Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (A1166C) gene polymorphism and essential hypertension in Egyptian population

The pathogenesis of essential hypertension (EH) is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Mutations in hypertension-related genes can affect blood pressure (BP) via alteration of salt and water reabsorption by the nephron. The genes of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) have been extensively studied because of the well documented role of this system in the control of BP. It has been previously shown that Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATR1) gene polymorphism could be associated with increased risk of EH. So, in the current study, we evaluated the frequency of ATR1 (A1166C) polymorphism in relation to EH in a group of Egyptian population. The study population included 83 hypertensive patients and 60 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. Restriction fragment length polymorphism – Polymerase chain reaction (RFLP – PCR) was used for the analysis of A1166C polymorphism of ATR1 genes in peripheral blood samples of all patients and controls. The results revealed that there was a positive risk of developing EH when having the T allele whether in homozygous or heterozygous state. From this work, it was concluded that there was an association between ATR1 (A1166C) gene polymorphism and the risk of developing EH.