title: Evaluation of leptin and leptin receptor gene 3' UTR polymorphisms in essential hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptin and leptin receptor gene polymorphisms have been associated with obesity; however, their association with blood pressure has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in the 3' flanking region of the leptin and leptin receptor gene on blood pressure in hypertensives with obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and eighty hypertensives and 200 healthy controls were analyzed for a tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism of leptin and leptin receptor genes. Genotyping was done by amplifying DNA and determining the allele sizes using gel documentation system. Odds ratios were computed to predict the risk for hypertension caused by specific genotypes of leptin and leptin receptor genes and the effect of interaction between them on the development of hypertension was determined by MDR test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant preponderance in the incidence of male sex, obese individuals and those with positive family history was observed with significant elevation in the mean levels of SBP, DBP, BMI and reduction of HDL levels in hypertensives as compared to controls. Class I/I genotypes of leptin showed significantly high risk for developing hypertension irrespective of obesity. Genotypes of leptin receptor did not confer any risk for hypertension and cohorts studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Homozygotes I/I were at greater risk for developing hypertension irrespective of obesity. When leptin and leptin receptor genes were considered together, synergistic interaction was observed between the two genes leading to hypertension, while the polymorphism at leptin gene and obesity was correlated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Osmania University , Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh , India and.
authors.forename: Swapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagalingam
authors.forename: Mohana Vamsi
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Uppuluri
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gunda
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ravishanker
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tirunilai
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007194:India; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin
keywords: 3′ UTR polymorphism; essential hypertension; leptin gene; leptin receptor gene