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Gene–environment interaction and the GNB3 gene in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

International Journal of Obesity volume 31, pages 919–926 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction between the G-protein beta-3 (GNB3) 825C>T polymorphism and physical activity in relation to prevalent obesity and hypertension.

Research methods and procedures:

The GNB3 825C>T genotype was measured in a sample of 14 716 African Americans (AAs) and whites from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, and logistic regression was used to test for genetic effects and gene–environment interactions.

Results:

The GNB3 825C>T variant was not independently associated with prevalent obesity or hypertension in either AA or whites. However, we observed a significant interaction (P<0.001) between this variant and physical activity in predicting obesity status in AAs. In AAs who were active, each 825T allele was associated with a 20% lower prevalence of obesity (odds ratio (OR)=0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.689–0.937, P=0.005), whereas each 825T allele was associated with a 23% greater prevalence of obesity for low-active individuals (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.06–1.44, P=0.008). We also found a significant interaction between the GNB3 825C>T polymorphism, obesity status and physical activity in predicting hypertension in the AA subjects. AA homozygotes for the 825T allele who were both obese and had a low activity level were 2.7 times more likely to be hypertensive, compared to non-obese, active 825C homozygotes (OR=2.71, 95% CI=1.19–6.17, P<0.02).

Discussion:

Our findings suggest that the variation within the GNB3 gene may interact with physical activity level to influence obesity status and, together with obesity and physical activity, the GNB3 825C>T variant may influence hypertension prevalence in AAs.

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Acknowledgements

Support for this work was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contract UR6/CCU617218 and the National Institutes of Health HL073366. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study is carried out as a collaborative study supported by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute contracts N01-HC-55015, N01-HC-55016, N01-HC-55018, N01-HC-55019, N01-HC-55020, N01-HC-55021 and N01-HC-55022. We thank the staff and participants of the ARIC study for their important contributions. A special thanks to B Cochran, A Bolling, M Vaddi and B Gibson for their assistance with the genotyping, and K Lawson for providing expertise in using Stata SE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Human Genetics Center, Houston, TX, USA

    M L Grove, A Morrison & E Boerwinkle

  2. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    A R Folsom

  3. Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Center for Human Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    E Boerwinkle

  4. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Human Nutrition Center, Houston, TX, USA

    D M Hoelscher

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    M S Bray

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  1. M L Grove
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Correspondence to M S Bray.

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Grove, M., Morrison, A., Folsom, A. et al. Gene–environment interaction and the GNB3 gene in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Int J Obes 31, 919–926 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803545

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