Genetic variation in the beta-3-adrenergic receptor in essential hypertension

We investigated the role of the beta-3-adrenergic receptor polymorphism in membrane lipid composition and erythrocyte membrane sodium transport in ess ential hypertensive patients. We studied 87 essential hypertensive patients determining: The Trp64Arg mutation of the beta-3-adrenergic receptor by PC R, lipoprotein profile by standard laboratory methods, membrane lipid compo sition by LATROSCAN and erythrocyte sodium lithium countertransport by Cane ssa technique. Patients with the mutation as compared with those without it showed lower membrane cholesterol, membrane cholesterol phospholipids rati o and erythrocyte sodium lithium countertransport, however blood pressure a nd the other studied variables were similar in both groups of patients. Aft er adjusting by sex sodium lithium countertransport activity remained signi ficant. These data suggest that although the Trp64Arg mutation of the beta- 3-adrenergic receptor is related with a different membrane lipid compositio n and erythrocyte sodium lithium countertransport values it does not contri bute to blood pressure levels in essential hypertensive patients. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.