Genetic variation increases risk of hypertension, says IIT-Madras research study
The Hindu
The team of researchers found alterations in DNA building block of a gene called MMPS increased the risk of hypertension
A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras has discovered a genetic variation that causes an increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) in people.
The team studied the genetic profile of persons with hypertension and healthy control individuals and showed that four alterations in the DNA building block of a gene called MMPS could increase the risk of hypertension.
Nitish R. Mahapatra, professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences on the institute premises, led the research that included researchers from Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad; Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, PGIMER, Chandigarh; and the Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai.
The results of their work were published in the Journal of Hypertension.
Mr. Mahaptra said: “The genetic cause of high BP is complex and many genes contribute to it. Hypertension contributes the largest to the burden of disease and mortality in India, with an estimated 1.6 million annual deaths due to ischemic heart disease and stroke caused by it.”
Hypertension causes stiffness of blood vessel walls and arterial stiffness due to accumulation of excess collagen on the walls. Collagen is a type of protein generated in the body.
Normally excess collagen is broken down by an enzyme called “matrix metalloproteinase 8” (MMP8) preventing accumulation. However, a dysfunction or imbalance of the enzyme could result in the collagen not being broken down and it settles on artery walls.
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