The -1535 promoter variant of the visfatin gene is associated with serum triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels in Japanese subjects

Visfatin is a novel adipocytokine that is expressed by the visceral fat cells. We investigated the role of genetic variation in the visfatin gene in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and clinical variables in Japanese subjects. The 11 exons, and the promoter region of the visfatin gene were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by PCR-direct sequencing. We found SNPs in the promoter region (SNP - 1535T>C), exon 2 (SNP + 131C>G, Thr44Arg), and exon 7 (SNP + 903G>A). The allele and genotype frequencies of these SNPs showed no significant differences between 200-448 diabetic and 200-333 control subjects. However, the -1535T/T genotype was associated with lower serum triglyceride levels (T/T vs. T/C + C/C (p = 0.015) and T/T vs. C/C (p = 0.043)) and higher HDL-cholesterol levels (T/T vs. C/C, p = 0.0496) in the nondiabetic subjects. Reporter gene assay of 3T3-L1 adipocytes revealed that the promoter activity of -1535T and -1535C was similar, suggesting that the observed association may reflect linkage disequilibrium between -1535T>C and causative variations of the visfatin gene.     

Coding sequence 1 and promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene in Wegener's granulomatosis

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) with 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), a +49 A/G polymorphism in coding sequence (CDS) 1 and a C/T base exchange in the promoter region at position -318. METHODS: Restriction enzyme digestion of PCR amplified genomic DNA was used to analyze the CTLA-4 SNP in 32 patients with WG and 100-122 ethnically matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients were more often heterozygous for C/T in the promoter region (31% of the patients vs 14% of controls; p < 0.05). Homozygosity for C was less frequent in patients (69% of patients vs 86% of controls; p < 0.05). There was no association with the A/G SNP in CDS 1. There was a linkage disequilibrium between allele A of CDS 1 and the shortest allele, 86 bp, in the (AT)n of the 3' untranslated region in controls but not in patients. CONCLUSION: The CTLA-4 SNP in the promoter region at position -318 is associated with WG. The loss of linkage disequilibrium between allele A of CDS 1 and the short 86 bp in the (AT)n in patients indicates that the promoter SNP and the (AT)n polymorphism are independent genetic risk factors.     

Polymorphisms of the IL-8 and CXCR2 genes are not associated with Behçet's disease

OBJECTIVE: Genetic susceptibility to Beh?et's disease (BD) is well documented for HLA-B51; however, contribution of other genetic polymorphisms is estimated to be substantial. Interleukin 8 (IL-8), a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils, has been found to be elevated in BD serum, and the serum concentrations correlate with disease activity. Novel polymorphisms in IL-8 (CXCL8) and in one of its receptors, CXCR2 gene, may have a role in enhanced IL-8 activity in BD. METHODS: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; -353 A/G, +1530 T/C, +3331 A/G) of the IL-8 gene and 2 SNP (+785 C/T and +1208 T/C) of the CXCR2 gene were screened in 100 patients with BD (61 men, 39 women, mean age 42.1 yrs) and 100 healthy controls (50 men, 50 women, mean age 36.8 yrs) by genotyping with PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSP methods. RESULTS: No differences were observed between BD patients and controls for the allele and genotype frequencies of the screened IL-8 and CXCR2 gene polymorphisms. Distribution of these polymorphisms revealed no significant differences between clinical subgroups of BD patients. Each pair of the SNP -353/+1530, -353/+3331, and +1530/+3331 of IL-8 and +785/+1208 of CXCR2 showed strong linkage disequilibrium in both patients and controls (p < 0.001 for all). The distribution of the estimated IL-8 and CXCR2 haplotypes revealed no association with BD or any of its clinical subsets. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the IL-8 gene -353 A/G, +1530 T/C, and +3331 A/G and the CXCR2 gene +785 C/T and +1208 T/C polymorphisms have no role in the increased expression of IL-8 in BD.     

Analysis of SAA1 gene polymorphisms in the Greek population: rheumatoid arthritis and FMF patients relative to normal controls. Homogeneous distribution and low incidence of AA amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To address whether or not the rarity of amyloidosis in Greek patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is related to specific alleles of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5'-flanking region and the exon 3 of the SSA1 gene. METHODS: The genotypes of the -13T/C SNP in the 5'-flanking region of the SAA1 gene and the two SNPs within exon 3 of SAA1 (2995C/T and 3010C/T polymorphisms) were determined in 88 Greek patients with RA, 14 patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and 110 healthy controls. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype frequencies involving -13T/C, 2995C/T and 3010C/T in these populations were tested and estimated, respectively. RESULTS: The genotypic distribution and allelic frequencies were similar in all groups tested. SNPs 2995 and 3010 were in linkage disequilibrium for all study populations (p < 0.05), whereas SNP -13 was not in linkage disequilibrium with either 2995 or 3010 (p > or = 0.05). Two major haplotypes presented in all patients with RA and FMF and controls: -13C; 2995T; 3010C (-13C; alpha) and -13C; 2995C; 3010T (-13C; beta). The -13T allele was linked with the gamma haplotype in Greek patients with RA and controls. The frequency of the -13T allele was found to be very rare in all groups tested. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the rarity of the putative amyloidogenic -13T allele in Greek populations may be related to low prevalence of AA amyloidosis development in Greek RA patients.     

Association analysis of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase2 gene polymorphisms with COPD in Egyptians

Proteinase/antiproteinase imbalance is recognized to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A relative increase in the activities of matrix metalloproteinases might be caused by mutations of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase2 (TIMP2). Recently, two polymorphisms of the TIMP2 gene, +853 G/A and -418 G/C (+551 and -720 from the translation initiation site), have been shown to be associated with the development of COPD in the Japanese population. In this study, a case-control association analysis for these polymorphisms was conducted in the Egyptian population using 106 COPD patients and 72 healthy controls. The genotype frequency of +853 G/A was significantly different between the patient and the control groups (P = 0.029), although no significant difference was detected in the allele frequency between the two groups. These results suggest that the +853 G/A polymorphism of the TIMP2 gene might be associated with COPD across ethnicities. In contrast, neither the distributions of genotype nor allele frequencies of -418 G/C were significantly different between the two groups, raising the possibility that a combination of different genetic factors contributes to the development of COPD in different ethnic groups.     

A novel single-nucleotide polymorphism at the 5'-flanking region of SAA1 associated with risk of type AA amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To address whether the gamma haplotype at exon 3 of the SAA1 gene is directly associated with type AA amyloidosis or is merely in linkage with an unknown polymorphism that is primarily associated with disease risk, we examined the SAA1 gene for new polymorphisms. METHODS: We analyzed DNA samples from 44 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with AA amyloidosis (amyloid group), 55 RA patients without AA amyloidosis (RA group), and 58 non-RA healthy subjects (non-RA group). We also examined DNA samples from 50 Caucasians to compare linkage disequilibrium relationships involving SAA1 region polymorphisms between Japanese and Caucasoid populations. RESULTS: We observed 3 novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5'-flanking region of SAA1: -61C/G, -13T/C, and -2G/A. Comparison of allele frequencies and ratios of individuals with particular alleles between the study groups revealed statistically significant differences between the amyloid and RA groups and between the amyloid and non-RA groups. Statistical analysis revealed that the -13T/C SNP was strongly associated with AA amyloidosis. In addition, we found tight linkage between the -13T allele and the alpha haplotype, rather than the beta haplotype, at exon 3 in the Caucasoid population, while -13T was closely linked to the gamma and beta haplotypes, rather than the alpha haplotype, in the Japanese population. Since the linkage disequilibrium relationship was reversed between the Japanese and Caucasoid populations, different exon 3 haplotypes of SAA1 are found to be associated with the risk of AA amyloidosis in different ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the SAA1 -13T allele, rather than SAA1 exon 3 haplotypes, is primarily associated with AA amyloidosis risk.     

中国汉族人尿酸盐转运蛋白1基因启动子区多态性与原发性高尿酸血症的关联研究

目的 研究中国汉族人群人尿酸盐转运蛋白1( hURAT1)基因启动子区单核苷酸多态性(SNP)与原发性高尿酸血症的相关性.方法 应用PCR扩增、基因测序方法对538名青岛及周边地区汉族人(其中原发性高尿酸血症患者215例,正常对照者323名)hURAT1基因启动子区进行序列分析.结果 中国汉族人群中hURAT1基因启动子区共发现5个多态性位点,分别为-454A/T、-434T/C、- 382C/T、-87C/T、+118G/A,5个SNPs高度连锁(r2=0.99).5个SNPs杂合突变基因型(AT、CT、CT、CT、AG)频率的分布在高尿酸血症组和正常对照组之间差异有统计学意义(均P＜0.05).logistic回归分析显示,杂合突变基因型者( AT、CT、CT、CT、AG)发生高尿酸血症的风险较野生基因型者(AA、TT、CC、CC、GG)降低(OR 0.68～0.75).突变型等位基因(T、C、T、T、A)携带者发生高尿酸血症的危险性比野生等位基因(A、T、C、C、G)携带者明显降低(P=0.022,P=0.038).结论 hURAT1基因启动子区-454A/T、-434T/C、-382C/T、-87C/T、+118G/A SNPs与原发性高尿酸血症密切相关.     

SNPs in the promoter region of the osteopontin gene as a possible host factor for sex difference in hepatocellular carcinoma development in patients with HCV

Aims

Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) exist in the promoter region of the osteopontin (OPN) gene, namely, the SNPs at nucleotide (nt) -155, -616, and -1748 showing linkage disequilibrium to each other, and an independent SNP at nt -443. The significance of these SNPs in the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development was examined in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods

The SNPs at nt -155 and nt -443 were analyzed in 120 patients with HCC. The promoter activity was measured in HepG2 cells by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed using nuclear extracts from the cells.

Results

Peripheral platelet counts at the time of HCC detection were greater in women with homozygous deletion at nt -155 and C/C or C/T at nt -443 than in those showing other allelic combinations, while no such difference was observed in men. The promoter activity was greater in oligonucleotides with deletions at nt -155 and C at nt -443 than in those with other haplotypes. The mobility shift assay showed double and single complexes with oligonucleotides around nt -155 and nt -443, respectively. Binding activities were greater in deletion than in G in the case of the retarded complex in the former assay and in T than in C in the latter assay. The other complex in the former assay included SRY, showing an equivalent binding activity to oligonucleotides with both alleles.

Conclusion

OPN promoter SNPs may play a role in the sexual difference in the risk of HCC development through the regulation of OPN expression in patients with HCV.     

Novel cytochrome P450-2D6 promoter sequence variations in hepatitis C positive and negative subjects

Introduction. CYP2D6 is a liver enzyme that metabolizes more that 25% of drugs and thus may play a pivotal role in drug-drug interactions. The promoter sequences of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) gene could impact metabolic activity.Methods. We analyzed genetic variations in the promoter sequence of CYP2D6 gene for 71 hepatitis C negative and 15 hepatitis C positive subjects.Results. We found two novel genetic variants -1822A→G; -1740C→T, only in two patients with hepatitis C. Also, two linked new promoter sequence variations at -2060 G→A and -2053 T→G nucleotide positions that present in both hepatitis C negative and positive subjects are identified. The -2060 and -2053 variations are confirmed to be in linkage disequilibrium. The individuals with -2060A/A, and -2053G/G variation appeared to be associated with significantly lower levels of liver CYP2D6 mRNA. Analysis of CYP2D6 enzymatic activity in *1/*1 (wild type) subjects revealed that hepatitis C positive subjects expressed about 2.6-fold lower activity (24.0 ± 1.5 vs. 62.6 ± 3.7 pmol/min/mg; p = 0.0061) relative to hepatitis C negative.Conclusion. These data suggest that promoter variations -1822A→G and -1740C→T are present only in hepatitis C infected subjects. Hepatitis C positive individuals were associated with a lower liver CYP2D6 enzyme activity.     

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) gene polymorphism is not associated with severe and cerebral malaria in Thailand

The pathogenesis of cerebral malaria from Plasmodium falciparum infection is thought to involve inflammation of the central nervous system. Since monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine strongly involved in the inflammatory process, we here study MCP-1 gene polymorphisms in association with severe or cerebral malaria in Thailand. Malaria patients in the northwest of Thailand were grouped into mild (n=206), severe (165), and cerebral (110) malaria case groups. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter (-2518A/G, -2348G/C, -2158C/T, -2076A/T, and -2072T/C), and 1 SNP in intron 1 (764C/G) were analyzed by PCR-RFLP, PCR-SSP, or direct sequencing. The SNP -2158 was a novel polymorphism found in this study. For all SNPs, genotype and allele frequencies were not significantly different between mild and severe or mild and cerebral malaria. Strong linkage disequilibrium was found among 4 SNPs (-2518A/G, -2348G/C, -2076A/T, and 764C/G), resulting in 4 major estimated haplotypes. The most common haplotype was GGAC. The results indicated that MCP-1 gene polymorphisms were not associated with malaria severity, implying that MCP-1 was not a cause of malaria severity in this Thai population.     

A haplotype of the CYP27B1 promoter is associated with autoimmune Addison's disease but not with Graves' disease in a UK population

Previous studies have suggested an association between alleles of the CYP27B1 (1-alpha hydroxylase) gene and autoimmune conditions. We have examined three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are located in the 5' region and promoter of the CYP27B1 gene for association in a cohort of Graves' disease and autoimmune Addison's disease subjects from the UK. Genomic DNA samples from white patients with autoimmune Addison's disease (n = 104) and healthy controls (n = 464) were genotyped by PCR-RFLP analysis for the SNPs at positions -1260 and -1077 5' of the coding CYP27B1 sequences. The -1260 SNP was also examined in a cohort of patients with Graves' disease (n = 446). Chi 2 testing of contingency tables was used to determine the significance of genotypes and alleles. Haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium measures were estimated using the UNPHASED and HAPLOVIEW packages. Alleles at the three CYP27B1 markers were in tight linkage disequilibrium with each other and all showed association with autoimmune Addison's disease. The maximum evidence for association was with the -1260 C allele (76.0% in Addison's subjects versus 64.9% in controls; P = 0.003; odds ratio 1.71 (5-95% confidence intervals, 1.20-2.44). A global test of significance for the common -1918 T, -1260 C and -1077 G haplotype was significant in Addison's subjects compared with controls (P = 0.01). In contrast, there was no association of alleles at the -1260 SNP with Graves' disease. We are able to confirm that a CYP27B1 promoter allele is associated with autoimmune Addison's disease, and extend this finding to include an associated promoter haplotype.     

Association of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 gene with type 1 diabetes: evidence for independent effects of two polymorphisms on the same haplotype block

A recent study mapped the known association of type 1 diabetes with the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 gene to a polymorphism at the 3'end (+6230G>A), but could not rule out additional contribution from the 5' end of the gene. To examine this possibility, we analyzed four polymorphisms at the 5'-flanking region for effects independent of +6230G>A. We confirm, by the transmission disequilibrium test, in 496 family trios overtransmission of the susceptibility allele (G) at +6230 (217/168; P = 0.013). Of the four promoter polymorphisms, one (-319C>T) showed overtransmission of the C allele (97/58; P = 0.0017). Because the undertransmitted T at the promoter is in linkage disequilibrium with the overtransmitted G at +6230G>A, the effect observed at the promoter cannot be accounted for by linkage disequilibrium with the +6230G>A. We confirm this by showing that parents heterozygous at the promoter but homozygous at +6230 overtransmit the C promoter allele even more significantly (53/24; P = 9 x 10(-4)). In vitro, the T promoter allele directs higher luciferase expression in Jurkat cells by 42% (P = 0.006), a difference also found in lymphocyte mRNA from eight individuals heterozygous at the promoter, but homozygous at +6230 (P = 1.3 x 10(-4)). Thus, the +6230G>A cannot be the sole functional variant. Either the two polymorphisms define a haplotype carrying the (yet unexamined) functional variant or the -319C>T contributes to the genetic association independently, a possibility suggested by the functional evidence we present.     

Genetic association between the PRKCH gene encoding protein kinase Ceta isozyme and rheumatoid arthritis in the Japanese population

OBJECTIVE: Analyses of families with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have suggested the presence of a putative susceptibility locus on chromosome 14q21-23. This large population-based genetic association study was undertaken to examine this region. METHODS: A 2-stage case-control association study of 950 unrelated Japanese patients with RA and 950 healthy controls was performed using >400 gene-based common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). RESULTS: Multiple SNPs in the PRKCH gene encoding the eta isozyme of protein kinase C (PKCeta) showed significant single-locus disease associations, the most significant being SNP c.427+8134C>T (odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.62-0.83, P = 5.9 x 10(-5)). Each RA-associated SNP was consistently mapped to 3 distinct regions of strong linkage disequilibrium (i.e., linkage disequilibrium or haplotype blocks) in the PRKCH gene locus, suggesting that multiple causal variants influence disease susceptibility. Significant SNPs included a novel common missense polymorphism of the PRKCH gene, V374I (rs2230500), which lies within the ATP-binding site that is highly conserved among PKC superfamily members. In circulating lymphocytes, PRKCH messenger RNA was expressed at higher levels in resting T cells (CD4(+) or CD8(+)) than in B cells (CD19(+)) or monocytes (CD14(+)) and was significantly down-regulated through immune responses. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence of the involvement of PRKCH as a susceptibility gene for RA in the Japanese population. Dysregulation of PKCeta signal transduction pathway(s) may confer increased risk of RA through aberrant T cell-mediated autoimmune responses.     

Common genetic variation in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, plasma lipids, and risk of coronary heart disease

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA1) regulates cholesterol efflux from cells and is involved in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and atherogenesis. We investigated whether common ABCA1 variants, previously reported to have phenotypic effects in humans, were associated with plasma lipids and CHD in a prospective study of coronary heart disease (CHD) in healthy women. Three polymorphisms in the promoter region (-565C/T, -191G/C, and -17C/G) and two in the coding region (I883M and R1587K) were genotyped in the Nurses' Health Study. During 8 years of follow-up, 249 incident cases of CHD were identified and matched to controls (1:2) on age and smoking. The I883M variant was associated with higher HDL-cholesterol levels among younger women. Nearly complete linkage disequilibrium was observed between -565C/T and -191G/C and their less common alleles predicted a lower risk of CHD (odds ratio of CHD per -191C allele: 0.8; 95% CI, 0.6-1.0). Neither the -17C/G SNP nor the 2 the coding polymorphisms were associated with risk of CHD. The -565C/T and the -191G/C variants were inversely associated with risk of CHD among healthy women, without pronounced effects on plasma lipids.     

Haplotypes defined by promoter and intron 1 polymorphisms of the COLIA1 gene regulate bone mineral density in women

CONTEXT: The COLIA1 gene is a strong candidate for susceptibility to osteoporosis. The causal genetic variants are currently unclear, but the most likely are functional polymorphisms in the promoter and intron 1 of COLIA1. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether promoter and intron 1 polymorphisms of COLIA1 or haplotypes defined by these polymorphisms regulate bone mineral density (BMD) in women. DESIGN: This was a population-based association study involving 3270 women from the United Kingdom who took part in a regional osteoporosis screening program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMD at the lumbar spine (LS-BMD) and femoral neck (FN-BMD) was measured on two occasions approximately 6 yr apart, in relation to polymorphisms and haplotypes defined by polymorphisms within the COLIA1 intron 1 (+1245G/T; rs1800012) and promoter (-1997G/T; rs1107946; -1663IndelT; rs2412298). RESULTS: The polymorphisms were in strong linkage disequilibrium, and three haplotypes accounted for more than 95% of alleles at the COLIA1 locus. The individual polymorphisms were associated with BMD, but the most consistent associations were with haplotypes defined by all three polymorphisms. Homozygote carriers of haplotype 2 (-1997G/-1663delT/+1245T) had reduced BMD at baseline (P = 0.007 for LS-BMD; P = 0.008 for FN-BMD), whereas homozygotes for haplotype 3 (-1997T/-1663insT/+1245G) had increased BMD (P = 0.007 for LS-BMD). Similar associations were observed at follow-up for haplotype 3, but the association with haplotype 2 was weaker due to increased uptake of hormone replacement therapy in homozygotes for this haplotype. CONCLUSIONS: Two haplotypes defined by polymorphisms in the 5' flank of the COLIA1 regulate BMD in a bidirectional manner in women.     

Functional characterization of naturally occurring NR3C2 gene mutations in Italian patients suffering from pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1

OBJECTIVE: The renal form of pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare disease caused by mutations in the human mineralocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C2). DESIGN: Aim of the study was to analyze the NR3C2 gene in three Italian patients with clinical signs of renal PHA1 and to evaluate the distribution of the -2G > C, c.538A > G, and c.722C > T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) pattern in the PHA1 patients and in 90 controls of the same ethnic origin. METHODS: Analysis of the NR3C2 gene sequence and of the polymorphic SNP markers. Functional characterization of the detected novel NR3C2 mutations utilizing aldosterone-binding assays and reporter gene transactivation assays. RESULTS: One novel nonsense (Y134X) and one novel frameshift (2125delA) mutation were detected. They exhibited no aldosterone binding and no transactivation abilities. No mutation was detected in the third patient. Haploinsufficiency of NR3C2 was ruled out by microsatellite analysis in this patient. The c.722T SNP was detected in 97% of alleles in the Italian population which is significantly different from the general German or US population. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular analysis of the NR3C2 gene in PHA1 patients is warranted to detect novel mutations in order to clarify the underlying genetic cause, which may extend the insight into relevant functional regions of the hMR protein. The effect the different distribution of the c.722T SNP is not clear to date. Further studies are necessary to provide evidence as to a possible advantage of a less sensitive hMR in southern countries.     

Association analyses between genetic polymorphisms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and hypertension in Japanese: The Suita Study.

OBJECTIVES : Endothelium-derived nitric oxide plays a key role in the regulation of vascular tone. Recently, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms were reported to be associated with hypertension or coronary spasm. We investigated the association between the eNOS gene polymorphisms and hypertension in a large population-based sample of 4055 Japanese. DESIGN AND METHODS : We investigated two polymorphisms of the eNOS gene, Glu298Asp polymorphism of exon 7 and T(-786)C polymorphism of the promoter region. The genotype distribution in hypertensive subjects was compared to that in the other subjects. The influence of the genotype on blood pressure values was analyzed in the subjects not taking hypertensive medication. The promoter activities of the eNOS gene with the (-786)T or (-786)C allele were measured by a luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS : There was significant linkage disequilibrium between the two polymorphisms (P < 0.0001). The genotype distribution of the Glu298Asp or T(-786)C polymorphism did not differ between the hypertensive and the other subjects. No significant differences in the blood pressure of subjects not taking hypertensive medication were observed among the three genotypes of Glu298Asp or T(-786)C polymorphisms. No significant differences in the promoter activity were observed between bovine endothelial cells transfected with the (-786)T and (-786)C alleles. CONCLUSIONS : Our data suggested that these polymorphisms of the eNOS gene are unlikely to be major factors in the susceptibility to hypertension in the Japanese population studied.