Age-related changes in echocardiographic measurements: association with variation in the estrogen receptor-alpha gene

Left ventricular (LV) mass and other LV measures have been shown to be heritable. In this study we hypothesized that functional variation in the gene coding for estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1), known for mediating the effect of estrogens on myocardium, is associated with age-related changes in LV structure. Four genetic markers (ESR1 TA repeat; rs2077647, or +30T>C; rs2234693, or PvuII; and rs9340799, or XbaI) were genotyped in 847 unrelated individuals (488 women) from the Framingham Offspring Study, who attended 2 examination cycles 16 years apart (mean ages at first examination: 43+/-9 years; at follow-up: 59+/-9 years). ANCOVA was used to assess the association of polymorphisms and their haplotypes with cross-sectional measurements and longitudinal changes in LV mass, wall thickness, end-diastolic and end-systolic internal diameter, and fractional shortening after adjustment for factors known to influence these variables. Changes over time were detected for all of the LV measurements (P ranging from <0.0001 to 0.02), except for fractional shortening in men. The SS genotype of the ESR1 TA repeat polymorphism in the promoter region was associated with longitudinal changes in LV mass and LV wall thickness (P ranging from 0.0006 to 0.01). Moreover, the TA[S]-+30[T]-PvuII[T]-XbaI[A] haplotype (frequency: 47.5%) was associated with greater LV changes as compared with the TA[L]-+30[C]-PvuII[C]-XbaI[G] haplotype (frequency: 31.8%). Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that common ESR1 polymorphisms are significantly associated with age-related changes in LV structure. Understanding the mechanisms predisposing to unfavorable LV remodeling of the heart with advancing age may aid in the discovery of new therapeutic targets for the prevention of heart failure.