Association of the I/D Polymorphism of ACE and A1166C Polymorphism of the Angiotensin II AT1 Receptor Gene and Blood Preassure in Men without Clinical Manifestations of Atherocslerotic Diseases

Abstract

Background Genetic and enviromental factors influence the developement of arteraial hypertension. Increased activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system can facilitate development of arteriosclerosis and may play a role in pathophysiology of arterial hypertension. We investigated the interaction between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and AT1 receptor gene A1166C polymorphism on the risk of arterial hypertension. Material and methods We examined 539 men, mean age 44 ± 9 years, who did not have any symptoms of coronary artery disease, stroke or other atherosclerotic diseases. We measured blood pressure, weight, height, weist and hip circumference, fasting serum glucose and lipids levels. In each subject resting ecg was recorded. The polymerase chain reaction, RFLP procedure and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to determine the ACE I/D genotype and the angiotensin II AT1 receptor A1166C genotype. Results The odds ratio for arterial hypertension associated with the AT1R AC+CC genotype was 0.59 (95% Cl 0.28–1.26) for men without the ACE I allele p = 0.36 and 1.26 (95% Cl 0.76–2.07) in ID heterozygotes, p = 0.36 and 0.76 (95% Cl 0.36–1.61) in II homozygotes, p = 0.61. The assoctiation was also not significant after adjustment for other significant common atherosclerotic risk factors. Conclusions We did not find any significant interaction between ACE and AT1R gene polymorphisms in men with and without arterial hypertension.