VAV3 rs7528153 and VAV3-AS1 rs1185222 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension

The aetiology of essential hypertension is complex and involves both environmental and genetic factors. Approximately 30% of the inter-individual variability in blood pressure is genetically determined. It has been shown that numerous vasoconstrictors stimulate RhoA in local populations of vascular SMCs that, in turn, promote localised constriction of arterial blood vessels and elevations in blood pressure. The VAV3 gene encodes for VAV3 protein, a Rho GEF factor. VAV3-AS1 gene, a lncRNA, may regulate VAV3 expression. We performed an observational prospective case-control study, including patients attending in the Vascular Risk Unit from the University Hospital Salamanca for 6 months. A replication study was performed with data from The Kaiser Permanent database of the University of California. The results suggest that T allele of the VAV3 rs7528153 and G allele of the VAV3-AS1 rs11185222 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension. We hypothesise that these polymorphisms could modify blood pressure, likely through a modification in the Rho/Rac pathway. Our results suggest that those polymorphisms could be useful genetic markers of susceptibility to suffering hypertension.