OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the T(-344)C polymorphism of aldosterone synthase gene CYP11B2 with essential hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakh isolated population.

METHODSThe study covered 186 hypertensives and 168 normotensive controls in Xinjiang Kazakh population. The segment of CYP11B2 was amplified from DNA by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The PCR products were digested by restriction endonuclease.

RESULTSThe frequencies of C and T in hypertensive group (0.45 and 0.55) were not significantly different from those in the control group (0.43 and 0.57; chi-square test=0.380, P=0.537). The frequencies of CYP11B2 genotypes of CC, CT and TT were 0.20, 0.50 and 0.30 in hypertensives respectively, and 0.12, 0.61 and 0.27 in controls respectively. There was no significant difference in genotypes between hypertensive group and normotensive group (chi-square test=4.838, P=0.089). But the frequencies of CC genotype were higher in the female hypertensives than in the normotensive controls (chi-square test=6.104, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that the T(-344)C polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene may be associated with hypertension in female Kazakh population of Xinjiang Barlikun area.