Effect of the rs168924 single-nucleotide polymorphism in the SLC6A2 catecholamine transporter gene on blood pressure in Caucasians.

The NG_016969.1:g.5003A>G promoter polymorphism (rs168924) in the SLC6A2 norepinephrine transporter gene was found to be predictive of the hypertensive status in a Japanese population, but no data are available for Caucasians. Genotyping for rs168924 was performed in 282 young men with normal blood pressure (BP), grade 1 or 2 hypertension. In addition to casual BP, 24-hour ABPM and echocardiography were performed. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association of rs168924 genotype with diagnosis of hypertension (P=.044), casual systolic BP (SBP) levels (P=.028), and daytime ambulatory SBP (P=.02). The finding that rs168924 was also significantly associated with diastolic posterior wall thickness (P=.041), an echocardiographic index of hypertensive cardiac target organ damage, further supports the notion that the rs168924 SNP in SLC6A2 in fact might influence BP. Unlike previous findings in a Japanese population, in our Caucasian study cohort the presence of the minor rs168924 G allele was associated with lower prevalence of hypertension.