GENETIC DETERMINATION OF ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION AND «INTIMA-MEDIA» THICKNESS OF CAROTID ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Endothelial regulation of vascular tone is an important component of the infl uence onblood pressure (BP).Objective – to study the changes in endothelial function and the «intima- media» thickness(IMT) of the carotid arteries depending on the genes polymorphism GNB3 (rs5443) andNOS3 (rs2070744) in essential arterial hypertension (EAH).Materials and methods. 100 patients with EAH 2nd stage and 48 practically healthypersons (control group) participated in the study. Soluble Vascular Cell AdhesionMolecule (sVCAM-1), total NO metabolites (NO2–+NO3–), transcriptional activity ofNOS3 gene, Endothelium- Dependent Flow- Mediated Dilation of the Brachial Artery(FMD BA) and carotid IMT were studied. NOS3 (rs2070744) and GNB3 (rs5443) geneswere investigated by Real- Time PCR.Results. Severe EAH is accompanied by an IMT increase 50.0-57.14% (p<0.01), NOS3gene expression after mRNA level decrease 34.54% (p=0.003), more often atheroscleroticplaques on the carotid arteries 24.77-27.62% (p<0.05). The polymorphic site of theNOS3 gene (rs2070744) is associated with a total NO metabolites value decrease,transcriptional activity of the NOS3 gene decrease (F=71.11 and F=8.71; p<0.001)and sVCAM-1 level elevation (F=6.96; p=0.002), especially in minor C-allele carriers(more severe in CC-genotype). ANOVA has not shown an association of the GNB3 gene(rs5443) with endothelial function and carotid artery IMT in EAH patients.Conclusions. The polymorphic site of the NOS3 gene (rs2070744) is associated withendothelial function changes and does not aff ect the IMT of the carotid arteries.