Molecular variant M235T of the angiotensinogen gene is associated with essential hypertension in Taiwanese

Objective To examine the association of the molecular variants of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene with essential hypertension in Taiwanese. Methods We conducted a case-control study concerning 151 subjects, 102 hypertensives and 49 normotensives. We created a rapid mini-sequencing method based on dye-terminator cycle sequencing to simultaneously detect the M235T and T174M variants of the AGT gene for each subject. Results The genotype and allele distribution of the M235T variant differed significantly in hypertensives and normotensives (chi(2) = 11.106, P = 0.004 and chi(2) = 6.453, P = 0.011, respectively), whereas those of the T174M variant did not differ (chi(2) = 0.004, P = 0.998 and chi(2) = 0.032, P = 0.858, respectively). The odds ratio for hypertension was 3.64 (95% confidence interval 1.56-8.49) for subjects with the C/C genotype of the M235T variant compared with other genotypes or 2.87 (95% confidence interval 1.76-4.68) for those carrying allele C versus those carrying allele T. Conclusion The molecular variant M235T, but not T174M, of the AGT gene is associated significantly with essential hypertension in this Taiwanese population. The genotype C/C or allele C is a risk factor for hypertension. The underlying mechanism of this association needs to be elucidated further.