THE EPITHELIAL SODIUM CHANNEL γ-SUBUNIT GENE (SCNN1G) AND BLOOD PRESSURE: FAMILY-BASED ASSOCIATION RENAL GENE EXPRESSION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ANALYSES

摘要

Variants in the gene encoding the γ-subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (SCNN1G) are associated with both Mendelian and quantitative effects on blood pressure. Here, in four cohorts of 1611 white European families comprising a total of 8199 individuals, we undertook staged testing of candidate SNPs for SCNN1G (supplemented with imputation based on data from the 1000 Genomes Project) followed by a meta-analysis in all families of the strongest candidate. We also examined relationships between the genotypes and relevant intermediate renal phenotypes as well as expression of SCNN1G in human kidneys. We found that an intronic SNP of SCNN1G (rs13331086) was significantly associated with age-, sex- and BMI-adjusted blood pressure in each of the four populations (P < 0.05). In an inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis of this SNP in all four populations each additional minor allele copy was associated with a 1 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure and 0.52 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure (SE = 0.33, P = 0.002 for SBP; SE = 0.21, P = 0.011 for DBP). The same allele was also associated with higher 12-h overnight urinary potassium excretion (P = 0.04), consistent with increased epithelial sodium channel activity. Renal samples from hypertensive subjects showed a non-significant (P = 0.07) 1.7-fold higher expression of SCNN1G compared with normotensive controls. These data provide genetic and phenotypic evidence in support of a role for a common genetic variant of SCNN1G in blood pressure determination.