Associations of Endothelial System Genes With Blood Pressure Changes and Hypertension Incidence: The GenSalt Study

We used single-marker and novel gene-based methods to examine the associations of endothelial system genes with blood pressure (BP) changes and hypertension in a longitudinal family study.

The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity follow-up study was conducted among 1,768 Chinese participants from 633 families. Nine BP measurements were obtained at baseline and at 2 follow-up visits using a random-zero sphygmomanometer. Mixed-effect models were used to assess the additive associations of 206 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 15 endothelial system genes with longitudinal BP changes and hypertension incidence. Gene-based analyses were conducted using the truncated product method. The Bonferroni method was used to adjust for multiple testing in all analyses.

Among those free from hypertension at baseline, 512 (32.1%) developed hypertension during the average 7.2 years of follow-up. In single-marker analyses, each copy of the minor alleles of correlated SELE markers rs4656704, rs6427212, and rs5368 were associated with increased risk of developing hypertension (P for trend = 1.48 × 10(-4), 6.69 × 10(-5), and 7.64 × 10(-5), respectively). In addition, the minor allele of SELE marker rs3917436 was associated with smaller diastolic BP (DBP) increases over time. Results of gene-based analyses confirmed associations of the SELE gene with the longitudinal BP phenotypes (P values < 1.00 × 10(-6) for DBP change and hypertension incidence). Furthermore, the DDAH1 and COL18A1 genes were associated with systolic BP change (P < 1.00 × 10(-6) and P = 4.00 × 10(-6), respectively), while EDNRA was associated with hypertension incidence (P = 2.39 × 10(-4)).

The current study provides strong evidence of a role of endothelial system genes in BP progression and hypertension incidence.