Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Gene Polymorphism Is Associated With Increase of Left Ventricular Mass But Not With Hypertension

Abstract

A genetic epidemiologic approach is useful to elucidate the genes responsible for hypertension. Genetic analyses of the components of the renin-angiotensin system have succeeded in showing an association between their polymorphism and hypertension. Recently, two types of angiotensin II receptor were cloned and characterized. To examine the genetic contribution of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) and type 2 receptor (AT2) genes in human essential hypertension, a case-control study was performed in Japanese subjects. The study comprised 321 subjects with hypertension who satisfied the criteria for essential hypertension, together with 215 age and sex matched controls. The significance of the differences in genotype distribution between hypertensive and normotensive subjects was examined by chi2 analysis. Neither AT1 nor AT2 gene variants were associated with human essential hypertension in the Japanese subjects. However, the AT1 receptor gene polymorphism was associated with left ventricular mass index in normotensive subjects. The study results suggest that gene polymorphisms of both angiotensin II receptors are not directly involved in the increase of genetic risk for hypertension, but that the AT1 receptor gene might contribute genetically to the increase of left ventricular mass.

Association of a polymorphism at the 5′‐region of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor with hypertension

“…We found no relationship ; in fact, the frequency of the C allele of this polymorphism was lower in Japanese than in Caucasians. These results are consistent with previous observations in Japanese (Takami et al 1998).…”

“…The polymorphism AT " A(1166)C was shown to be associated with essential hypertension and aortic stiffness among French Caucasians (Bonnardeaux et al 1994). A case control study of this polymorphism in a Japanese population, however, failed to demonstrate an association (Takami et al 1998). As this polymorphism does not appear to alter a potential mRNA poly-adenylation or destabilization signal, it was postulated that it might be in linkage disequilibrium with a yet unidentified functional variant.…”

C3123A polymorphism of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene and salt sensitivity in healthy Japanese men

“…8,9 There were no significant differences in all baseline characteristics (age, BMI, SBP, DBP, prevalence of hypertension, prevalence of family history of hypertension, AST/GOT, ALT/GPT, g-GTP, creatinine, and smoking status) among the genotypes. Thus, baseline SBP and DBP were not related to the AGTR2 genotype in this study.…”

Recent Aspects in the Genetic Renal Mechanisms Involved in Hypertension.

“…There was a tendency for hypertensive patients with a late age at diagnosis to have a decreased prevalence of the C1166 allele (29). A very recent study in Japanese people suggests the gene polymorphisms of both ATI and AT2receptors are not directly involved in the increase in genetic risk of hypertension, but that the ATI receptor gene might contribute genetically to the increase of left ventricular mass (30). Further investigation will be necessary to address the association of the polymorphismsof All receptor gene with hypertension.…”