Interactions of CDH13 gene polymorphisms and ambient PM10 air pollution exposure with blood pressure and hypertension in Korean men.

Associations between air pollution and blood pressure (BP) traits can be modified by several candidate genes, which might explain differences in individual genetic susceptibility. Based on recent evidence hypothesized to link air pollution and BP traits, we examined whether the polymorphisms of CDH13-a candidate gene-would modify the relationship between them in adult Korean men. A total of 1816 subjects were included. We divided them into two groups of high or low to moderate exposure using the annual average concentration of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM10). We conducted an interaction analysis of PM10 exposure using 200 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), located within CDH13, in subjects with regard to BP traits and hypertension. The rs7500599 intronic SNP of CDH13 had the strongest signals for all BP traits including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension, by interacting with PM10 exposure. An additional stratified analysis showed that the effects of PM10 exposure on elevated BP and hypertension increased gradually in proportion to the number of minor alleles in this SNP. In addition, PM10 exposure in the TT or GT genotype groups did not show significant associations with BP traits, whereas in a homozygous risk allele (GG) group, PM10 exposure was significantly associated with BP traits and hypertension. For SBP, these patterns were reproducible at two independent sampling sites. This CDH13 polymorphism amplifies the negative associations of PM10 exposure and elevated BP or hypertension in Korean men.