Association of eNOS (E298D) and CYP2J2 (-50 G/T) gene polymorphisms with hypertension among Egyptian cases

Background: Hypertension is a multifactorial and polygenic disorder where several susceptible genes interact with the environmental factors. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the frequency of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS, E298D) and cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP 2J2 -50 G/T) gene polymorphisms among Egyptian hypertensive subjects. Subjects and methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples collected from 123 hypertensive cases and from 429 healthy non-related controls by using Magna pure system (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany). DNA was used to determine the frequency of eNOS, E298D and CYP 2J2 -50 G/T allelic variants using the Light Cycler polymerase chain reaction (Realtime PCR) technique. Genotype (wild type, mutant and heterozygous) was determined by melting curve analysis. Results: Regarding the study of eNOS and CYP2J2 gene polymorphisms, analysis of total hypertensive cases exhibited higher frequency of mutant eNOS heterozygous ED genotype compared to controls, yet statistically insignificant (27.6% vs. 21.1%, OR= 1.5, 95% CI= 0.9–2.8, p= 0.1). Similarly, analysis of hypertensive cases also exhibited higher frequency of mutant CYP2J2 -50 GT genotypes compared to controls that was also statistically insignificant (13.8% vs. 10.7%, OR= 1.3, 95% CI= 0.7–2.4, p= 0.4). All subgroups of hypertensive complicated cases either with cardiac diseases, with diabetic or with renal disorders showed insignificant difference compared to controls. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated no association between eNOS E298D and CYP2J2 -50 G/T gene polymorphisms and hypertension among Egyptian subjects.