Sex-dependent association of blood pressure with oestrogen receptor genes ERα and ERβ
JA Ellis, T Infantino, SB Harrap - Journal of hypertension, 2004 - journals.lww.com
JA Ellis, T Infantino, SB Harrap
Journal of hypertension, 2004•journals.lww.comBackground There is mounting physiological evidence for an important role of the oestrogen
receptors, ERα and ERβ, in vasodilatation and the response to vascular injury. In addition,
genetic studies have suggested that the genes encoding these receptors may be involved in
the genetic regulation of blood pressure. The existence of such sex steroid-related genes
may help to explain the observed sex differences in blood pressure. Objective To investigate
the role of the oestrogen receptor genes (ERα and ERβ) in blood pressure variation in …
receptors, ERα and ERβ, in vasodilatation and the response to vascular injury. In addition,
genetic studies have suggested that the genes encoding these receptors may be involved in
the genetic regulation of blood pressure. The existence of such sex steroid-related genes
may help to explain the observed sex differences in blood pressure. Objective To investigate
the role of the oestrogen receptor genes (ERα and ERβ) in blood pressure variation in …
Abstract
Background There is mounting physiological evidence for an important role of the oestrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, in vasodilatation and the response to vascular injury. In addition, genetic studies have suggested that the genes encoding these receptors may be involved in the genetic regulation of blood pressure. The existence of such sex steroid-related genes may help to explain the observed sex differences in blood pressure.
Objective To investigate the role of the oestrogen receptor genes (ERα and ERβ) in blood pressure variation in women and in men.
Design We performed a genetic association study of the oestrogen receptor genes in 718 unrelated healthy white individuals (386 men and 332 women) from the parental generation of the Victorian Family Heart Study, a general population survey of cardiovascular risk.
Methods Participants were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ERα and ERβ, and blood pressure phenotypes were compared between genotype groups by analysis of variance.
Results When genotype groups were compared, men inheriting the ‘a’allele of the ERα SNP had significantly higher systolic blood pressure than men with other genotypes [127.7±14.3 mmHg (mean±SD) compared with 132.4±16.1 mmHg; P= 0.014)]. In addition, men inheriting the ‘b’allele of the ERβ SNP had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure than men with other genotypes (81.4±8.1 mmHg compared with 84.4±9.6 mmHg; P= 0.004). No significant associations between the oestrogen receptor genes and blood pressure were detected in women.
Discussion These results suggest that ERα and ERβ may be involved in the genetic regulation of blood pressure in men, that the two genes may have different roles, and that these genes may contribute to the differences in blood pressures between the sexes.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins