Associations between hypertension and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPARD) gene rs7770619 C>T polymorphism in a Korean population

Background: Oxidative stress is associated with the increased risk of hypertension (HTN). This cross-sectional study is aimed to identify the association between the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-ä (PPARD) polymorphism and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker which is related to HTN development, and to determine whether PPARD gene is a candidate gene for HTN. Results: One thousand seven hundred ninety-three individuals with normal blood pressure (BP) and HTN were included in this cross-sectional study. The Korean Chip was used to obtain genotype data. Through the analysis, the ten most strongly associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were nominated for an MDA-related SNP. Among them, the rs7770619 polymorphism was identified in the PPARD gene. The CT genotype of the PPARD rs7770619 C>T polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of HTN before and after adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and drinking. Significant associations were observed between plasma MDA and the PPARD rs7770619 C>T polymorphism and between systolic BP and the PPARD rs7770619 SNP in the controls. The CT controls showed significantly lower systolic BP and plasma MDA than the CC controls. Additionally, in both controls and HTN patients, the CT subjects showed significantly lower serum glucose and higher adiponectin levels than the CC subjects. Furthermore, the CT subjects showed significantly higher serum free fatty acid levels than the CC subjects among the HTN patients. Conclusion: This is a new finding that the PPARD rs7770619 C>T SNP is a novel candidate variant for HTN based on the association between PPARD and plasma MDA in a Korean population.