Genetic variants in the alpha2C-adrenoceptor and G-protein contribute to ethnic differences in cardiovascular stress responses.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Cardiovascular responses to stressors are regulated by sympathetic activity, increased in black Americans, and associated with future cardiovascular morbidity. Our aim was to determine whether two functional variants in genes regulating sympathetic activity, a deletion in the alpha2C-adrenergic receptor (ADRA2C del322-325) and a G-protein beta3-subunit variant (GNB3 G825T), affect cardiovascular responses to physiologic stressors and contribute to their ethnic differences.

Methods

We measured heart rate and blood pressure responses to a cold pressor test (CPT) in 79 healthy participants (40 blacks, 39 whites), aged 25.7+/-5.3 years, and determined genotypes for the ADRA2C and GNB3 variants. We examined the response variables (increase in heart rate and blood press

SUBMITTER: Kurnik D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2689621 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature