BackgroundActivin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) is a type I receptor for the TGF-β
superfamily and has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in the
maintenance of metabolic homeostasis. ObjectiveTo investigate the association of the ALK7 gene polymorphism with metabolic
syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular remodeling in MetS patients. MethodsThe single nucleotide polymorphism rs13010956 in the ALK7 gene was genotyped in
351 Chinese subjects undergoing carotid and cardiac ultrasonography. The
associations of the ALK7 gene polymorphism with the MetS phenotype, MetS
parameters, and cardiovascular ultrasonic features were analyzed. ResultsThe rs13010956 polymorphism in the ALK7 gene was found to be significantly
associated with the MetS phenotype in females (p < 0.05) and was also
significantly associated with blood pressure in the total (p < 0.05) and female
populations (p < 0.01). Further analysis revealed that rs13010956 was
associated with mean intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries in females (p
< 0.05). After control for body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood
glucose, and triglycerides, rs13010956 was also found to be significantly
associated with left ventricular mass index in the total (p < 0.05) and female
populations (p < 0.05). ConclusionOur findings suggested that the ALK7 gene polymorphism rs13010956 was
significantly associated with MetS risk in females and may be involved in
cardiovascular remodeling in MetS patients.