[Hypertension and gene polymorphisms].
For our understanding of the genetic factors of human essential hypertension, gene polymorphisms have played a significant role as DNA markers in association and linkage studies. We found positive linkages between hypertension and 4 gene polymorphisms including angiotensinogen Met235Thr, angiotensin converting enzyme I/D, aldosterone synthase CYP11B2 T-344C, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase Glu298Asp in the Aomori population. These results suggest that the 4 gene polymorphisms might be genetic risk factors for hypertension in this district. However, there has been a frustration with the inconsistencies of accumulated evidence. Because, the genetic associations tend to vary across race, ethnicity, and ecological states. Thus, the rates of racial inter-mixture can explain regional differences in disease susceptibility. We emphasize that human lineage based analysis across populations may lead to the better understanding of the variability.