Effect of the rs168924 single-nucleotide polymorphism in the SLC6A2 catecholamine transporter gene on blood pressure in Caucasians

Abstract

The NG_016969.1:g.5003A>G promoter polymorphism (rs168924) in the SLC6A2 norepinephrine transporter gene was found to be predictive of the hypertensive status in a Japanese population, but no data are available for Caucasians. Genotyping for rs168924 was performed in 282 young men with normal blood pressure (BP), grade 1 or 2 hypertension. In addition to casual BP, 24-hour ABPM and echocardiography were performed. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association of rs168924 genotype with diagnosis of hypertension (P=.044), casual systolic BP (SBP) levels (P=.028), and daytime ambulatory SBP (P=.02). The finding that rs168924 was also significantly associated with diastolic posterior wall thickness (P=.041), an echocardiographic index of hypertensive cardiac target organ damage, further supports the notion that the rs168924 SNP in SLC6A2 in fact might influence BP. Unlike previous findings in a Japanese population, in our Caucasian study cohort the presence of the minor rs168924 G allele was associated with lower prevalence of hypertension.

© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1

Daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure (BP) according to the rs168924 A>G genotypes. BP values were adjusted for age, body mass index, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Figure 2

Linkage disequilibrium across the region containing rs168924. Estimates of the square of the correlation coefficient (r2) were calculated for each pairwise comparison of SNPs based on data from the HapMap‐CEU sample. Insert: Linkage disequilibrium between rs168924 and rs28386840 (r2) based on data from our study cohort.