The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 3 primer of untranslated region (3’UTR) of the Pentraxin 3 (
PTX3
) gene and the risk of essential hypertension (EHT).
PTX3
genotypes, rs2614, rs111451363, and rs73158510 locus, were found in 260 patients with EHT and 260 healthy controls. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect plasma hsa-miR-4766-5p levels. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect plasma
PTX3
levels. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the binding site of hsa-miR-4766-5p to the
PTX3
.
PTX3
rs2614 locus T allele was a high risk factor for EHT (odds ratio [OR] = 2.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86–4.09,
P
< .01). Sex and diabetes history affected the correlation between
PTX3
gene rs2614 locus SNP and EHT risk. The CCG haplotype was a protective factor for EHT (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.28–0.57,
P
< .01), whereas the TCG haplotype was a risk factor for EHT (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.51–3.66,
P
< .01). The plasma
PTX3
level of patients with EHT was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (
P
< .01). The area under the curve for EHT diagnosis in plasma
PTX3
levels was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.57–0.66,
P
< .01). The plasma hsa-miR-4766-5p level in patients with EHT was significantly lower than that in the control group (
P
< .01). The area under the curve for the diagnosis of EHT according to the plasma hsa-miR-4766-5p level was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85–0.91,
P
< .01). Plasma
PTX3
levels were significantly negatively correlated with hsa-miR-4766-5p levels in patients with EHT and the control group (
r
= −0.87, −0.85,
P
< .01,
P
< .01). The
PTX3
gene rs2614 locus C allele was the target gene of hsa-miR-4766-5p.
The
PTX3
rs2614 locus SNP is significantly associated with EHT risk.