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RGS2 C1114G polymorphism and body weight gain in hypertensive patients.

Sartori M, Ceolotto G, Dorigatti F, Mos L, Santonastaso M, Bratti P, Papparella I, Semplicini A, Palatini P,

Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, S. Orsola-Malpighi, University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

RGS2 is a negative regulator of Galpha protein signaling and promotes adipocyte differentiation. Recently, we described a polymorphism at the C1114G locus with the G allele associated with hypertension in a cross-sectional study. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the RGS2 C1114G is predictive of overweight in young subjects with grade I hypertension. We genotyped at the RGS2 C1114G locus 406 (male, n = 294; female, n = 112) white hypertensive subjects (age, 33 +/- 9 years) never treated for hypertension and at low cardiovascular risk. Median follow-up was 7.85 years. At baseline, male patients carrying the RGS2 1114G allele had higher body mass index (BMI) than patients with CC genotype (26.1 +/- 0.3 vs 25.3 +/- 0.3 kg/m2, P < .05). The frequency of male patients with BMI > or = 25 was similar between the patients with G allele and those with CC genotype (55.1% vs 47.8%, P = not significant). No significant difference between the 2 groups was observed with regard to physical activity, blood pressure, and heart rate. At the end of follow-up, BMI was higher in male patients with G allele compared with patients with CC genotype (26.8 +/- 0.3 vs 25.8 +/- 0.2 kg/m2, P < .01); and the frequency of male patients with BMI >25 kg/m2 was greater in the former (69.0% vs 52.2%, P < .01). According to Cox regression, allele G was a significant predictor of developing overweight or obesity during follow-up. These epidemiologic relations were not significant in female patients. In young male patients with grade I hypertension, RGS2 1114G allele is associated with increased BMI and with greater risk of developing overweight or obesity. The RGS2 1114G allele may be considered a genetic marker that predicts an individual's predisposition to gaining weight.

Published 5 February 2008 in Metabolism, 57(3): 421-7.
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