The genetics of blood pressure

Blood delivers nutrients and oxygen to all parts of your body. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common disease in which blood flows through blood vessels at higher than normal pressures. A high force of blood flow can damage and weaken your blood vessels. Over time, hypertension can harm different organs, including the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes.

A medical student checking blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. Image: Malta Medical Students' Association/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

To learn more about how genes might affect our blood pressure, 3 international research teams analyzed hundreds of thousands of people’s genomes to look for genetic variations associated with blood pressure regulation.

The first study analyzed Cardio-Metabochip microarray data from 74 studies that included over 342,000 people of European ancestry. Using these data, the researchers identified 66 blood-pressure associated regions of the genome (loci), 17 of which were previously unknown.

Analyses suggested that many of the newly identified loci may play a role within cells lining blood vessels in controlling blood pressure. There was no enrichment of a single predominant genetic pathway in the data, reflecting the complexity of blood pressure influences.

The group found comparable results in a group of more than 64,000 people of South Asian, East Asian, and African descent.

The second research group performed a genome-wide analysis of more than 327,000 people. Their meta-analysis of Human Exome BeadChip gene array (Exome Chip) data revealed 31 new blood pressure-associated loci and confirmed 39 that had been previously identified. These loci were strongly linked to genetic risk of heart disease and heart attack.

A third team led by United Kingdom-based researchers used Exome Chip data to screen nearly 350,000 people. Their meta-analysis identified 30 new blood pressure-associated regions of the genome.

Taken together, these 3 studies expand our understanding of the genetic components of blood pressure by doubling the number of reported blood pressure genes. They also highlight potential new targets for treating hypertension. (NIH)

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