Association of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (Insertion/Deletion) Gene Polymorphism with Essential Hypertension in Northern Indian Subjects

OBJECTIVE: Essential hypertension is a multifactorial disease in which genetic and environmental factors play an important role. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is known to play a critical role in the homeostasis of blood pressure. Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is a significant component of RAS, and an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in its gene has been implicated in predisposition to hypertension. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the association of I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene with essential hypertension in northern Indians. METHOD: Two hundred twenty-two patients with essential hypertension and 252 controls were recruited for the study. DNA samples were isolated from peripheral blood by using a kit. Polymerase chain reaction was used for genotyping. RESULT: All the genotypes and allele distribution in study subjects were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was a significant difference in the distribution of DD, II, and ID genotypes of ACE polymorphism in patients and controls. In the subjects having an I allele, the odds ratio is 2.08 [1.6-2.58] at 95% confidence interval, thus suggesting an association of ACE I/D gene polymorphism with essential hypertension. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the I allele of ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with essential hypertension in our population.