GNB3 C825T and ACE I/D polymorphisms on the sodium-proton exchanger and the prevalence of essential hypertension in males.

Background: The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis if the interaction between the G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) C825T polymorphism and ACE I/D polymorphism could lead to the disclosure of increased activity of sodium-proton exchanger and hypertension.

Methods: The study included 44 male patients, median age: 40 years. Patients were divided into two groups: 26 patients with essential hypertension (EH), and 18 subjects in the normotensive group (C).

Results: CT + TT genotypes of GNB3 predominated in patients with hypertension (65%) compared to normotensive patients (12%) (p <0.01). No significant differences were observed in the frequency of ACE gene polymorphisms between the examined groups. Significantly higher activity of erythrocyte NHE in patients with EH was observed: median 8.83 (interquartile range 4.27) mmol/l RBC/h, compared to C: median 6.18 (2.80) mmol/l RBC/h, p <0.001. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of the T allele increased the risk of hypertension 16-fold (p <0.01) and higher erythrocyte NHE activity 2-fold per each unit of activity (p <0.01). DD genotype of ACE polymorphism did not increase the risk of hypertension. No significant interaction of the influence of GNB3 T allele and ACE DD genotype on the risk of hypertension was observed. In multiple linear regression analysis, none of the examined genotypes and their interactions influenced NHE activity.

Conclusions: The presence of the T allele of GNB3 polymorphism and increased activity of erythrocyte NHE independently of ACE genotype increase the risk of hypertension.