title: Role of genetic variants in the gene encoding lipocalin-2 in the development of elevated blood pressure.
abstract: Lipocalin-2 is recently recognized as a biomarker of obesity and inflammation, which are both risk factors for hypertension. We therefore investigated the association of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding lipocalin-2 (LCN2) with elevated blood pressure (BP) in Hong Kong Chinese. Five tagging SNPs were genotyped in 1936 subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study-2 (CRISPS-2) with a median follow-up time of 6.4 years. Elevated BP was defined as ≥130/85 mmHg or taking anti-hypertensive medication. Haplotype GGTCC was associated with elevated BP at follow-up after adjusting for age and sex (odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1.17 [1.01-1.36], P = 0.031). Haplotype GGTCC was also an associated plasma CRP level 11.7% (95% CI: 2.6-25.9%) higher among subjects with elevated BP after adjusting for age and sex (P = 0.036). Among 1381 subjects without elevated BP at baseline, 321 subjects developed elevated BP at follow-up. Haplotype GGTCC was associated with the development of elevated BP at follow-up after adjusting for baseline age, sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and follow-up duration (OR [95% CI] = 1.30 [1.06-1.58], P = 0.011). Among subjects not taking anti-hypertensive medication, carriers of the haplotype GGTCC had higher SBP than noncarriers (119.7 ± 16.4 mmHg vs. 117.9 ± 17.3 mmHg, P = 0.043). Our findings suggest, for the first time, that genetic variants in LCN2 may affect BP. Further studies on the role of lipocalin-2 in BP regulation are warranted.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.
authors: Kwok-Leung
authors: KL
authors: Ong
authors: Annette W K
authors: AW
authors: Tso
authors: Stacey S
authors: SS
authors: Cherny
authors: Pak-Chung
authors: PC
authors: Sham
authors: Tai-Hing
authors: TH
authors: Lam
authors: Karen S L
authors: KS
authors: Lam
authors: Bernard M Y
authors: BM
authors: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006239:Haplotypes; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins