title: Hypertension-Related Gene Polymorphisms of G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4 Are Associated with NT-proBNP Concentration in Normotensive Healthy Adults.
abstract: G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) with activating polymorphisms desensitize the natriuric renal tubular D1 dopamine receptor, and these GRK4 polymorphisms are strongly associated with salt sensitivity and hypertension. Meanwhile, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be useful in detecting slight volume expansion. However, relations between hypertension-related gene polymorphisms including GRK4 and cardiovascular indices such as NT-proBNP are not clear, especially in healthy subjects. Therefore, various hypertension-related polymorphisms and cardiovascular indices were analyzed in 97 normotensive, healthy Japanese adults. NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in subjects with two or more GRK4 polymorphic alleles. Other hypertension-related gene polymorphisms, such as those of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genes, did not correlate with NT-proBNP. There was no significant association between any of the hypertension-related gene polymorphisms and central systolic blood pressure, cardioankle vascular index, augmentation index, plasma aldosterone concentration, or an oxidative stress marker, urinary 8-OHdG. Normotensive individuals with GRK4 polymorphisms show increased serum NT-proBNP concentration and may be at a greater risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yatabe
authors.forename: Midori S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yatabe
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Felder
authors.forename: Pedro A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanada