Prevalence of β-2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) polymorphisms and its influence on a model used to assess endothelial function using pulse wave analysis (PWA)

Abstract Background Pulse wave analysis (PWA) combined with β 2 -agonist challenge has recently been used to assess endothelial function. β-2 adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR) polymorphisms may affect response to β 2 -agonist. We determined whether β 2 AR polymorphisms influence endothelial response in our model using PWA and salbutamol. Methods 388 healthy Malay subjects (177 males, 211 females) were genotyped for 5 functionally important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of β 2 AR; 298 subjects proceeded with assessment of endothelial function. The parameter augmentation index (AIx) was recorded non-invasively using SphygmoCor. Recording of AIx at baseline was followed by administration of 500 µg sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). AIx recordings were repeated at 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min post-GTN. Subjects then inhaled 400 µg of salbutamol before AIx recordings at 5 min intervals up to 20 min. Maximum changes in AIx after GTN and salbutamol represented endothelium independent and endothelium dependent vasodilatation (EDV) respectively. Results Allele frequencies of mutated Gly16, Glu27, Ile164, − 20C and − 47C were 47%, 6.8%, 0%, 30% and 9.3% respectively. No significant differences in EDV were noted between genotype groups of each studied SNPs. Conclusions Assessment of endothelial function using PWA and salbutamol was not influenced by β 2 AR polymorphisms.