Genetics of hypertension

In the past year, substantial progress has been made in both mapping and fine mapping the genes involved in blood pressure regulation. Genome scans have been carried out in humans and mice and these reveal many new potential chromosomal locations for blood pressure susceptibility loci. The chromosomal regions containing blood pressure genes for many of the inbred hypertensive rat models have been refined using new congenic strains. Further genetic studies support a role for angiotensinogen, aldosterone synthase and a region close to the epithelial sodium channel in blood pressure regulation. Finally, comprehensive single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis of cardiovascular genes has been undertaken using chip technology.