Cited by 812Blood Pressure and Hypertension StudiesGenetic Associations and EpidemiologyIon Transport and Channel Regulation

Rare independent mutations in renal salt handling genes contribute to blood pressure variation

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Ji, Weizhen, Foo, Jia Nee, O'Roak, Brian J, Zhao, Hongyu, Larson, Martin G, Simon, David B, Newton-Cheh, Christopher, State, Matthew W +2 more·2008·Nature Genetics

Abstract

The effects of alleles in many genes are believed to contribute to common complex diseases such as hypertension. Whether risk alleles comprise a small number of common variants or many rare independent mutations at trait loci is largely unknown. We screened members of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) for variation in three genes-SLC12A3 (NCCT), SLC12A1 (NKCC2) and KCNJ1 (ROMK)-causing rare recessive diseases featuring large reductions in blood pressure. Using comparative genomics, genetics and biochemistry, we identified subjects with mutations proven or inferred to be functional. These mutations, all heterozygous and rare, produce clinically significant blood pressure reduction and protect from development of hypertension. Our findings implicate many rare alleles that alter renal salt handling in blood pressure variation in the general population, and identify alleles with health benefit that are nonetheless under purifying selection. These findings have implications for the genetic architecture of hypertension and other common complex traits.

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  • An excess of rare mutations in renal salt-handling genes has been associated with lower blood pressure and protection against hypertension.

    “An excess of rare mutations in renal salt-handling genes has been associated with lower blood pressure and protection against hypertension (131).”

    From Genetic Mapping in Human Disease (2008) · cites this paper as [131]

  • Early data on rare single-nucleotide and structural variants indicate that similarly large samples will be needed to achieve the levels of statistical significance required to detect rare events in a genome-wide search.

    “Moreover, early data on rare single-nucleotide (130, 131) and structural variants (133, 134, 136) indicate that similarly large samples will be needed to achieve the levels of statistical significance required to detect rare events in a genome-wide search.”

    From Genetic Mapping in Human Disease (2008) · cites this paper as [131]

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Authors
Ji, W., Foo, J. N., O'Roak, B. J., Zhao, H., Larson, M. G., Simon, D. B., Newton-Cheh, C., State, M. W., Levy, D., & Lifton, R. P.
Affiliations
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
  • Yale University (US)
  • Boston University (US)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Lifton, Richard P
Venue
Nature Genetics
Published
2008-04-06
Volume
40
Issue
5
Pages
592-599
ISSN
  • 1061-4036 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1718
OpenAlex
W2161935988
Cited by
812
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 57 · 2013: 64 · 2012: 82
FWCI
66.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Institutes of Health (n01hc25195-41-0-1)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (N01‐HC25195, P50HL055007, N01-HC-025195)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion Transport and Channel Regulation
Keywords
rare mutations, blood pressure variability, hypertension, SLC12A3, SLC12A1, KCNJ1, NKCC2, ROMK, heterozygous mutation, purifying selection, genetic architecture of complex traits, Framingham Heart Study
MeSH terms
Adult, Amino Acid Sequence, Blood Pressure, Female, Heterozygote, Humans, Hypertension, Kidney, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutation, Receptors, Drug, Sodium Chloride, Cohort Studies, Prevalence, Amino Acid Substitution, Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying, Symporters, Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters, Solute Carrier Family 12, Member 1, Solute Carrier Family 12, Member 3

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