Genetic factors in blood pressure
The invention describes epistatic interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms on genes associated with blood pressure and provides an application for their use in a method to determine an individual's susceptibility to hypertension and hence whether anti-hypertensive treatment will be beneficial for said individual. In addition gene expression levels are also linked to blood pressure and may also be used to determine susceptibility to hypertension.
1. A method of treating an individual predisposed to high blood pressure comprising:
(a) obtaining a biological sample from the individual, wherein the individual has not been treated with antihypertensive drug therapy;
(b) determining whether a rs5355C>T single nucleotide polymorphism in the SELE gene is present or absent in the biological sample by contacting the biological sample with a nucleic acid probe that hybridizes to the rs5355C>T single nucleotide polymorphism, wherein the rs5355C>T single nucleotide polymorphism is determined to be present;
(c) determining whether a rs6046G>A single nucleotide polymorphism in the F7 gene is present or absent in the biological sample by contacting the biological sample with a nucleic acid probe that hybridizes to the rs6046G>A single nucleotide polymorphism, wherein the rs6046G>A single nucleotide polymorphism is determined to be present;
(d) after said determining of (b) and (c), determining the individual is predisposed to high blood pressure; and
(e) administering to the individual determined to have both the rs5355C>T and rs6046G>A single nucleotide polymorphism an anti-hypertensive therapy selected from the group consisting of a calcium channel blocker, renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, diuretic, adrenergic receptor antagonist, aldosterone antagonist, vasodilator, and alpha-2 agonist.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample of (a) is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, saliva, tissue sample, and hair.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining of (b) and (c) is conducted with an assay selected from among DNA microarray, polymerase chain reaction, and fluorescent in-situ hybridization.