Microarray Analysis of Differential Gene Expression Profile in Peripheral Blood Cells of Patients with Human Essential Hypertension

Abstract

The polygenic nature of essential hypertension and its dependence on environmental factors pose a challenge for biomedical research. We hypothesized that the analysis of gene expression profiles from peripheral blood cells would distinguish patients with hypertension from normotensives. In order to test this, total RNA from peripheral blood cells was isolated. RNA was reversed-transcribed and labeled and gene expression analyzed using significance Analysis Microarrays (Stanford University, CA, USA). Briefly, Significance Analysis Microarrays (SAM) thresholding identified 31 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated genes with fold changes of ≥2 or≤0.5 and q-value ≤5 % in expression. Statistically significantly gene ontology (GO) function and biological process differentially expressed in essential hypertension were MHC class II receptor activity and immune response respectively. Biological pathway analysis identified several related pathways which are associated with immune/inflammatory responses. Quantitative Real- Time RT-PCR results were consistent with the microarray results. The levels of C - reactive protein were higher in hypertensive patients than normotensives and inflammation-related genes were increased as well. In conclusion, genes enriched for “immune/inflammatory responses” may be associated with essential hypertension. In addition, there is a correlation between systemic inflammation and hypertension. It is anticipated that these findings may provide accurate and efficient strategies for prevention, diagnosis and control of this disorder.

Increased decidual mRNA expression levels of candidate maternal pre-eclampsia susceptibility genes are associated with clinical severity

“…ERAP1 is associated with chronic hypertension and a genetic variant shows reduced enzymatic activity, thus highlighting its role in blood pressure regulation [39, 40]. ERAP1 is also differentially expressed in essential hypertension [41]. ERAP2 shares similar functions with ERAP1 in blood pressure regulation and MHC I antigen presentation [42].…”

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3′UTR of ERAP1 gene with essential hypertension in the Northeastern Han Chinese

“…Molecular genetics holds the key for efficient and radical treatments of hypertension since epidemiological studies have suggested that genetics accounts for 30 to 40% of blood pressure changes (Tanira and Al Balushi, 2005). Our previous microarray analysis on the differential gene expression between EH and normotensives identified 31 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated genes (Korkor et al, 2011), among which CD36 showed a 4.8-fold up-regulation and we have identified the +273A/G polymorphism of CD36 gene associated with hypertension (Liu et al, 2013). Besides, the expression of ERAP1 showed a 0.46-fold down-regulation with a P value ≤ 0.5%.…”

Differential Gene Expression Profile in Essential Hypertension

“…Korkor et al (45) 680 genes were found differentially expressed in untreated hypertensives compared to normotensive controls. On the other hand, only 7 genes were differentially expressed in treated hypertensives compared to normotensive controls.…”

“…In their study, Korkor et al identified 49 differentially expressed genes; 31 up regulated and 18 down regulated genes. Amongst genes found to be altered include CD36, SLC4A1, NET1, SESN3, ZNF652, PRDX6, HIP1, FOLR3, ERAP1, CFD [45] . Most of the genes that were differentially expressed were related to immune/inflammatory responses.…”

“…We mainly use peripheral blood samples [45] in human and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) [46,47] , adrenal [44] , heart [2,48,49] and kidney [2,44,[53][54][55][56]58] in animal models.…”