Genetic variation in the ASIC3 gene influences blood pressure levels in Taiwanese.
BACKGROUND
The acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) is a ligand-gated cation channel activated by extracellular protons, and is associated with an exercise-induced pressor reflex and possibly autonomic imbalance.


METHODS
To test the statistical association between genetic polymorphisms of the ASIC3 gene and blood pressure (BP) variations in Taiwanese, 551 unrelated individuals (286 men and 265 women) were recruited from a routine health examination. The participants had no prior history of cardiovascular disease or medication use for hypertension.


RESULTS
Six ASIC3 gene polymorphisms were genotyped; three were polymorphic, and only the rs2288646 polymorphism was associated with variations in BP among participants. Significantly higher systolic, diastolic, and mean BP were observed in participants carrying the rs2288646-A allele (P=0.034, 0.023, and 0.010, respectively). Significantly higher frequencies of the rs2288646-A-containing genotype were observed in normotensive, prehypertensive, and hypertensive subgroups (P for trend=0.026); and in those with higher systolic and diastolic BPs (P for trend=0.005 and P for trend=0.002, respectively). The association between the rs2288646-A allele and BP persisted even after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and other metabolic factors. When a second independent group of 403 individuals was combined with the first group of 551 (n=954), a significantly higher frequency of the rs2288646-A-containing genotype was observed in participants with hypertension (9.7 vs. 4.0%, P=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed an independent association between an ASIC3 genetic polymorphism and BP variations in Taiwanese. These results suggest that the ASIC3 may be involved in BP regulation.
The Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Lin
YL
Ko
Lung-An
LA
Hsu
Semon
S
Wu
Ming-Sheng
MS
Teng
Hsien-Hsun
HH
Chang
Chih-Cheng
CC
Chen
Ching-Feng
CF
Cheng
D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
C112231:ASIC3 protein, human; D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels