OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between JWA polymorphisms and the susceptibility to hypertension in workers exposed to heat stress.

METHODSThe exposure group included 158 steelworkers and rollers and 76 workers unexposed to heat stress served as control group. The general information was collected according to a questionnaire and the blood pressure was examined for all subjects. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used to analyze the site 76 in promoter and site 723 in the 3rd exon of JWA gene in the peripheral lymphocytes. PHASE 2.0 software was utilized to calculate the haploid type.

RESULTSIn the exposure group, JWA76 G/G genotype frequencies of sub-group with normal blood pressure, sub-group with higher blood pressure and sub-group with hypertension were 82.35%, 69.70% and 65.00%, respectively, there were significant differences among 3 sub-groups (P < 0.05). JWA 76 G/G genotype frequencies decreased with blood pressure (χ² = 4.86, P = 0.027). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the subjects with G/C genotype were compared to the subjects with G/G genotype in the exposure group, the adjusted OR value was 3.67 (95%CI: 1.21 approximately 11.05) for the risk of hypertension and higher blood pressure. the subjects with GG/CT haploid type were compared to the subjects with non-GG/CT haploid type in the exposure group, the adjusted OR values for the risks of hypertension and higher blood pressure were 8.30 (1.39 approximately 49.44) and 8.55 (1.53 approximately 47.48), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe gene polymorphisms at site 76 and GG/CT haploid type of JWA gene were associated with hypertension in workers exposed to high temperature.