A genetic variant in the gene encoding fibrinogen beta chain predicted development of hypertension in Chinese men.
Fibrinogen, a major determinant of blood viscosity, is an acute phase protein associated with cardiovascular disease. We studied the association of hypertension with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding the fibrinogen beta chain (FGB). Three tagging SNPs (rs1025154, rs4220 and rs1044291) were selected from the HapMap database on Han Chinese. Genotypes were determined in 1,294 unrelated subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study cohort. There were 199 hypertensive subjects at baseline. Among 1,095 subjects normotensive at baseline, 178 developed hypertension during a median follow-up period of 6.4 years. Among the three tagging SNPs, rs4220 showed significant association with hypertension at both baseline (odds ratio [OR]=1.49, p=0.004) and at follow-up (OR=1.32, p=0.013). The minor A allele of this SNP was associated with higher plasma fibrinogen level (beta=0.144, p<0.001 at baseline and beta=0.130, p<0.001 at follow-up). Among subjects normotensive at baseline, this SNP was also associated with the development of hypertension in men (OR=1.52, p=0.022), but not in women. The SNP rs4220 in FGB , which leads to the substitution of arginine by lysine at position 448, is independently associated with plasma fibrinogen level and hypertension in Hong Kong Chinese. This suggests a possible causal role of fibrinogen in hypertension development, especially in men.
Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Kwok Leung
KL
Ong
Annette W K
AW
Tso
Stacey S
SS
Cherny
Pak Chung
PC
Sham
Karen S L
KS
Lam
Chao Qiang
CQ
Jiang
G Neil
GN
Thomas
Tai Hing
TH
Lam
Bernard M Y
BM
Cheung
D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D005340:Fibrinogen