title: Interaction of Alu Polymorphisms and Novel Measures of Discrimination in Association with Blood Pressure in African Americans Living in Tallahassee, Florida.
abstract: African Americans are 40% more likely to be afflicted with hypertension than are non-Hispanic, white Americans, resulting in a 30% higher instance of mortality due to cardiovascular disease. There is debate about the relative contributions of genetic and sociocultural risk factors to the racial disparity in hypertension. We assayed three Alu insertion polymorphisms located in the ACE (angiotensin 1 converting enzyme), PLAT (plasminogen activator, tissue), and WNK1 (lysine deficient protein kinase 1) genes. We also estimated West African genetic ancestry and developed novel measures of perceived discrimination to create a biocultural model of blood pressure among African American adults in Tallahassee, Florida (n = 158). When tested separately, the ACE Alu noninsertion allele was significantly associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In multiple regression analyses, West African genetic ancestry was not associated with blood pressure and reduced the strength of all blood pressure models tested. A gene × environment interaction was identified between the ACE Alu genotype and a new measure of unfair treatment that includes experiences by individuals close to the study participant. Inclusion of the WNK1 Alu genotype further improved this model of blood pressure variation. Our results suggest an association of the ACE and WNK1 genotypes with blood pressure that is consistent with their proposed gene functions. Measures of perceived unfair treatment of others show a threshold effect, with increased blood pressure occurring at higher values. The interaction between the ACE genotype and unfair treatment highlights the benefits of including both genetic and cultural data to investigate complex disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Alexis C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Boulter
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Jacklyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinlan
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Aida T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Miró-Herrans
authors.affiliation: 3 Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Laurel N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Nubiana L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: 4 Health Equity Alliance of Tallahassee Steering Committee, Tallahassee, Florida: James Bellamy, Qasimah Boston, Edward Holifield, Miaisha Mitchell, and Cynthia Seaborn.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Clarence C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gravlee
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Connie J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mulligan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D020087:Alu Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005838:Genotype; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D063505:Racism / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics; D000076204:WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D000076204:WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1; C498743:WNK1 protein, human; C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: african americans; alu polymorphisms; blood pressure; discrimination; racial health disparities