Lack of association of angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensinogen genes polymorphisms with left ventricular structure in young normotensive men

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a strong predictive factor for cardiov ascular morbidity and mortality. LV structure and function are influenced b y many variables, including genetic background. The potential role of gene polymorphisms of different components of the renin angiotensin system remai ns controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of d eletion/insertion (D/I) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE) gene and M235-->T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen (AG) gene on lef t ventricular morphology and function in young normotensive men. The study included 110 normotensive healthy males (mean age 24 +/- 4 years, age range 18 to 34 pears) who were assessed by echocardiography for LV structure and function. In all subjects ACE D/I polymorphism was evaluated using a polym erase chain reaction (PCR) method. M235-->T polymorphism assessment was ava ilable in 98 individuals. Significant differences between groups according to ACE I/D or AG M235-->T polymorphisms were not found for parameters of LV morphology or for parameters of systolic and diastolic function. When subj ects with DD or ID genotypes were grouped, their LV mass index was higher t han that in subjects with II genotypes (86 rt +/- vs 79 +/- 15, r(2) = 0.03 3, p = 0.05). There were no significant differences among other variables. In a population of young normotensive men where the influence of confoundin g variables such as age, gender and associated pathological conditions is m inimized, the gene polymorphisms of ACE I/D and AG M235-->T are not importa nt determinants of LV structure and function.