What question did this study set out to answer?

This research investigates how neprilysin levels and genetic variations relate to hypertension in a Chinese adult population.

April 21, 2026Open Access

Associations of Neprilysin and Its Coding Gene Variation With Hypertension in Chinese Adults

Key Result

Higher serum neprilysin levels were associated with an increased likelihood of prevalent hypertension (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13) in Chinese adults, independent of conventional risk factors.

Key Points

This research investigates how neprilysin levels and genetic variations relate to hypertension in a Chinese adult population.
Analyzed serum neprilysin levels in a general Chinese population using baseline blood specimens from the Gusu cohort.
Genotyped 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the MME gene, focusing on those that passed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test.
Employed logistic regression to examine associations while adjusting for major conventional risk factors.
Higher serum neprilysin levels are associated with an increased likelihood of hypertension (OR = 1.07).
The SNP rs9864287 showed a link to hypertension susceptibility, but significance diminished after corrections for multiple comparisons.
Indications of a weak association between neprilysin and hypertension were observed in the context of other risk factors.

Structured PICO

Are higher serum neprilysin levels and MME gene variants associated with prevalent hypertension in Chinese adults?

Population

2,286 Chinese adults from the general population (Gusu cohort), mean age 52 years, 61.4% female.

Intervention

Higher serum neprilysin (NEP) levels and MME gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)

Comparator

Lower serum neprilysin levels and other genotypes

Outcome

Prevalent hypertension

There is a weak association between higher serum neprilysin levels and prevalent hypertension in Chinese adults, independent of conventional risk factors.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Neprilysin (NEP) degrades several vasoactive peptides and may contribute to blood pressure maintenance. This study aims to examine the associations between serum NEP levels and variants at its coding gene and hypertension in a general Chinese population. Leveraging the baseline blood specimens of the Gusu cohort, serum NEP was assayed, and 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MME gene were genotyped (10 passed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test) by MassArray for 2286 participants (mean age 52 years, 61.4% females). The associations of serum NEP and SNPs with hypertension were examined by logistic regression. Major conventional risk factors, including lifestyle and metabolic factors, were adjusted for. We found that participants with a higher level of serum NEP were more likely to have prevalent hypertension (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.02-1.13, p = 0.006 for log2-transformed NEP). The SNP rs9864287 was associated with hypertension susceptibility (P < 0.05), but this association was not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. These results suggested that there was a weak association between serum NEP and hypertension in Chinese adults, independent of conventional risk factors. The role of NEP in hypertension remains to be elucidated.