beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2AR) are membrane-bound receptors, which upon binding the endogenous cathecolamines epinephrine and nore-pinephrine signal to the interior of cells via stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein Gs. The sympathetic nervous system activation stimulates energy mobilization and utilization in the adipose tissue that is a favored target for high-energy substrate storage, mobilization and utilization. Adrenergic responsiveness may be altered in obesity and could be an important factor in the pathogenesis and maintenance of obesity state. In the hypertensive state there is physiological and biochemical evidence that b-adrenergic responsiveness is diminished in the face of increased sympathetic tone. Recently, several different polymorphic forms of the human beta2AR have been identified in general population, including N-terminal substitutions of glutamine (Gln) for glutamic acid (Glu) at position 27. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential interaction between the beta2AR (Gln27Glu) polymorphism and obesity accumulation and hypertension in morbidly obese subjects. The Ita I genotypes of beta2AR were established using RFLP methods in 135 individuals with BMI 48 ± 8.02kg/m². The frequency of Gln/Glu was 31.9% and in the homozygous Glu/Glu was 12.6%. No association was found between BMI, weight gain during the past years and the Ita I genotypes and neither was associated with levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin and glucose. Positive association was found between blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and presence of polymorphism. The results indicate at the first time that presence of polymorphism 27Glu may provide a mechanism for enhanced vascular reactivity and identify a candidate gene for hypertension in this obesity group.
Obesity; Arterial hypertension; beta-Adrenergic receptor
