rAAV9-mediated supplementation of miR-29b improve angiotensin-II induced renal fibrosis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation is the critical factor in renal remodeling and dysfunction. Our previous study suggested that miR-29b may attenuate AngII-induced renal intestinal fibrosis in vitro. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether recombinant rAAV9-mediated miR-29b delivery protects against AngII-induced renal fibrosis and dysfunction. METHOD: Mice were treated with AngII via osmotic mini-pumps, or phosphate-buffered saline. rAAV9 vectors were produced using the rBac-based system in SF9 cells. rAAV9-miR-29b or rAAV9-control-miR was injected into the kidneys of mice subjected to the model of AngII infusion. The role of miR-29b in renal fibrosis was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and histology. RESULTS: In AngII-induced fibrotic kidney tissue, miR-29b expression was downregulated. rAAV9-miR-29b delivery significantly reversed renal injury as indicated by decreased serum creatinine and injury related gene expression in AngII-infused mice. Regarding organ remodeling, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and deposition of extracellular matrix components such as collagen type I and type III were significantly decreased in renal tissue from mice delivered rAAV9-miR-29b. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate great potential for use of rAAV9 as an applicable vector for delivery of miR-29b as an antifibrogenic factor for treatment of tubulointerstitial fibrosis-induced renal injury.

Identification and characterization of microRNAs expressed in antennae of Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky and their possible roles in olfactory regulation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play posttranscriptional, regulatory roles in various biological processes. However, there has been limited investigation into the potential function of miRNAs in olfaction. The coleopteran Holotrichia parallela is an economically important pest, and miRNAs have been identified in only one coleopteran (Tribolium castaneum). Therefore, this study was conducted to identify miRNAs expressed in the antennae of H. parallela and obtain insights into their possible roles in olfaction. By combining deep sequencing and miRDeep2 software, a total of 99 miRNAs, including 76 conserved miRNAs and 23 novel miRNAs, were identified from H. parallela antennae. The 76 conserved miRNAs belong to 63 families and the other 23 may be species specific or tissue specific. The identified miRNAs have many conserved features of miRNAs. Evaluation of the conservation of the identified miRNA families across different species revealed that most of the families are insect specific. The prediction and annotation of targets suggested that 13 of the identified miRNAs participate in olfactory regulation. Gender differences in antennal expression of nine of the olfactory-related miRNAs were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Updated incidence rates and risk factors of esophageal cancer in Nan'ao Island, a coastal high-risk area in southern China.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common cancers in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the updated incidence rates and risk factors of EC in Nan'ao Island, where the EC incidence rate was chronically the highest in southern China. To calculate the annual incidence rate, data on 338 EC cases from Nan'ao Cancer Registry system diagnosed during 2005-2011 were collected. A case-control study was conducted to explore the EC risk factors. One hundred twenty-five alive EC patients diagnosed during 2005-2011 and 250 controls were enrolled into the case-control study. A pre-test questionnaire on demography, dietary factors, drinking water treatment, and behavioral factors was applied to collect information of all participants. The average EC incidence rates during 2005-2011 were 66.09/105, 94.62/105, 36.83/105 for both genders, males and females, respectively, in Nan'ao Island. The EC incidence rate in males was 2.40- to 4.55-fold higher than that in females in the period from 2006 to 2011 (P < 0.05). Considering the onset age, males tend to be much younger than females and reached peak incidence rate at a younger age (P < 0.05). Drinking water treatment by filter (odds ratio [OR] = 0.28, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.13-0.58) and fruit consumption (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.32-0.94) reduced the risk for EC. On the contrary, the pickled vegetables consumption (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.46-4.76) and liquor drinking (OR = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.21-4.44) increased the risk for EC. These results may be of importance for future research on EC etiology and prevention strategies.

DIFFERENTIAL PROTEOME ANALYSIS OF THE MALE AND FEMALE ANTENNAE FROM Holotrichia parallela.

To understand the olfactory mechanisms of Holotrichia parallela antennae in detecting volatile compounds in the environment, protein profiles of H. parallela antennae were analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analyses. Approximately 1,100 protein spots in silver staining gel were detected. Quantitative image analysis revealed that in total 47 protein spots showed significant changes in different genders of adult antennae. Thirty-five differentially expressed proteins were identified by Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF) tandem mass spectrometer, among which 65.7% are involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism, antioxidant system, transport, and amino acid/nucleotide metabolism. Some proteins identified here have not been reported previously in insect antennae. Identified male-biased proteins included odorant-binding protein 4, pheromone-binding protein-related protein 2, odorant-binding protein 14, prophenoloxidase-I, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, aldo-keto reductase-like, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, etc. whereas some proteins are female biased, such as antennae-rich cytochrome P450, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and putative glutamine synthetase. Alterations in the levels of some proteins were further confirmed by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The proteomic resources displayed here are valuable for the discovery of proteins from H. parallela antennae.

[Correlation between plasma aldosterone concentration and left ventricular structure in hypertensive patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the correlation between plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and left ventricular structure in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A total of 201 hypertensive patients [117 male, aged from seventeen to sixty eight years old, mean (43.6 ± 10.2) years] were included. All subjects underwent echocardiography examination for measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), LV posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), interventricular septum thickness (IVST) and LV mass index (LVMI). Plasma PAC was also measured at three postural positions. According to the sitting PAC, subjects were divided into high aldosterone group (PAC ≥ 120 ng/L, n = 83) and normal aldosterone (PAC < 120 ng/L, n = 118) group. Bivariate correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis were performed to analyze the correlation between left ventricular structure parameters and PAC. RESULTS: IVST, LVPWT values were significantly higher in the increased PAC group than that in normal PAC group [ (10.4 ± 1.0) mm vs. (10.9 ± 1.8) mm, (10.1 ± 0.7) mm vs.(10.4 ± 1.5) mm, all P < 0.05]. Bivariate correlation analysis showed that PAC was weakly correlated with IVST (r = 0.190, P < 0.05) , while was not correlated to LVMI, LVPWT and LVEDD (all P > 0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that PAC was positively correlated with IVST and LVPWT (ß = 0.206 and ß = 0.241, respectively, all P < 0.05), but was not correlated to LVMI and LVEDD (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PAC is positively correlated with IVST and LVPWT in hypertensive patients.

Genetic variations in the KCNJ5 gene in primary aldosteronism patients from Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common endocrine form of secondary hypertension, and one of the most common subtypes of sporadic PA is aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). Recently, two somatic mutations of the KCNJ5 gene were implicated in APA, and two germline mutations were associated with familial hyperaldosteronism III. OBJECTIVES: This case-control study was designed to investigate the relationship between genetic variations in the KCNJ5 gene and sporadic PA patients in Xinjiang, China. METHODS: Five common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the KCNJ5 gene (rs6590357, rs4937391, rs3740835, rs2604204, and rs11221497) were detected in patients with sporadic PA (n = 235) and essential hypertension (EH; n=913) by the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: The EH group and the PA group showed significant differences in the distributions of genotypes and alleles of rs4937391 and rs2604204 in total and male subjects (P<0.05), as well as rs3740835 in male subjects (P<0.05). However, only the association between the rs2604204 genotype and male sporadic PA remained significant after Bonferroni's correction (P<0.01). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the CC genotype of rs2604204 was a risk factor for male patients with sporadic PA, after adjusting for age and body mass index (odds ratio=2.228, 95% CI: 1.300-3.819, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: The genetic variant rs2604204 of KCNJ5 is associated with sporadic PA in Chinese males, suggesting that KCNJ5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of sporadic PA in these particular patients.

[Association between GIRK4 gene polymorphisms and insulin resistance in Xinjiang Uygur population].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between polymorphisms of protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ channel (GIRK4) gene and insulin resistance (IR) in Xinjiang Uygur population. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey-based case-control study was carried out, for which 1295 subjects (including 324 IR patients and 971 non-IR controls) were randomly selected. Functional region of the GIRK4 gene was sequenced for 48 randomly selected IR patients. Representative variable sites were chosen, with its association with IR assessed in 1295 Uygur subjects. RESULTS: rs11221497 variant was associated with IR in Uygur subjects under 50 years old (P=0.017 in genotype model, P=0.009 in dominant model). Subjects with dominant model of CC genotype have an OR of 1.833 (95%CI: 1.157-2.905) for IR. CONCLUSION: GIRK4 gene polymorphisms may be associated with IR in Uygur ethnics from Xinjiang. The CC genotype of rs11221497 variant is a risk factor for IR.

Genetic polymorphism of six transmembrane protein of prostate 2 associated with diabetes mellitus in Xinjiang Uygur population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the genetic variations of six transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Xinjiang Uygur population. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted based on epidemiological investigation. A total of 1838 Uygur subjects were selected and divided into two groups: T2DM group (n=274) and control group (n=1564). All exons, flanking introns, and the promoter regions of STAMP2 gene were sequenced in 48 Uygur Xinjiang population with diabetes. Representative variations selected were genotyped by TaqMan-PCR method in all individuals. RESULTS: Ten novel and 6 known variations in the STAMP2 gene were identified. The distribution of genotype rs8122 significantly differed between T2DM group and control group (P=0.05), whereas the distribution of genotypes rs1981529 and rs34741656 showed no such difference. The fasting insulin in the total cohort and homeostasis model of assessment index in females showed significant difference between these two groups (P<0.05), while the adjusted P value showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). In the male population, the different genotypes of rs8122 variation of STAMP2 gene were not significantly different (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Three polymorphisms (rs8122, rs1981529 and rs34741656) of STAMP2 gene may be not related with T2DM in Xinjiang Uygur population.

[Association between genetic polymorphism of the six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2 and obesity in Uygur].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between genetic variations of the six transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2) and obesity in Xinjiang Uygur population. METHODS: A total of 2332 Uygur subjects (1455 obesity and 877 non-obesity control subjects) were included in this case-control study based on epidemiological survey. Genetic variations of STAMP2 gene functional region were sequenced. The representative variations selected were genotyped by TaqMan-PCR method. RESULTS: Twenty genetic variations, including 14 novel variations, were identified. The genotype distributions of the control group and obesity group were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (both P > 0.05). The frequency of AA of rs1981529 (67.6% vs. 62.8%, P < 0.05) and the frequency of G-A-G haplotype (62.4% vs. 58.9%, P < 0.05) in obesity group were significantly higher than that in controls while the frequency of A-G-G haplotype was significantly lower in the obesity patients than that in the control group (17% vs. 20%, P < 0.05). After adjusting age, sex, smoking and drinking, logistic regression analysis showed that the AA genotype of rs1981529 (OR: 1.276, 95%CI: 1.049 - 1.552; P < 0.05) and the G-A-G haplotype (OR: 1.356, 95%CI: 1.007 - 1.862, P < 0.05) were the independent risk factors for obesity in this cohort. CONCLUSION: The AA genotype of rs1981529 and G-A-G haplotype are associated with obesity in Uygur population of Xinjiang.

[Relationship between genetic variation of furin and insulin resistance in Chinese Kazakh population].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between genetic variation of Furin and insulin resistance in Chinese Kazakh population. METHODS: Based on a cross-sectional epidemiological study in a Chinese Kazakh population, a case-control study was conducted. All the sequence variants located promoter and exon regions of Furin were identified by directly sequencing of PCR product in 50 (25 males) individuals with insulin resistance, which were randomly chosen from the study population. The representative polymorphism was detected by TaqMan PCR in 861 subjects (366 males, 254 in case group and 607 in control group). The relationship between genetic variation of Furin and insulin resistance in this cohort was analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve genetic variations in Furin were identified by sequencing 50 individuals with insulin resistance and 4 common SNPs (rs6226, rs6227, rs2071410, and rs4932178) were selected as representatives for genotyping in this Chinese Kazakh population. The rs6226, rs6227, rs2071410, and rs4932178 polymorphisms were successfully genotyped. The distribution of the genotypes of rs6226, rs6227, rs2071410, and rs4932178 polymorphism was similar between case and controls (all P > 0.05). The homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels was also similar among individuals with different genotypes (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The genetic variation of Furin is not associated with insulin resistance in this cohort of Chinese Kazakh population.

A common variation within the STEAP4 gene exons is associated with obesity in Uygur general population.

BACKGROUND: Coordinated regulation of nutrient and inflammatory responses by six transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 (STEAP4) was essential for metabolic homeostasis. STEAP4 expression in human white adipose tissue was associated with obesity. This study aimed to evaluate association between STEAP4 genetic polymorphisms and obesity in Uygur Chinese general population. METHODS: The functional regions of STEAP4 gene were sequenced in 96 Uygur with obesity (body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m²). Representative variations were selected according to the function and linkage disequilibrium and genotyped in 1507 obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) and 825 non-obesity control (BMI < 25 kg/m²), all of whom were selected from epidemiology study of obesity-related diseases during January to February 2007 among Uygur population in Hetian area of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. RESULTS: Fourteen novel and 6 known single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), including 2 nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs), in the STEAP4 gene were identified. Of the 3 representative SNPs, the nsSNP rs1981529 (Gly75Asp, 224A/G) was significantly associated with obesity phenotype (additive P/Pc = 0.001/0.006, dominant P/Pc = 0.003/0.018, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) adjusted for age, gender and drinking 0.755 (0.641 - 0.890) and 0.750 (0.621 - 0.907), respectively). By the multiple linear regression analysis, the quantitative phenotypes of BMI (P/Pc = 0.002/0.004) and waist circumference (P/Pc = 0.004/0.008) were found to be significantly associated with the genotypes of rs1981529 (Gly75Asp, 224A/G) in Uygur general population, and effect size (beta value) of one allele G of rs1981529 (Gly75Asp, 224A/G) was - 0.553 kg/m² for BMI and - 1.311 cm for waist circumference after controlling age, gender and drinking factors. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows an association of the common variation rs1981529 (Gly75Asp, 224A/G) in the STEAP4 gene with obesity in Uygur general population. Further studies should replicate the results using larger populations.

Association of genetic variations of the prostasin gene with essential hypertension in the Xinjiang Kazakh population.

BACKGROUND: Transgenic overexpression of human prostasin in rats disturbs salt balance and causes hypertension. We investigated whether genetic variations in prostasin were implicated in hypertension or related phenotypes in the Xinjiang Kazakh population. METHODS: We sequenced all exons and the promoter regions of the prostasin gene in 94 hypertensive individuals, and the genotype identification was performed by the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method. Case-control studies were conducted in 938 Kazakh subjects. RESULTS: E342K and 2827G > A, which are novel variants, were successfully genotyped in the general Xinjiang Kazakh population with a sample size of 938 individuals (406 men and 532 women). Only one hypertensive patient was identified with the E342K mutation. No significant association was observed between 2827G > A and hypertension. However, quantitative traits of hypertensive intermediate phenotypes were significantly associated with the A allele; P = 0.041 and 0.034 for body mass index (BMI) in the additive and recessive models, P = 0.042 and 0.018 for OGTT-2h glucose in the additive and recessive models, P = 0.031 for IRT-3h insulin in the recessive model, and P = 0.038 for serum potassium in the dominant model. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not provide evidence of a major role of prostasin variation in blood pressure modulation. However, association of prostasin polymorphisms with hypertension and metabolic effects can be observed in our population. Further investigation is warranted to clarify the relevance of prostasin polymorphisms to blood pressure regulation.

[Genetic variations of bone morphogenetic protein 7 gene are associated with hypertriglyceridemia of Uygur Chinese in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the genetic variations of functional region in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP7) gene and dyslipidemia in Chinese Uygur individuals. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted in 1514 Uygur Chinese based on epidemiological investigation. The all exons, segmental introns and the promoter regions of BMP7 gene were sequenced in 48 out of 1514 Uygur Chinese. Representative variations were then selected according to the minor allele frequency (MAF) and linkage disequilibrium, and genotyped using the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method in 1514 Uygur Chinese, a relatively isolated general population in a relatively homogeneous environment, to observe the association between genetic variations of BMP7 gene and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Five novel and eight known variations in the BMP7 gene were identified. All genotype distributions were tested for deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There were significant differences of genotype distribution of rs6025422 between hypertriglyceridemia group and control group (P = 0.001). The levels of triglyceride (TG) showed a decreasing tendency in individuals with AA, AG and GG genotypes of rs6025422. Odd ratio (OR) value adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, smoking and alcohol drinking habits was 0.562 by logistic regression analysis (95%CI: 0.393 - 0.802, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The present study shows rs6025422 polymorphism in the BMP7 gene is linked with hypertriglyceridemia phenotype in Uygur Chinese population.

[Genetic variation and association of STEAP4 gene with metabolic syndrome in Chinese Uygur patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic variations of the six transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 gene (STEAP4) in Chinese Uygur patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to analyze the association of the representative genetic variations of STEAP4 gene with MetS in the population. METHODS: The sequences of STEAP4 gene functional region (all exons, exon-intron boundaries and the putative promoter region, including the -1 kb 5'and 3'untranslated regions) were amplified and sequenced for patients with MetS. The representative variations were selected based on the function (missense mutation) and linkage disequilibrxium (γ² > 0.8) and genotyped with TaqMan-PCR method in 1910 general populations (682 MetS and 1228 non-MetS controls). The subjects were selected from the cross-sectional study of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia from January to February 2007 among Uygur people, a relatively isolated population with a relatively homogeneous environment, in Hextian area in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. RESULTS: (1) Fourteen novel and six known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or mutations, including 2 missense mutations, were identified at the functional region of STEAP4 gene in 96 Uygur patients with MetS. The minor allele frequencies of the SNPs of STEAP4 gene in Uygur population were different from that in European and Chinese Han in Beijing area. (2) The SNP 364G/A (rs34741656, Ala122Thr) was significantly associated with MetS [dominant model P = 0.034, OR = 0.757(95%CI: 0.584-0.982) adjusted for age and gender], and was associated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) (P = 0.049) and 2-hour postprandial glucose (2HPG) (P = 0.027) levels in controls. In this SNP, the AA carriers had lower blood glucose levels compared with subjects carrying GG and GT genotypes. (3) The common haplotype H4 (rs8122/rs1981529/ rs34741656, G-A-A), may be associated with MetS (permutation P = 0.089). CONCLUSION: STEAP 4 genetic polymorphisms may be associated with MetS risk in Chinese Uygur population.

Detection of genetic variations of regulator of G-protein signaling 2 in hypertensives by sequencing / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the new genetic variations of regulator of G-protein signalling 2 (RGS2) gene in Kazakh hypertensives.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 94 Kazakh patients with essential hypertension were enrolled and genomic DNA was extracted from their peripheral blood leukocytes. All the exon regions and their flanking sequences of RGS2 were directly sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We identified 13 variants including 5 common- single nucleotide polymorphisms with a minor allele frequency over 5%single nucleotide polymorphisms and 8 novel variations in 94 Kazakh hypertensives. Among these variations, 2 were in the introns and 7 in the promoter region. One subject had a G-to-C substitution at nucleotide 54 in exon 1, which lead to an amino acid substitution from K-to-N at position 18; another individual had an A-to-G substitution at nucleotide 2422 in exon 5, resulting in an amino acid from Y-to-C at position 178. Among eight common single nucleotide polymorphisms, -638A>G, -395G>C, 1891-1892TC I/D, and 2971G>C,and -43A>T and 2297A>G were in tight linkage disequilibrium with an r-square of more than 0.8, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The variants and their frequencies in RGS2 gene in Kazakh hypertensives may have ethnic differences when compared with other populations. The frequencies of the mutations are low in this population, and whether they influence blood pressure regulation requires further functional experiments.</p>

Association of genetic variations of regulator of G-protein signaling 2 with hypertension in the general Xinjiang Kazakh population.

Mice deficiency in regulator of G-protein signaling 2(RGS2) showed an evident hypertension phenotype. Here, we studied associations of genetic variations of RGS2 with essential hypertension in the Kazakh population. Two identified nonsynonymous mutations (K18N, Y178C) were not specific for hypertension. A significant association was observed between 1891-1892 TC insertion/deletion with hypertension in men (OR = 1.698, P = 0.03 ) and in total population (OR = 1.32, p = 0.044) in dominant model. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the ID+DD group was significantly higher than that of the II group (adjusted, p = 0.044). Our results suggest that D allele of 1891-1892 TC insertion/deletion of RGS2 might be an independent risk factor for hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakhs.

[Association of genetic variations of prostasin gene with the essential hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakhs].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between genetic variations of prostasin gene and essential hypertension (EH) in Xinjiang Kazakhs. METHODS: Totally 938 Fukang City residents who were older than 30 years were enrolled in this study using cluster random sampling method. Standardized questionnaire and physical examination were performed. Among them there 451 EH patients (EH group) and 478 normotensive (NT) subjects (NT group) according to Guidelines of Prevention and Control for Hypertension in 2005. All the exons and promoter regions of prostasin gene were sequenced in 94 EH patients. Representative variations (297A>C, 2827C>T, and E342K) were genotyped using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method in all 938 subjects. The frequencies of genotypes were compared between the EH and NT groups. RESULTS: Ten variations were found as follows: -36G>C, -27C>T, 78G>A, 81G>C (rs8049043), 297A>C, 350C>T, 351A>C, 2827C>T, 3482G>A (E342K), and 3783A>G. E342K and 2827C>T were successfully genotyped. E342K mutation was identified in only one hypertensive patient. CC, CT, and TT genotypes existed in 2827C>T polymorphism. The frequencies of CC, CT, and TT were 81.0%, 17.3, and 1.7% in EH group and 80.3%, 18.9%, and 0.8% in NT group, respectively. The frequencies of C and T alleles were 89.6% and 10.4% in EH group and 89.8% and 10.2% in NT group, respectively. The distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies were not significantly different between these two groups (chi2=2.048, P=0.353 and chi2=0.001, P=0.973). Blood pressure was not significantly among subjects with these three genotypes (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The EH of Xinjiang Kazakhs is not associated with 2827C>T polymorphism in the prostasin gene. E342K mutation in the prostasin gene may contribute partly to the hypertensive phenotype in this population.