Genome-wide association study of l-arginine and dimethylarginines reveals novel metabolic pathway for symmetric dimethylarginine

Nicole Lüneburg, Wolfgang Lieb, Tanja Zeller, Ming Huei Chen, Renke Maas, Angela M. Carter, Vanessa Xanthakis, Nicole L. Glazer, Edzard Schwedhelm, Sudha Seshadri, Mohammad Arfan Ikram, William T. Longstreth, Myriam Fornage, Inke R. König, Christina Loley, Francisco M. Ojeda, Arne Schillert, Thomas J. Wang, Heinrich Sticht, Anja KittelJörg König, Emelia J. Benjamin, Lisa M. Sullivan, Isabel Bernges, Maike Anderssohn, Andreas Ziegler, Christian Gieger, Thomas Illig, Christa Meisinger, H. Erich Wichmann, Philipp S. Wild, Heribert Schunkert, Bruce M. Psaty, Kerri L. Wiggins, Susan R. Heckbert, Nicholas Smith, Karl Lackner, Kathryn L. Lunetta, Stefan Blankenberg, Jeanette Erdmann, Thomas Munzel, Peter J. Grant, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Rainer H. Böger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background-Dimethylarginines (DMA) interfere with nitric oxide formation by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (asymmetrical DMA [ADMA]) and l-arginine uptake into the cell (ADMA and symmetrical DMA [SDMA]). In prospective clinical studies, ADMA has been characterized as a cardiovascular risk marker, whereas SDMA is a novel marker for renal function and associated with all-cause mortality after ischemic stroke. The aim of the current study was to characterize the environmental and genetic contributions to interindividual variability of these biomarkers. Methods and Results-This study comprised a genome-wide association analysis of 3 well-characterized populationbased cohorts (Framingham Heart Study [FHS; n=2992], Gutenberg Health Study [GHS; n=4354], and Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease Study [MONICA]/Cooperative Health Research in the Augsburg Area, Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany [KORA] F3 [n=581]) and identified replicated loci (DDAH1, MED23, Arg1, and AGXT2) associated with the interindividual variability in ADMA, l-arginine, and SDMA. Experimental in silico and in vitro studies confirmed functional significance of the identified AGXT2 variants. Clinical outcome analysis in 384 patients of the Leeds stroke study demonstrated an association between increased plasma levels of SDMA, AGXT2 variants, and various cardiometabolic risk factors. AGXT2 variants were not associated with poststroke survival in the Leeds study or were they associated with incident stroke in the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium. Conclusions-These genome-wide association study support the importance of DDAH1 and MED23/Arg1 in regulating ADMA and l-arginine metabolism, respectively, and identify a novel regulatory renal pathway for SDMA by AGXT2. AGXT2 variants might explain part of the pathogenic link between SDMA, renal function, and outcome. An association between AGXT2 variants and stroke is unclear and warrants further investigation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)864-872
Number of pages9
JournalCirculation: Cardiovascular Genetics
Volume7
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biological markers
  • Genome wide association study
  • Nitric oxide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Genetics(clinical)

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