Exploring the genetic basis of essential hypertension: association with AGT gene variants in an Iranian population

Essential hypertension (EH) is a complex disorder influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), particularly the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene, plays a crucial role in blood pressure regulation. While previous studies have implicated AGT gene polymorphisms in EH risk, their impact on the Iranian population remains relatively unexplored.

To investigate the association between common variants of the AGT gene and their haplotypes with EH in a large cohort of Iranian individuals.

This nested case-control study utilized data from the Tehran Cardiometabolic Genetic Study (TCGS), encompassing 6,100 adults (3,217 cases with EH and 2,883 controls). Eleven Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) within the AGT gene were genotyped. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and Body Mass Index (BMI), were employed to assess the association between SNPs and EH. Haplotype analysis was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of multiple SNPs.

In a univariate analysis, eight of the eleven SNPs had strong links to EH. Logistic regression analysis showed that certain alleles of rs2493141, rs2004776, and especially rs2493151 were linked to a higher risk of EH. Even after taking BMI into account, rs2493151 remained significant. Four haplotypes were found to be significantly linked to the risk of EH through haplotype analysis.

This study provides evidence for the involvement of AGT gene variants and haplotypes in the pathogenesis of EH in the Iranian population. These findings highlight the importance of considering genetic factors in the development and management of this prevalent condition.