The 460Trp allele of α-adducin increases carotid intima-media thickness in young adult males

Background The 460Trp allele of the α-adducin gene (ADD1), which is involved in a form of salt-sensitive hypertension, has been associated with patterns of target organ damage. Objectives As carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) largely depends upon unknown genetic factors, besides being associated to conventional risk factors, we tested the association of the 460Trp allele of ADD1 with IMT in a well-characterized sample of young healthy normotensive subjects, to assess the role of ADD1 polymorphism without overlapping effects of age or already elevated blood pressure. Methods Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure (BP), and carotid artery wall IMT (high-resolution sonography and digitalized morphometry) were obtained in 420 healthy normotensive Caucasian university students. Genotypes for ADD1 were detected by automated genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results ADD1 genotypes were evenly distributed between genders. IMT was significantly larger in carriers of the 460Trp allele of ADD1, while a significant gender x ADD1 interaction (P = 0.02) demonstrated that IMT was increased only in males carrying the 460Trp allele (P< 0.001). No significant association was found in females. Conclusions The 460Trp allele of ADD1 contributes substantially to increase carotid IMT, in a male hormonal milieu only, at least in the young age range.