BACKGROUND: WNK1 (With No-lysine Kinase 1) modulates numerous sodium transport-related ion channels involved in regulation of blood pressure. Several studies have indicated associations between the common variants of the WNK1 gene and hypertension or blood pressure levels. However, little data exists on Asian populations and normotensive or pre-hypertensive subjects. Our aim was to detect whether the common variations in the WNK1 gene are potential contributors to individual variations in blood pressure in a family-based sample.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 525 individuals from 116 families were selected from a rural community of Northern China. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms were selected from the WNK1 gene. Single-marker and haplotype analyses were conducted using the Family-Based Association Test program.

RESULTS: Regretful, no associations for the 5 WNK1 SNPs and the constructed haplotype blocks of WNK1 with blood pressure level reached nominal statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that although multiple candidate genes are involved in development of hypertension, the genetic polymorphism in WNK1 is not a major contributor to the observed variability in blood pressure and familial clustering risk of hypertension.

Keywords: Adolescent, Blood Pressure - genetics, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics, Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics, young adult