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Published on: June 10, 2015
Striatin Gene Polymorphic Variants Are Associated With Salt Sensitive Blood Pressure in Normotensives and
Tina Gupta1, Molly Connors1, Jia Wei Tan1,2
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Hypertension, Brigham and Women's, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Background:
Understanding the interactions between genetics, sodium (Na+) intake, and blood pressure (BP) will help overcome the lack of individual specificity in our current treatment of hypertension. This study had 3 goals: expand on the relationship between striatin gene (STRN) status and salt-sensitivity of BP (SSBP); evaluate the status of Na+ and volume regulating systems by striatin risk allele status; evaluate potential SSBP mechanisms.
Methods:
We assessed the relationship between STRN status in humans (HyperPATH cohort) and SSBP and on volume regulated systems in humans and a striatin knockout mouse (STRN+/-).
Results:
The previously identified association between a striatin risk allele and systolic SSBP was demonstrated in a new cohort (P = 0.01). The STRN-SSBP association was significant for the combined cohort (P = 0.003; β = +5.35 mm Hg systolic BP/risk allele) and in the following subgroups: normotensives, hypertensives, men, and older subjects. Additionally, we observed a lower epinephrine level in risk allele carriers (P = 0.014) and decreased adrenal medulla phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in STRN+/- mice. No significant associations were observed with other volume regulated systems.
Conclusions:
These results support the association between a variant of striatin and SSBP and extend the findings to normotensive individuals and other subsets. In contrast to most salt-sensitive hypertensives, striatin-associated SSBP is associated with normal plasma renin activity and reduced epinephrine levels. These data provide clues to the underlying cause and a potential pathway to achieve, specific, personalized treatment, and prevention.
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