ANGIOTENSINOGEN IN HUMAN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

The candidacy of angiotensinogen for a role in the genetic basis of hy pertension is supported by the observation that plasma angiotensinogen levels track with raised blood pressure through families. In addition , trans genic mice with overexpression of a rat angiotensinogen gene d evelop hypertension, and knockout mice with a disrupted gene and absen t angiotensinogen production develop low blood pressure. There are now two studies in populations of white European origin and one in Africa n Caribbeans providing support for a role of the angiotensinogen gene locus in human essential hypertension.