Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Genes Are Associated With Arterial Stiffness in Black and White Adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Background Sympathetic nervous activity, which is regulated by the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR), is an important determinant of the arterial wall-stiffening process. This study examines the genetic influence of β-AR gene polymorphisms (β1-AR Arg389Gly, β2-AR Arg16Gly, and β3-AR Trp64Arg) on arterial stiffness in black and white young adults. Methods The study cohort included 366 black and 891 white adults, aged 19 to 44 years, enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Aorta-femoral pulse-wave velocity (af-PWV) was measured by echo-Doppler in a subsample (n = 614). Results Pulse pressure and heart rate were significantly associated with af-PWV in both races, but not with the three polymorphisms. The af-PWV values differed significantly among the β1-AR Arg389Gly genotype groups in whites (P = .007) and in the total sample (P = .005), with those who were homozygous for Gly389 showing higher values than those who were homozygous for Arg389, after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors. The β3-AR Arg64 allele was associated with higher af-PWV values in blacks (P = .022) and in the total sample (P = .015). The β2-AR Arg16 allele was associated with af-PWV only in blacks (P = .020). In multivariate regression analysis for the total sample, age, pulse pressure, heart rate, β1-AR Arg389Gly, β3-AR trp64Gly, and smoking status were, in descending order, associated with af-PWV. Furthermore, af-PWV values significantly increased with the increasing number of β1-AR Gly389, β2-AR Arg16, and β3-AR Arg64 alleles (P for trend = .0003). Conclusions These results indicate that the β-AR gene polymorphisms influence arterial stiffness in black and white young adults in an additive manner.