Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in hypertensive rural population of Haryana, India.

BACKGROUND

Essential hypertension is a complex genetic disorder influenced by diverse environmental factors. Of the various physiological pathways affecting the homeostasis of blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is known to play a critical role. Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is a significant component of RAS and an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in its gene has been implicated in predisposition to hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

The present study is aimed to determine the association, if any, of ACE I/D polymorphism with essential hypertension in a rural population of Haryana, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The blood samples were collected from the patients visiting M. M. Institute of Medical Sciences, Mullana, Haryana. DNA from the patients (106) and control (110) specimens were isolated, amplified by PCR and analyzed employing agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the distribution of DD, II and I/D genotypes of ACE polymorphism in essential hypertensive patients (28.8, 25.5, and 46.2%) and their ethnically matched normal control (24.5, 30, and 45.5), respectively. The two groups also presented with very similar allelic frequencies and were also found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that ACE I/D polymorphism is not a risk factor for essential hypertension in the hitherto unstudied rural population of Haryana.