Association between serotonin 2A receptor (HTR2A) genetic variations and risk of hypertension in a community-based cohort study

Background Hypertension is one of the risk factors for obesity-related cardiovascular diseases. We investigated whether genetic variations in serotonin 2A receptor (HTR2A) were associated with hypertension. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study in cohorts A (Ansan-Ansung cohort, N = 6039) and B (Wonju-Pyengchang cohort, N = 7524). Several genetic variants in HTR2A including rs7330636, rs9590999, rs2183057, and rs4942595 were selected and genotyped. Results In hypertensive participants in cohort A, the baseline systolic blood pressure and body mass index were 141.80 +/- 17.20 mg/dL and 24.48 +/- 4.75 kg/m(2), respectively, which were higher than in those without hypertension (p < 0.001). rs4942595TC genotype was associated with hypertension in cohort A (OR = 0.739), after adjusting for variables. Subjects with rs4942578AA genotype had a decreased risk of hypertension after adjusting for clinical factor (OR = 0.735) in cohort B, and an elevated risk of hypertension in cohort A (OR = 1.562). The logistic regression analysis showed that participants with rs4941573TC genotype were 1.327 times more likely to have a higher blood pressure than those with TT genotype (95% CI 1.101-1.599) in cohort B. Whereas, the OR for developing hypertension in subjects with rs17069883CC genotype compared to those with AA genotype was 1.447 (95% CI 1.018-2.056; p for trend = 0.040) in cohort A. Conclusions HTR2A genetic variations were associated with hypertension risk in our study.