The association between transforming growth factor β3 polymorphisms and left ventricular structure in hypertensive subjects

Background: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) may be a crucial regulator of cardiac remodeling. We investigated the association between the TGF-beta gene polymorphisms and left ventricular structure. Methods: A total of 658 hypertensive subjects were genotyped for the TGF-beta 1 T869C and TGF-beta 3 (rs3917187 and rs4252338) polymorphisms. Results: TGF-beta 3 rs3917187 AA homozygotes had, while accounting for covariates, greater left ventricular end-systolic (LVESD, P=0.004) and end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD, P=0.007) than G allele carriers. Moreover, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in AA genotype was 123.0 +/- 3.1 g/m(2) significantly higher than that in AG (114.6 +/- 1.6 g/m(2)) and GG (115.4 +/- 2.1 g/m(2), P=0.03) genotypes. In multivariate regression analysis, TGF-beta 3 rs3917187 genotype as an independent predictor had statistically significant effects on LVESD (beta=0.164, P=0.002), LVEDD (beta=0.172, P=0.003) and LVMI (beta=0.136, P=0.016), respectively. In further analyses, we observed a significant interaction between the rs3917187 and alcohol intake in relation to LVESD (P-int=0.04) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFSH, P-int=0.012). However, no relationship could be found between left ventricular parameters and the T869C or the rs4252338. Conclusion: The present results demonstrated that the TGF-beta 3 rs3917187 polymorphism was associated with left ventricular structure, and had an interactive influence with alcohol on LVESD and LVFSH in hypertensive subjects. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.