The International Consortium for Blood Pressure Genome-Wide Association Studies has in a new study, identified sixteen new gene regions which can influence blood pressure. Besides these new regions, the existence of twelve other gene regions responsible for influencing the blood pressure, which had been reported earlier, has also been confirmed. The study, which has been published in the September 11, 2011 issue of the journal “Nature and Nature Genetics”, will further aid our understanding about the way inhered genes affect our blood pressure. The newly identified gene regions will act as new targets for medicines aimed at reducing the incidence of blood pressure and stroke.
The study involved 351 scientists from 234 institutions based in 24 countries around the world. The DNAs of over 270,000 people were analyzed to find genetic variations in their structures corresponding to high or low blood pressure. The researchers found 28 gene regions in all (16 new and 12 old) which could affect the blood pressure depending upon the genetic variation at these sites. The genes present at these sites were found to influence the chances of developing hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, and structural changes in the heart. Interestingly, the study found that people of European, East Asian, South Asian, and African ancestries share more or less similar
genes which affect blood pressure.
Heart disease and stroke combined, are the biggest cause of death all over the world. Both these conditions result from high blood pressure. More than one billion people around the world suffer from high blood pressure. Even slight variations in the blood pressure of a person can increase his chances of developing heart attack and stroke. A person’s blood pressure is determined by his lifestyle and his genes. However, till now the genes responsible for influencing blood pressure had not been identified. The new study, which has successfully identified the gene regions which influence blood pressure, will help us to understand better the impact of different genes on the disease. It will also help in the development of newer medicines, which are specifically targeted towards these genes.
References:
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