Association between the M235T polymorphism of the AGT gene and cytokines in patients with hypertension

The aim of the present study was to explore the association between the M235T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene and cytokines in patients with essential hypertension (EH). A total of 300 patients with EH and an age-matched control group of 150 individuals without EH, secondary hypertension, myocardial infarction and diabetes were enrolled in this study. Polymerase chain reaction combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect variation in the target genotype, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was used to detect the cytokine [interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] concentrations. The AGT gene 235T allele and 235TT genotype frequencies in hypertensive patients were slightly higher than those in the controls. Furthermore, in the hypertensive subjects with the AGT gene 235T allele, the concentrations of IL-1 and TNF-α were significant higher than those in the controls. The results from our study suggest that the higher AGT gene TT genotype and 235T allele frequencies may be risk factors for hypertension. High frequencies of the AGT gene 235T allele and high cytokine concentrations (IL-1 and TNF-α) may promote the transcription and expression of AGT, particularly in hypertensive patients with the 235TT genotype.