Abstract-The permeability-glycoprotein efflux-transporter encoded by the multidrug resistance 1 (ABCB1) gene and the cytochromes P450 3A4/5 encoded by the CYP3A4/5 genes are known to interact in the transport and metabolism of many drugs. Recent data have shown that the CYP3A5 genotypes influence blood pressure and that permeability-glycoprotein activity might influence the activity of the renin-angiotensin system. Hence, these 2 genes may contribute to blood pressure regulation in humans. We analyzed the association of variants of the ABCB1 and CYP3A5 genes with ambulatory blood pressure, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, endogenous lithium clearance, and blood pressure response to treatment in 72 families (373 individuals; 55% women; mean age: 46 years) of East African descent. The ABCB1 and CYP3A5 genes interact with urinary sodium excretion in their effect on ambulatory blood pressure (daytime systolic: Pϭ0.05; nighttime systolic and diastolic: PϽ0.01), suggesting a gene-gene-environment interaction. The combined action of these genes is also associated with postproximal tubular sodium reabsorption, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and with an altered blood pressure response to the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril (PϽ0.05). This is the first reported association of the ABCB1 gene with blood pressure in humans and demonstration that genes encoding for proteins metabolizing and transporting drugs and endogenous substrates contribute to blood pressure regulation. Key Words: blood pressure Ⅲ genes Ⅲ sodium Ⅲ renin-angiotensin system Ⅲ P glycoprotein C ytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzymes, which, in adults, are composed of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, are involved in the metabolism of many drugs and endogenous substrates, such as steroids. CYP3A genes show organspecific patterns of expression, and only CYP3A5 is expressed in the human kidney. 1,2 Recent studies have found an association between the CYP3A5 gene and blood pressure (BP) in humans. [3][4][5][6] It has been hypothesized that carriers of the CYP3A5*1 allele have an enhanced renal sodium reabsorption. 3,6 The ATP-binding cassette, subfamily B, member 1 (ABCB1) or multidrug resistance 1 gene encodes the transmembrane permeability-glycoprotein (PGP), an efflux transporter expressed in the human kidney, (proximal tubules, 7 mesangium, thick limbs of Henle's loops, and collecting ducts 8 ). In mice, PGP has been shown to transport aldosterone out of the brain 9 and to play an important role in aldosterone plasma disposition. 10 This may be of importance given that intracerebroventricular injection of aldosterone in Dahl salt-sensitive rats has been shown to increase BP. 11 In Wistar rats, the increased BP resulting from intracerebroventricular injection of sodium is blocked by intracerebroventricular spironolactone injection. 12 Taken together, these experimental findings in animals point toward a possible role of PGP in centrally mediated salt-sensitive hypertension.Aldosterone may also be a physiological substrate of PGP in the hum...