ACE Gene I/D polymorphism and systemic arterial hypertension in different classes of hypertensive individuals

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a multifactorial clinical condition characterized by high and sustained levels of blood pressure (BP). Some studies have reported that variants of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ace) gene increase the risk of hypertension. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of the relationship between the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the ACE gene and its genotypic variants with BP in four distinct groups of hypertensive individuals and also to genetically and epidemiologically characterize the investigated samples. The study was formed of 112 individuals arranged into the following groups: normotensive (control); hypertensive and non-obese; hypertensive and obese; and, hypertensive and with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Epidemiological data and peripheral blood were collected from participants for DNA extraction and amplification by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The allele (D=0.5446; I=0.4554) and genotype (DD =0.2411, ID =0.6071; II =0.1518) frequencies showed low genetic differentiation (Fst<0.05) and were outside the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups (chi-square=4.4335; p=0.6174). There was no association of the D allele with SAH, reinforcing the hypothesis that environmental interferences are prevalent in the evolution of SAH.