Objective: To investigate the association between Arg16Gly polymorphism of beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene and blood pressure levels.
Methods: A total of 487 hypertensive individuals were recruited from YueXi county of Anhui province. 672 patients' parents and siblings were also invited to take part in the study and used as genomic control. Blood pressure was measured and a standardized questionnaire regarding social-economic characteristics, general health status, occupational history and life-style and dietary factors was administered for each participant. The ADRB2 Arg16Gly polymorphism was genotyped by using a PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method. The association between the ADRB2 polymorphism and hypertension in hypertensive adults was determined by utilizing a family-based association test analysis.
Results: In this study population, carriers of the ADRB2 Arg16 allele had lower systolic (P < 0.01) and diastolic (P < 0.01) blood pressure, suggesting that the genetic effect on blood pressure was more likely to fit an additive model.
Conclusion: Our results suggest a probable association between Arg16Gly polymorphism of ADRB2 gene and hypertension.