Circulating Biomarkers and Risk of Hypertension: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomisation Study

Abstract

This study systematically assessed circulating proteins to identify new serum biomarkers and risk of hypertension using Mendelian randomisation. The associations between 4,782 human circulating proteins and the risk of hypertension were evaluated using two-sample Mendelian randomisation. The FinnGen study demonstrated a link between genetic predisposition and hypertension in 85,438 cases and 223,663 controls. Inverse variance weighted and sensitivity analysis revealed nine proteins in circulation that have a causative effect on hypertension. SMOC1 and TIE1 were determined to be causative factors in the decreased likelihood of developing hypertension, with odds ratios of 0.86 (95% CI 0.81-0.91; p=1.06e-06) and 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.98; p=9.39e-05), respectively. NDUFB4, ETHE1, POFUT2, TRIL, ADAM23, GXYLT1, OXT, TPST2, and TMCC3 showed a possible connection to hypertension. This two-sample Mendelian randomisation study found that SMOC1 and TIE1 are causally linked to hypertension, making them a promising target for therapy.