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Human renin gene Bgl I dimorphism associated with hypertension in two independent populations
Author(s) -
Frossard Philippe M,
Lestringant Gilles G,
Malloy Mary J,
Kane John P
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1399-0004
pISSN - 0009-9163
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-0004.1999.560604.x
Subject(s) - linkage disequilibrium , odds ratio , genetics , genotype , allele , essential hypertension , medicine , population , genetic predisposition , biology , blood pressure , gene , haplotype , environmental health
The renin ( REN ) gene is a good candidate that could underlie an individual's genetic susceptibility to human essential hypertension (EHT). We describe here a polymerase chain reaction‐based assay for detection of a Bgl I dimorphic site located in the first intron of the REN gene. In this retrospective, case–control, association study, we investigated Bgl I allele and genotype distributions in 554 subjects (280 hypertensives and 274 normotensives) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – a genetically homogeneous ethnic population with no history of smoking or alcohol consumption – and in 485 hypercholesterolemic, US Caucasian subjects (250 hypertensives and 235 normotensives). A statistically significant association was found between alleles on which the Bgl I site is present [ Bgl I(+)] and clinical diagnosis of EHT in the UAE sample group (odds ratio=2.69, p=0.0006), and a similar trend was observed in the US group (odds ratio=1.97, p=0.01). Bgl I(+) homozygous status was also investigated in the US group and found to be associated with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure values (respectively, 144.8±26.1 vs. 134.1±23.0 mmHg, p=0.04; and 91.0±12.5 vs. 82.2±12.7 mmHg, p=0.009).In conclusion, variations of the REN (or of a nearby) gene that may be in linkage disequilibrium with the REN Bgl I(+) marker could play a role in contributing to an increased individual's genetic susceptibility to EHT in the UAE population and amongst US hypercholesterolemic Caucasians. Such a genetic influence, which seems to show a recessive mode of inheritance, could also be implicated in raising both systolic and diastolic blood pressures.