; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - genetics; Hypertension - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Morbidity; original-article; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Public Health; Statistics as Topic; Systole - physiology; arterial stiffness; pulse wave velocity; C825T polymorphism; augmentation index; Hypertension; Cardiovascular disease; Stiffness; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0950-9240; 1476-5527
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.jhh.1001665

Arterial stiffening is the major cause of increasing systolic blood pressure in arterial hypertension. Increased arterial stiffness is one major mechanism responsible for morbidity and mortality in hypertension. A C825T polymorphism was identified in the gene encoding the G-protein β 3 subunit ( GNB3 ), and an association of the T-allele with hypertension was demonstrated in several studies. In order to identify a pathogenetic link between hypertension and arterial stiffness, we compared two indices of arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index, in young, healthy men with and without the 825T-allele under resting conditions. PWV was determined from pressure tracing over carotid and femoral arteries in 99 subjects (CC: n =43; CT&TT: n =56). Augmentation index was derived in 72 subjects (CC: n =30; CT&TT: n =42) by pulse wave analysis using radial applanation tonometry. Carriers of the 825T-allele exhibited a significantly higher PWV compared to subjects with the CC genotype (6.0±0.1 m/s (TC&TT) vs 5.7±0.1 m/s (CC); P =0.0251). There was also a significant difference ( P = 0.0448) in augmentation index between carriers of the T-allele (CT&TT: 3.4±2.9%) and controls with the CC -genotype (−5.0±4.1 %). There was no difference in any other anthropometric (age, height, weight, body mass index) or haemodynamic (heart rate, peripheral and central blood pressure). In summary, the C825T polymorphism is associated with higher arterial stiffness in young, healthy males. Arterial stiffening may pathogenetically contribute to the development of hypertension in carriers of the T-allele.