β₃‐Adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms and lower urinary tract function

Abstract

The β3‐adrenergic receptor (β3AR) plays an important role in urinary bladder relaxation, and the human β3AR gene is polymorphic. Its Trp64Arg single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is potentially associated with disease states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we have explored whether this SNP is associated with an altered bladder function in vivo. DNA was obtained from 1015 men with voiding dysfunction who had undergone full urodynamic phenotyping prior to treatment, and genotyping was performed by MALDI‐TOF. 131 (12.9%) and 6 subjects (0.6%) were heterozygous and homozygous, respectively, for the Arg64 allele, confirming prevalence data in other Caucasian populations. However, there was no association of this allele with any lower urinary tract function parameter including cystometric measurements and symptom scales. Most importantly, bladder compliance, which is under direct control of the β3AR, varied over a wide range within the group but was not associated with genotype. We conclude that the Trp64Arg SNP does not affect baseline urinary bladder function in vivo.Source of fundingAstellas Europe, EU FP 7 program