Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism in Dyslipidemia and Hypertension

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Hypertension and dyslipidemia have a multifactorial background based on genetic and environmental interactive factors. Increasing blood pressure (BP) and hypertension incidence have also been found to be linked with elevated blood lipids rates. Insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) are said to be linked to pathogenesis of both hypertension and dyslipidemia. Objectives: to investigate the presence of the three genotypes of ACE gene (I/D) polymorphisms with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Subjects and methods: Participants included 30 Egyptian patients with hypertension and /or dyslipidaemia (Group I) and 20 apparently healthy controls (Group II). For all participants, DNA was isolated and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); the product was recognized by gel electrophoresis according to their size. Results: diferent ACE genotypes frequencies were detected according to the presence or absence of 287 bp fragment in intron 16; 30% for Deletion/Deletion (DD), 56.7% for Insertion/Deletion (ID) and 13.3% for Insertion/Insertion (II) in patients group, denoting that (I) allele has a significant association with hypertension and dyslipidemia (p < 0.05). Conclusions: There is increased frequency of ACE I/D and I/I, therefore, the I allele was common among Egyptian patients affected with hypertension and /or dyslipidaemia.