Global BPgen group finds eight DNA regions linked to BP

A major international research collaboration has identified eight DNA variants associated with hypertension, six of which have not previously  been implicated in the disease.

Presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of  Hypertension, in San Francisco, the findings of the Global Blood  Pressure Genetics consortium could highlight potential targets for new  drugs to treat or possibly even prevent hypertension.

Global BPgen researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 17 genome-wide  association studies that included measurements of participants' blood  pressure. Analysis of 2.5 million DNA sequence variants in more than  34,000 individuals of European ancestry identified several chromosomal  regions where genes influencing BP appeared to be located. The  researchers then genotyped 12 gene variants with the strongest signals  in more than 71,000 additional individuals of European descent and in  12,300 people of Indian Asian ancestry. They also exchanged their top  results with investigators from the CHARGE research consortium.