Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors
Published on: June 7, 2016
Renin-angiotensin system genetic polymorphisms and brain white matter lesions in older Australians
Amelia A Assareh1, Karen A Mather2, John D Crawford2
1Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Collaborative Research Network for Mental Health and Well-being, University of New England, Armidale, Australia; a.assareh@unsw.edu.au.
Background:
White matter lesions (WMLs), seen as hyperintensities on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging brain scans, are common in the brains of healthy older individuals. They are thought to be related to cerebral small vessel disease and to have a genetic component to their aetiology, and hypertension is thought to be an important risk factor. Genetic polymorphisms in hypertension-related genes may therefore be associated with the formation of WMLs.
Methods:
In this study, a sample of 445 Australians aged 60-65 years was drawn from a larger longitudinal epidemiological study, the Personality and Total Health Through Life Project. The associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes encoding angiotensinogen (AGT, rs699), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, rs4362), and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1, rs5182) with WMLs were examined.
Results:
No individual SNPs showed a significant association with WMLs for the whole sample. When the cohort was stratified by sex, ACE rs4362 and AGT rs699 showed significant associations with WMLs in men only (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively), and remained significant after controlling for hypertension. Although the AGTR1 SNP did not show any association with WMLs, the interaction of the AGT rs699 and AGTR1 rs5182 SNPs with WMLs was significant before (P = 0.03) and after adjustment for hypertension (P = 0.045).
Conclusions:
The results provide evidence for association of polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system genes with WMLs, independent of hypertension. Male-only associations with WMLs were found for the AGT rs699 and ACE rs362 polymorphisms. Moreover, for the entire sample an interaction between AGT and AGTR1 rs5182 genotypes on WMLs was observed.
More Related Videos
09:38Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction PPI Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
09:37A Phenotyping Regimen for Genetically Modified Mice Used to Study Genes Implicated in Human Diseases of Aging
Published on: July 14, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion