Scientists have found a region on chromosome 1 to be key in regulation of blood pressure.

Recent research has begun to uncover the genes that contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. In a new study, researchers report on a genome-wide analysis of 1,875 people in 585 families collected through the GenNet network of the National Heart, Lung and Blood

Institute's Family Blood Pressure Program. Through their analysis, the scientists linked a region containing more than 200 known genes to blood pressure.

The researchers also highlighted 24 genes whose functions might predict some role in hypertension, and closely examined nine of these genes. Their work uncovered genetic changes called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three of these nine that were associated with hypertension. This region of chromosome 1 has been linked to related disorders such as type 2 diabetes and to a condition called familial hyperlipidemia, in which levels of cholesterol are high. However, this is the first analysis to identify candidate genes for additional study and to offer good evidence that more than one gene in the region is involved in blood pressure regulation.

Source

American Society for Human Genetics 8th November 2003