Correlation between heteroplasmy level of the 5178C>A mutation in the ND2 gene of mitochondria DNA and essential hypertension in middle-aged and elderly adults

Abstract

Objectives To explore the correlation between the heteroplasmy level of mt5178C>A mutation in ND2 gene of mitochondria DNA and essential hypertension(EH)in middle-aged and elderly adults. Methods EH patients and normotensive controls were recruited consecutively from 2014-2015 from general population.Demographics, clinical characteristics and blood leukocytes were collected.The mt5178C>A mutation heteroplasmy level was quantified by the rapid and sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method for each participant. Results A total of 108 EH patients and 109 controls were recruited.The mt5178C>A mutation heteroplasmy level was(42±11%)in EH patients and(54±13)% in control subjects, with statistically significant difference between the two groups(P A heteroplasmy level exceeding 44% was associated with a decreased risk of EH(OR=0.18, 95%, CI: 0.10-0.31, P A heteroplasmy level was significantly negatively correlated with both systolic blood pressure(r=-0.38, P A heteroplasmy level(OR=0.82, 95%CI: 0.77-0.87, P A heteroplasmy level(OR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.78-0.89, P<0.01)was independent protective factor for EH, however, only total cholesterol(OR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.58-2.98, P=0.02)and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(OR=0.06, 95%CI: 0.01-0.83, P=0.04)were independent risk factors for EH, and the P at critical 0.05 value. Conclusions Mitochondrial ND2 gene 5178C>A mutation heteroplasmy level exerts protective role against EH in middle-aged and elderly adults in Chinese population. Key words: Hypertension; DNA, mitochondrial; Genetic heterogeneity