As many as one in five white people possess a gene variant that is thought to increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Dr Yen-Pei Christy Chang and colleagues measured the blood pressure and scanned the genetic code of 542 Amish people. Results revealed a “strong association” between high blood pressure and a number of common variants in a gene called STK39 that produces a protein that controls how the kidneys process salt, which plays a key role in determining blood pressure. The researchers then went on to confirm their findings by looking at data collected from four groups of non-Amish Caucasian participants taking part in other studies.
Participants with one particular variant of the gene were found to have slight increases in blood pressure and were more likely to develop high blood pressure than those with a more common form of the gene. The researchers estimate that as many as one in five white people possess this variant.
“This discovery has great potential for enhancing our ability to tailor treatments to the individual – what we call personalized medicine – and to more effectively manage patients with hypertension,” said Dr Chang. “We hope that it will lead to new therapies to combat this serious public health problem worldwide.”
Wanga Y, O’Connell, McAdrle PF, et al. Whole-genome association study identifies STK39 as a hypertension susceptibility gene. PNAS. Published online before print December 29, 2008, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0808358106
