Possible influence of genes located on chromosome 6 within or near to the major histocompatibility complex on development of essential hypertension

Studies both in spontaneously hypertensive rats and in humans have suggeste d that genes within or near to the HLA complex on chromosome 6p may be asso ciated and linked to the regulation of blood pressure. The aim of this stud y was to determine whether HLA alleles and their combinations contribute to increased blood pressure, as well as to identify chromosome region that ma y contain genes involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Our results suggest that presence of HLA-DRB1*0101/2 DQB1*0501/2 DQA1*0102 all elic combination represents risk factor for development of essential hypert ension in Slovenians, while the risk is decreased in individuals possessing HLA-DRB1*1601/2 DQB1*0502 DQA1*0102 or DRB3*. The linkage study indicates a possibility that at least one of the genes responsible for increased bloo d pressure is located near or within the HLA complex. A possible candidate is human endotelin-1 gene encoding a highly potent vasoactive peptide.