Environmentally-regulated genes of hypertension.

Several monogenetic causes of hypertension have recently been identified, but for the most part, the disease is of polygenic and possibly heterogenous character. The environmental impact, representing about 2/3 of blood pressure variance, is usually thought to be exerted at the level of phenotypic modification, additive to the effect of genetic loci determining blood pressure. The concept presented here is that for a significant part, the environment interacts with genes, influencing their expression. Of particular interest are stress genes expressed differentially in human and experimental hypertension. They may constitute candidate genes of blood pressure and heart weight, influenced by environmental stressors at the level of gene expression.