Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Linked to Essential Hypertension in Kasigau, Kenya

<p>Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), is an ever-growing epidemic in the developing world. Understanding the genetics behind essential hypertension (EH), or hypertension with no known cause, is especially important. In this study, three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) known to be linked to an increase in susceptibility to EH were quantified from a cohort of Kenyans living in the Kasigau region. The SNPs are located in three genes that are part of the renin angiotensin system, the primary regulatory pathway in humans controlling BP. They include: AGT (rs699), AGTR1 (rs5186), and HSD11β2 (rs5479). Overall, by using a fluorescent-based RT-PCR technique, the genotype distribution of AGT (rs699) was 0.63 C/C, 0.34 C/T, and 0.03 T/T. When evaluated as normotensive, prehypertensive, Stage I, or Stage II categories the allele frequencies for f(C)= 0.77,0.85,0.81, 0.77, respectively, and demonstrated Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) as assessed by Χ², p < 0.05. The genotype distribution of AGTR1 (rs5186) was 0.96 A/A, 0.03 A/C, and 0.00 C/C and the genotype distribution of HSD11β2 (rs5479) was 0.46 A/A, 0.46 A/C, and 0.08 C/C. The majority of genotype frequencies for each SNP were in HWE, with the exception of the AGT (rs699) SNP found in the sublocation of Bughuta suggesting other evolutionary selective pressures may be at work in this subpopulation. The high prevalence of the susceptible C allele for AGT (rs699) likely implies it is a critical factor in the high prevalence of EH observed in this population.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Biology

Year

2013

Author dc:creator

• Freeman, Julia Carol

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nancy Rice (Director), Cheryl Davis, Ajay Srivastava

• Angiotensinogen
• Blood Pressure
• Renin Angiotensin System
• Angiotensin II Receptor
• Isoform 1
• Hydroxysteroid (11-beta) Dehydrogenase 2
• Biology
• Cardiology
• Genetics
• Medical Education
• Physiology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1316

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-2319