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Objective: We conducted a whole-genome, multipoint linkage screen to localize a previously reported major locus accounting for 56% to 67% of the additive genetic effects on covariate-adjusted plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in Mexican Americans from the San Antonio Family Heart Study (SAFHS)., Methods and Results: After using complex segregation analysis to recover the major locus in 472 SAFHS participants from 10 genotyped families, we incorporated covariates required to detect that major locus, including plasma levels of triglycerides and apolipoprotein A-I, in a maximum-likelihood-based variance-components linkage screen. Only chromosome 16 exhibited convincing evidence for a quantitative trait locus (QTL), with a peak multipoint log of the odds (LOD)=3.73 (P=0.000034). Subsequent penetrance model-based linkage analysis, incorporating genotypes at the marker locus nearest the multipoint peak (D16S518) into the segregation model, detected linkage with the previously detected major locus (LOD=2.73, P=0.000642). Initial estimates place this QTL within a 15-cM region of chromosome 16q near the structural loci for lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)., Conclusions: A QTL influencing plasma levels of HDL-C in Mexican Americans from San Antonio maps to a region of human chromosome 16q near LCAT and CETP.

The genetic mechanisms that control variation in blood pressure level are largely unknown. One of the first steps in understanding those mechanisms is the localization of the genes that have a significant effect on blood pressure. We performed genome scans of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) on a population-based sample of families in the San Antonio Family Heart Study. A likelihood-based Mendelian model incorporating genotype-specific effects of sex, age, age(2), BMI, and blood pressure (SBP or DBP, as appropriate) as covariates was used to perform two-point lodscore (Z) linkage on 399 polymorphic markers. Results showed that the genotype-specific covariate effects were highly significant for both SBP and DBP. Linkage results showed that a quantitative trait locus (QTL) influencing DBP was significantly linked to D2S1790 (Z = 3.92, theta = 0.00) and showed suggestive linkage to D8S373 (Z = 1.92, theta = 0.00). A QTL influencing SBP showed suggestive linkage to D21S1440 (Z = 2.82, theta = 0.00) and D18S844 (Z = 2.09, theta = 0.11). Without the genotype-specific effects in the model, the linkage to D2S1790 was not even suggestive (Z = 1.33, theta = 0.09); thus genotype-specific modeling was crucial in detecting this linkage. A comparison with linkage studies based in other populations showed that the significant linkage to D2S1790 has been replicated at the same marker in the Quebec Family Study. The replicated significant linkage at D2S1790 may begin to establish the locations of the genes that significantly affect blood pressure across several human ethnic groups., (Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Pulse pressure, a measure of aortic stiffness, is a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality. To locate genes that affect pulse pressure, we performed genetic analysis on randomly ascertained families in the San Antonio Family Heart Study. Pulse pressure was defined as the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Likelihood methods were used to construct a model that had both single-locus and polygenic components for 46 families (1308 individuals). The single-locus component included sex-specific and genotype-specific effects of both age and body mass index. Using this model, we then performed 2-point linkage analysis in 10 families (440 individuals) that were among the largest of the 46 families and that had been genotyped for 399 polymorphic markers. The model that contained only the polygenic component and simple effects of the covariates showed pulse pressure heritability of 0.21. When the single-locus component was added, the sex-specific and genotype-specific effects of age and body mass index were highly significant (P<0.002). The full model accounted for 73% of the total variation of pulse pressure. Linkage analysis using this model with each marker revealed 4 markers with lod scores >1.9, which is the Lander-Kruglyak suggestive linkage standard. D21S1440 had a lod score of 2.78 with a recombination fraction (theta) of 0.02. D7S1799 had a lod score of 2.04 (theta=0.01), D8S1100 had a lod score of 1.98 (theta=0.08), and D18S844 had a lod score of 1.95 (theta=0.11). These results are highly correlated with results involving systolic blood pressure, indicating that pulse pressure may not be genetically distinct from systolic blood pressure.

Objective: To investigate whether the region of chromosome 11 (11q13) containing the genes UCP2 and UCP3 could be excluded for linkage with a variety of obesity-related phenotypes in humans., Design: Exclusion mapping using a variance component approach in extended pedigrees., Subjects: Four-hundred and fifty eight individuals (195 females, 263 males) distributed in 10 Mexican American families of probands randomly ascertained with respect to any disease state and who are participating in the San Antonio Family Heart Study. Ages range from 18 to 87 (mean age 35 y)., Measurements: Serum leptin levels, fat mass (FM), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference., Results: We were able to exclude the chromosomal region containing UCP2/UCP3 as having an effect on this set of obesity-related phenotypes at relative effect sizes of 10% or greater (P-values<0.05)., Conclusions: These results suggest that variation in these genes is unlikely to have a substantial effect on the expression of obesity-related phenotypes in the Mexican American population.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are transcription factors that regulate adipocyte differentiation and gene expression. We tested the hypothesis that the Pro12Ala variant of PPAR-gamma2 is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes-related traits in 921 subjects from the San Antonio Family Heart Study. Subjects with at least one Ala allele (n=210) had significantly higher body mass index (P=0.015) and waist circumference (P=0.028) and significantly higher levels of serum leptin (P= 0.022) than those without the allele. Further studies will determine whether the Pro12Ala variant itself, or other genetic variation at PPAR-gamma, is responsible for this association with measures of obesity in Mexican Americans.

Hyperinsulinemia predicts the development of type 2 diabetes, and family studies suggest that insulin levels are regulated in part by genes. We conducted a genome-wide scan to detect genes influencing variation in fasting serum insulin concentrations in 391 nondiabetic individuals from 10 large multigenerational families. Approximately 380 microsatellite markers with an average spacing of 10 cM were genotyped in all study subjects. Insulin concentrations measured by radioimmunoassay were transformed by their natural logarithms before analysis. In multipoint analysis, peak evidence for linkage occurred on chromosome 3p approximately 109 cM from pter in the region of 3p14.2-p14.1. The multipoint logarithm of odds (LOD) score was 3.07, occurring in the region flanked by markers D3S1600 and D3S1285 (P value by simulation <0.0001). In a two-point analysis, LOD scores ranged from 0.75 to 2.52 for the nine markers typed in the region spanning 88-143 cM from pter. The fasting insulin resistance index was highly correlated with fasting insulin concentrations in this sample and also provided strong evidence for linkage to this region (LOD = 2.99). There was no evidence in our genome-wide scan for linkage of insulin levels to any other chromosome. These results provide evidence that a gene-influencing variation in insulin concentrations exists on chromosome 3p. Possible candidate genes in this region include GBE1 and ACOX2, which encode enzymes involved in glycogen and fatty acid metabolism, respectively.

The beta3 adrenergic receptor, located on chromosome 8, is a regulator of energy expenditure and lipolysis. A missense mutation in this gene, characterized by the replacement of tryptophan by arginine at codon 64 (Trp64Arg), is associated with obesity in some studies. We examined the effect of this variant on obesity in Mexican Americans, using a paired sibling design to minimize variability due to genetic background and a previously identified major susceptibility locus for obesity. We identified 45 sib-pairs that were concordant (identical by descent) for a locus on chromosome 2 which we have shown previously to be tightly linked to obesity in this population. The Trp64Arg variant, detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, was present in one sibling within each of the 45 sib-pairs. Presence of the variant was associated with significantly higher values in body mass index (P = 0.04), fat mass (P = 0.04), and waist circumference (P = 0.05). We conclude that the Trp64Arg variant is associated with obesity in this Mexican American population. The paired sibling design probably enhanced our ability to detect the effects of this variant by allowing us to account for variation attributable to another obesity susceptibility locus and to background genes.

Essential hypertension has been linked to a highly polymorphic marker at the angiotensinogen locus, and association with a polymorphism in this locus has been found in some populations. We tested the hypothesis that these same polymorphic markers are linked to essential hypertension in Mexican Americans. The data comprised all the affected relative pairs in 46 extended families chosen at random from a low-income barrio in San Antonio. Specifically, we searched for linkage by testing for excessive marker alleles shared identical by descent (IBD) among hypertensive relative pairs. When women taking oral contraceptives or hormones were excluded, the affected relative pairs shared a significant excess of alleles IBD for the highly heterozygous GT repeat polymorphism (P=.038) and were marginally significant for the M235T variant (P=.079), which has a much lower heterozygosity (0.43 versus 0.85 for the GT repeat). We also assayed plasma levels of angiotensinogen and, using likelihood methods, found no significant association (P=.43) between plasma levels of angiotensinogen and M235T genotypes. These results support the linkage of essential hypertension to the angiotensinogen locus but do not indicate a specific role for the M235T variant.

Analyses of 1163 samples from the San Antonio Family Heart Study revealed several elements of genetic control of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) concentrations in Mexican Americans. Apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) isoform size variation was inversely related to Lp(a) concentrations and explained about 22% of total phenotypic variation. Segregation analyses suggested the existence of a major gene that influenced an additional 41% of total Lp(a) variation. A G-->A polymorphism in the LPA promoter was in strong disequilibrium with apo(a) isoform size, but did not contribute a significant amount of additional information about Lp(a) variation. However, about 25% of variation in Lp(a) concentrations was influenced by additive polygenic effects, which include the effects of null phenotype alleles. Altogether, these genetic components explained 89% of Lp(a) variation, similar to heritability estimates made in several other studies. Apo(a) size variation and the major gene (explaining a total of about 62% of Lp(a) variation) were linked to each other and, as expected, to the plasminogen locus. Thus, together with the well-established null phenotype allele, these different genetic factors represent at least three distinct elements of control exerted at the LPA locus, which encodes the apo(a) protein.

Background: The familial aggregation of coronary heart disease can be in large part accounted for by a clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors. To elucidate the determinants of cardiovascular disease, many epidemiological studies have focused on the behavioral and lifestyle determinants of these risk factors, whereas others have examined whether specific candidate genes influence quantitative variation in these phenotypes., Methods and Results: Among Mexican Americans from San Antonio (Tex), we quantified the relative contributions of both genetic and environmental influences to a large panel of cardiovascular risk factors, including serum levels of lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, hormones, adiposity, and blood pressure. Members of 42 extended families were studied, including 1236 first-, second-, and third-degree relatives of randomly ascertained probands and their spouses. In addition to the phenotypic assessments, information was obtained regarding usual dietary and physical activity patterns, medication use, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and other lifestyle behaviors and medical factors. Maximum likelihood methods were used to partition the variance of each phenotype into components attributable to the measured covariates, additive genetic effects (heritability), household effects, and an unmeasured environmental residual. For the lipid and lipoprotein phenotypes, age, gender, and other environmental covariates accounted in general for < 15% of the total phenotypic variance, whereas genes accounted for 30% to 45% of the phenotypic variation. Similarly, genes accounted for 15% to 30% of the phenotypic variation in measures of glucose, hormones, adiposity, and blood pressure., Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of considering genetic factors in studies of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

We investigated the effects of apolipoprotein (apo) B signal peptide length polymorphisms on low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apo B, and post-challenge (2 h) glucose levels in 686 Mexican Americans from 34 families. The most common allele encoded an apo B signal peptide of 27 amino acids (ins; SP-27), the next most frequent allele encoded a 24 amino acid signal peptide (del; SP-24), and the rarest allele encoded a 29 amino acid signal peptide (ins; SP-29) that has been found only in Mexican Americans. Homozygotes for the SP-24 allele had significantly higher mean levels of apo B. LDL-C, and 2-h glucose than SP-27 homozygotes, and SP-27/SP-24 heterozygotes had intermediate levels (P = 0.01 for apo B, P < 0.001 for LDL-C, and P = 0.04 for 2-h glucose). Heterozygotes for the SP-29 allele had higher apo B and LDL-C levels compared to homozygotes for the SP-27 or SP-24 alleles. Apo B signal peptide length polymorphism accounted for 4.2%, 3.5%, and 3.0% of the residual variation in LDL-C, apo B, and 2-h glucose levels, respectively, among the Mexican American families.

Hyperinsulinemia, which is considered a hallmark of insulin resistance, precedes the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Results of family and twin studies have shown that heredity influences insulin resistance and insulin levels. In Caucasian families ascertained through two or more NIDDM siblings, it has been reported that single genes with large effects, i.e., major genes, influence both fasting and 1-h postchallenge insulin levels. To determine whether a major gene affects 2-h postchallenge insulin levels in Mexican-Americans, we conducted segregation analyses using data collected on 527 pedigreed individuals from 27 families in San Antonio, TX. Probands for the families were randomly ascertained and all first-, second-, and third-degree relatives aged 16 years and older were invited to participate. Subjects received a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, and diabetes was diagnosed according to World Health Organization criteria. We found that an autosomal dominant major gene best described the inheritance of 2-h insulin levels (ln-transformed) in these 27 families. Of the individuals in the population, 17% were homozygous for the 2-h low-insulin allele (back-transformed mean = 125 pmol/l) and 83% were heterozygous or homozygous for the 2-h high-insulin allele (back-transformed mean = 406 pmol/l). This major gene accounted for 31% of the variance in ln(2-h insulin levels) in this population. Using quantitative trait linkage analyses, we excluded tight linkage between this gene affecting 2-h insulin levels and three candidate loci for insulin levels: the insulin receptor gene, the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene, and the glucokinase gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Increased adiposity has repeatedly been identified as a major risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases. However, the question still remains whether the amount of adipose tissue itself is genetically mediated. To address this question, a segregation analysis, using maximum likelihood techniques as implemented in the computer program Pedigree Analysis Package (PAP), was performed on fat mass (kilograms of body fat) in a large sample of extended Mexican American families residing in San Antonio, TX. The only model not rejected was a Mendelian mixed model for fat mass, incorporating genotype x sex interaction. In males the major gene accounted for 37% of the total variance compared with 43% in females. In both sexes homozygous recessive individuals have a fat mass more than double that of individuals of the other two genotypes. It was possible to reject linkage of the anonymous major gene for fat mass with several candidate loci for obesity. However, tentative evidence of linkage was detected with markers on both chromosomes 2 and 11, thereby providing hypotheses for future testing.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are transcription factors that regulate adipocyte differentiation and gene expression. We tested the hypothesis that the Pro12Ala variant of PPAR-γ2 is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes-related traits in 921 subjects from the San Antonio Family Heart Study. Subjects with at least one Ala allele (n=210) had significantly higher body mass index (P=0.015) and waist circumference (P=0.028) and significantly higher levels of serum leptin (P= 0.022) than those without the allele. Further studies will determine whether the Pro12Ala variant itself, or other genetic variation at PPAR-γ, is responsible for this association with measures of obesity in Mexican Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]