Mutational analysis of KCNJ11 in Chinese elderly essential hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the distribution of KCNJ11 polymorphisms between elderly Chinese population with and without hypertension.


METHODS
We examined the mutation of KCNJ11 gene by directly sequencing. Data for the present study were obtained from 250 hypertensive subjects (60 to 83 years old) as well as 250 normotensive subjects (60 to 86 years old).


RESULTS
We found nine different mutations in KCNJ11, including six novel mutations (I131M, L147I, L147V, L147L, Q235H, G245C). None of the novel mutations were found in the normotensive subjects, and all the residues were conserved in other species. These sequence variants in Chinese population indicate the diversity of the human library and the complexity of hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
The consistent finding of our present study provided a basis for the development of new strategies to diagnosis and treat hypertension in the elderly.
Institute of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
Jia-Yue
JY
Li
Zong-Bin
ZB
Li
Mei
M
Zhu
Yu-Qi
YQ
Liu
Yang
Y
Li
Shi-Wen
SW
Wang
Qing-Lei
QL
Zhu