Angiotensinogen in essential hypertension: From genetics to nephrology

J. M. Lalouel, A. Rohrwasser, D. Terreros, T. Morgan, K. Ward

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is general consensus that genetic variation accounts in part for individual susceptibilities to essential hypertension. In marked contrast to classic mendelian disorders, in which genetic alterations produce a gain or loss of function, genetic determinants of essential hypertension, high blood pressure of unknown cause, are expected to be small, achieving significance through the cumulative effects of environmental exposure over the course of a lifetime. Whether and how genetic factors that contribute to common diseases can be identified remain unclear. Research on a link between angiotensinogen and essential hypertension illustrates a path that began in genetics and is now leading toward nephrology. Various challenges encountered along the way may prove to be characteristic features of genetic investigations of the pathogenesis of common diseases. The implication of a gene by statistical analysis is only the beginning of a protracted process of functional analysis at increasing levels of biologic integration. The ultimate goal is to develop an understanding of the manner in which genetic variation at a locus can affect a physiologic parameter and to extract from this inference new knowledge of significance for the prevention or treatment of disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)606-615
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology
Volume12
Issue number3
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nephrology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Angiotensinogen in essential hypertension: From genetics to nephrology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this