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Updated: May 29, 2026

Co-immunoprecipitation Assay Using Endogenous Nuclear Proteins from Cells Cultured Under Hypoxic Conditions
Published on: August 2, 2018
An erythropoietin gene polymorphism in the hypoxia-responsive element at position 3434 is possibly associated with
E G Schulz1, C L Neumann, J Menne
1Center of Nephrology Göttingen, Hypertension Care and Research Unit, Göttingen, Germany. eg.schulz @ goedia.de
Background/Aims:
Several polymorphisms of vasoactive hormones have been implicated in hypertension. Erythropoietin (EPO) interacts with vasoactive substances, such as angiotensin II. Previously detected single nucleotide polymorphisms in the hypoxia-responsive element of EPO might be associated with hypertension and hypertensive end organ damages.
Methods:
400 hypertensive patients and 200 age- and gender-matched normotensive controls were genotyped for an EPO polymorphism [cytosine (C)/thymine (T) single nucleotide polymorphism] at position 3434. Patients were grouped according to their genotype into the CC group (CC genotype) and the CT/TT group (CT and TT genotype). BP was measured by ambulatory BP monitoring.
Results:
The CC genotype was present in 87% of hypertensive patients and in 78.5% of controls (p = 0.007). In addition, patients with the CC genotype had higher BP levels compared with CT/TT genotypes (BPsys 143.7 ± 20.4 vs. 136.1 ± 13.5 mm Hg, p = 0.01, and BPdias 85.8 ± 11.6 vs. 82.4 ± 8.9, p = 0.043) despite a nearly identical number of antihypertensive drugs (2.3 ± 1.5 vs. 2.3 ± 1.6; p = 0.257). 100% of the small number of patients with end-stage renal disease (n = 15) had the CC genotype.
Conclusion:
The CC genotype of the EPO gene at position 3434 is more frequently found in patients with hypertension and is associated with higher BP levels.
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