Evidence for association of D1S249 locus on human chromosome 1 with the susceptibility to essential hypertension in Han Chinese

Haplotype-based association of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genes polymorphisms with essential hypertension among Han Chinese: the Fangshan study

BACKGROUND

Widely evaluated regarding the genetic make-up of essential hypertension are the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) genes polymorphisms, whereas results are often not reproducible.

METHOD

We thus focused on a large Fangshan population to explore association of thirteen polymorphisms in five genes of RAAS. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct sequencing techniques. Data were analyzed using MDR and Haplo.stats programs.

RESULTS

All studied polymorphisms satisfied Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls. Three polymorphisms (AGT M235T, ACE I/D and AT1R A1166C) displayed significant differences in the genotype and allele distributions between patients and controls (P < 0.05). Interaction analysis suggested a six-locus model that can be decomposed into three sets of polymorphisms (TaqI and M235T, A-20C and A-6G, I/D and A2350G) each with nonadditive effects. Logistic regression analysis indicated that TaqI [Recessive: crude odds ratio (ORcrude) = 1.47, P = 0.030 and adjusted (ORadjusted) = 1.46, P = 0.050] and I/D (Recessive: ORcrude = 1.40, P = 0.002 and ORadjusted = 1.49, P = 0.002) polymorphisms were significantly and positively associated with the risk of essential hypertension. Under additive and recessive modes of inheritance, similar tendency was observed for M235T polymorphism. Two haplotypes (H6 and H9) were found to significantly reduce essential hypertension risk, whereas after correction only H6 remained significant (OR = 0.25, P = 0.0006). In contrast, haplotype H13 was significantly associated with essential hypertension with a 2.14-2.16-fold increased risk (P < 0.01). Haplotype-phenotype analysis showed significant association of inferred haplotypes with SBP (hap-score = 0.44, simulated P = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

Taken together, we demonstrated three two-locus pairs of polymorphisms with synergistic effect out of three genes in RAAS and found significant haplotype-phenotype interaction. Functional studies to confirm or refute these findings are warranted.

Correlation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene polymorphisms with stage 2 hypertension in Han Chinese

Experimental evidence indicates that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a homologue of human ACE, might negatively regulate the activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and might function as a protective regulator in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, association studies regarding ACE2 are sparse in the literature, with negative results in the majority of cases. Here we conducted an association study between 2 intronic polymorphisms (A1075G and G8790A) of the ACE2 gene and stage 2 hypertension in Han Chinese. We genotyped the 2 polymorphisms in 1494 subjects (808 stage 2 hypertensives and 686 normotensives) recruited from the Fangshan district (Beijing). Data were analyzed using chi(2) test, 1-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression where appropriate. The frequency of A1075G allele distribution in males differed significantly (P < 0.0001), whereas the genotype and allele distributions of G8790A polymorphism were similar, between stage 2 hypertensives and normotensives. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) differed significantly in females across both genotypes: SBP was significantly lower in subjects with the 1075AA and 8790GG genotypes, higher in the 1075GG (+13.65 mm Hg versus AA) and 8790AA (+13.36 mm Hg versus GG) genotypes, and intermediate in the 1075AG (+5.76 mm Hg versus AA) and 8790GA (+5.65 mm Hg versus GG) genotypes. Our data suggest that the polymorphism (A1075G) might be a risk factor-at least a marker-for stage 2 hypertension in males and that the 2 studied polymorphisms might be the indicators of systolic hypertension in females.