Genetic epidemiology of hypertension

The objective of our research is to identify genetic factors that contribute to interindividual differences in blood pressure in the human population.

We wish to assess whether knowledge about variation in genes will improve our ability to predict risk of hypertension, development of hypertensive complications, or response to therapeutic or preventative interventions beyond what is provided by measurement of traditional biochemical, physiologic, or anthropomorphic predictor traits. We use "top-down" (i.e. phenotype-to-genotype) and "bottom-up" (i.e. genotype-to-phenotype) strategies to identify genes involved in the control of blood pressure.

The following projects are being conducted in large samples from African-American, non-Hispanic-White, and Hispanic-White populations:

• Assessments of the role of 59 candidate genes in the occurrence of hypertension.
• A genome-wide search to localize regions containing genes that influence blood pressure level and diagnostic category (hypertension vs. normotension).
• Candidate-gene and genome-wide searches for genes contributing to the development of coronary artery calcification.
• Assessment of the role of five genes coding for components of the renin-angiotensinaldosterone system in determining blood pressure response to diuretic therapy.
• Linkage and association studies using anonymous markers throughout the whole genome and markers in particular candidate genes to identify and characterize the genetic contribution to interindividual differences in complications of hypertension including echocardiographic LV mass, coronary calcification measured by electron beam CT, subcortical ischemic disease of the brain (e.g. leukoariosis) measured by MRI, and microalbuminuria.