Association study of mutation G^-75→A in the promoter of the human apolipoprotein AI gene and essential hypertension

We carried out an association (case-control) study on 156 unrelated nationals (78 hypertensives and 78 normotensives) from the Abu Dhabi Emirate (UAE) with a view to evaluating the relationship of a candidate gene locus - the human apolipoprotein AI (Ape AI) gene - to essential hypertension in this population of Gulf Arabs. We investigated the distribution of alleles of a dimorphism located in the promoter region of the Apo AI gene; this bi-allelic marker, due to a G→A substitution at position -75 of the Apo AI gene, was visualized by restriction endonuclease analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from all 156 subjects. In each of the two groups (normotensives and hypertensives) allele frequencies occurred in Hardy-Weinberg proportions. Respective frequencies of A-75 and G-75 alleles, however, were found to be identical (17% and 83%) amongst normotensives and hypertensives. We conclude that the G-75→A mutation of the Apo AI gene (or genetic variants that may be in linkage disequilibrium with it) do not contribute significantly to the determination of essential hypertension amongst Emiratis.