Association of NPR 3 polymorphism with risk of essential hypertension in a Chinese population

Summary What is known and objective Essential hypertension ( EH ) is a common disease exhibiting large individual difference in occurrence, development and treatment response. Genetic factors are implicated in the development and progression of EH . This study aimed to explore the association between NPR 3 single nucleotide polymorphism rs2270915 (A/G, Asn521Asp) and the risk of EH in a Chinese Han population by a case‐control study. Methods The study was a single‐centre, case‐control trial, in which a total of 287 EH patients and 289 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were as follows: Han Chinese origin, male or female patients, systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mm Hg. The healthy controls were subjects without histories of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases. NPR 3 rs2270915 polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR ‐ RFLP ). In addition, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVEC s) were isolated from 19 fresh human umbilical cords and cultured. Atrial natriuretic peptide ( ANP ) concentration in cell medium was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NPR 3 mRNA expression was determined by real‐time semi‐quantitative PCR . Results and discussion No significant difference in genotype distribution of NPR 3 rs2270915 polymorphism was observed between cases and controls ( P >.05). Patients carrying the rs2270915 G allele showed decreased SBP , and the difference was marginal. As compared with cells carrying the rs2270915 AA genotype, those with the AG genotype showed significantly lower NPR 3 mRNA expression levels ( P <.05) and lower medium ANP concentration ( P <.001). What is new and conclusion This study suggested that NPR 3 rs2270915 polymorphism was associated with decreased SBP level marginally in EH patients in a Chinese Han population, and the polymorphism may function through decreasing NPR 3 mRNA expression and ANP level.