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 essential hypertensive patients. We studied 87 essential hypertensive patients determining: The Trp64Arg mutation of the beta-3-adrenergic receptor by PCR, lipoprotein profile by standard laboratory methods, membrane lipid composition by LATROSCAN and erythrocyte sodium lithium countertransport by Canessa technique. Patients with the mutation as compared with those without it showed lower membrane cholesterol, membrane cholesterol phospholipids ratio and erythrocyte sodium lithium countertransport, however blood pressure and the other studied variables were similar in both groups of patients. After adjusting by sex sodium lithium countertransport activity remained significant. These data suggest that although the Trp64Arg mutation of the beta-3-adrenergic receptor is related with a different membrane lipid composition and erythrocyte sodium lithium countertransport values it does not contribute to blood pressure levels in essential hypertensive patients. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.