EMBARGOED
FOR RELEASE UNTIL
August 8, 2007
APS Contact
Donna Krupa
Office:
(301) 634-7253
Cell: (703) 967-2751
dkrupa@the-aps.org
Study Finds
Gender Differences In Renal And Other Genes
Contributing To Blood Pressure
AUSTIN, TX – Many common diseases exhibit gender
bias and gender differences have been observed in the development of high
blood pressure (hypertension) and heart (cardiovascular) disease. Previous
studies have reported that gender may affect vascular physiology and the
body’s response to some types of blood pressure medications. Although
gender is usually accounted for in association studies, newer research has
focused on identifying autosomal (not on the X or Y chromosomes) genes that
contribute differentially to complex traits (blood pressure) or diseases
(hypertension). In a new study, researchers examined the differential
contribution of genetic factors involved in regulating blood pressure based
on samples drawn from a large community. They found significant differences
in genetic contributors to blood pressure in males versus females.
The study was conducted by Brinda Rana and Nicholas
Schork, Department of Psychiatry; Paul Insel, Department of Pharmacology;
and Daniel O’Connor, Department of Medicine; University of California, San
Diego, La Jolla, CA. It is entitled, “Population Extremes-Based Approach
Defines Gender Differences in Adrenergic and Renal Genes Contributing to
Blood Pressure.” The research is one of more than 100 presentations being
offered at the conference, Sex and Gender in Cardiovascular-Renal
Physiology and Pathophyiology, being held August 9-12, 2007 in Austin,
TX. The event is the second scientific gathering to be sponsored by the
American Physiological Society (APS;
www.The-APS.org) this year.
Methodology
The researchers used a study design in which they
sampled age-matched Caucasian Americans (611 male and 656 female) within the
top and bottom fifth percentile of blood pressure against blood pressure
measured in more than 53,000 people during routine health exams in a major
health maintenance program in Southern California. This approach provides
over 90 percent statistical power to detect genes contributing as little as
three percent to blood pressure variation. The research team also scored
over 60,000 genotypes at 35 gene locations involved in two major pathways
regulating blood pressure, kidney or adrenergic or regulation. The
genotyping was confined to the top and bottom fifth percentile participants.
Results
The researchers found significant differences in
genetic contributors to blood pressure in males versus females. For
example, common genetic variants of the b1-adrenergic and
a2A adrenergic receptor
genes contributed to blood pressure (BP) variation in females while variants
at the b2 adrenergic
receptor and angiotensinogen genes contributed to BP variation in males.
Conclusion
The researchers leveraged the power of using the
extremes (highs and lows) of a trait (blood pressure) measured in a large
community-based population with the strategy of assessing genetic variants
of genes involved in two major blood pressure regulation pathways to
identify gender differences in genetic contribution to blood pressure. The
results reinforce previous observations of the role of gender in
cardiovascular traits and imply that the development of genetic diagnostic
and therapeutic indices for hypertension must take gender into account to
provide an accurate assessment and treatment of hypertension.
***
The
American Physiological Society (APS;
www.The-APS.org) has been an integral part of the scientific discovery
process since it was established in 1887. Physiology is the study of
how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or
disease.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: The APS meeting is being held
August 9-12, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Austin on Town Lake, Austin, TX.
Members of the media are invited to attend the sessions. To schedule an
interview with a member of the research team, please contact Donna
Krupa at 301.634.7209 (direct dial), 703.967.2751 (cell) or
DKrupa@the-APS.org.
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