Common variants in the ATP2B1 gene are associated with hypertension and arterial stiffness in Chinese population

ATP2B1 gene polymorphisms associated with resistant hypertension in the Japanese population

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of ATP2B1 gene are associated with essential hypertension but their association with resistant hypertension (RHT) remains unexplored. The authors examined the relationship between ATP2B1 SNPs and RHT by genotyping 12 SNPs in ATP2B1 gene of 1124 Japanese individuals with lifestyle-related diseases. Patients with RHT had inadequate blood pressure (BP) control using three antihypertensive drugs or used ≥4 antihypertensive drugs. Patients with controlled hypertension had BP controlled using ≤3 antihypertensive drugs. The association between each SNP and RHT was analyzed by logistic regression. The final cohort had 888 (79.0%) and 43 (3.8%) patients with controlled hypertension and RHT, respectively. Compared with patients homozygous for the minor allele of each SNP in ATP2B1, a significantly higher number of patients carrying the major allele at 10 SNPs exhibited RHT (most significant at rs1401982: 5.8% vs. 0.8%, p = .014; least significant at rs11105378: 5.7% vs. 0.9%, p = .035; most nonsignificant at rs12817819: 5.1% vs. 10%, p = .413). After multivariate adjustment for age, sex, systolic BP, and other confounders, the association remained significant for rs2681472 and rs1401982 (OR: 7.60, p < .05 and OR: 7.62, p = .049, respectively). Additionally, rs2681472 and rs1401982 were in linkage disequilibrium with rs11105378. This study identified two ATP2B1 SNPs associated with RHT in the Japanese population. rs1401982 was most closely associated with RHT, and major allele carriers of rs1401982 required significantly more antihypertensive medications. Analysis of ATP2B1 SNPs in patients with hypertension can help in early prediction of RHT and identification of high-risk patients who are more likely to require more antihypertensive medications.

The Protective Effect of Polymorphisms rs2681472 and rs17249754 of the ATP2B1 Gene Against Coronary Artery Disease and Hypertension is Abolished by Tobacco Smoking

Aim    To study the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2681472 and rs17249754 in the ATP2B1 gene with risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and arterial hypertension (AH) among residents of Central Russia and to evaluate the trigger role of smoking as a risk factor for development of IHD and AH in carriers of ATP2B1 gene polymorphic variants.Material and methods    The study included DNA samples from 1960 residents of Central Russia of Slavic origin. Among them, there were 1261 patients with cardiovascular diseases and 699 healthy persons. The vast majority of patients had both IHD and AH. Genotyping was performed using the iPLEX technique on a MassARRAY-4 genomic mass-spectrometer. The relationship of ATP2B1 alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes with the risk of diseases was calculated by logistic regression analysis with adjustments for sex and age.Results    Carriage of AG and GG (rs2681472) genotypes and GA (rs17249754) genotype was associated with a reduced risk of both IHD (p=0.0057 and p=0.022 for rs2681472 and rs17249754, respectively) and AH (p=0.016 and p=0.036, respectively). Rare rs2681472G-rs17249754G and rs2681472A-rs17249754A haplotypes were associated with a reduced risk of IHD (odds ratio, OR, 0.22; 95 % CI: 0.11-0.46, p=0.0001) and AH (OR, 0.22; 95 % CI: 0.10-0.47, p=0.0001). Analysis of the groups stratified by the smoking status showed that in smokers, the studied polymorphic variants did not have a protective action with respect of either IHD or AH. However, in non-smokers, the genotypes AG and GG rs2681472 (OR, 0.62; 95 % CI: 0.47-0.80, p=0.0004) and GA rs17249754 (OR, 0.61; 95 % CI: 0.47-0.81, p=0.0004) were associated with a reduced risk of IHD and AH (OR, 0.63; 95 % CI: 0.48-0.83, p=0.0004 for rs2681472; OR, 0.63; 95 % CI: 0.48-0.83, p=0.001 for rs17249754), as well as the carriage of the minor alleles rs2681472‑G and rs17249754‑A.Conclusion    It was shown for the first time that the polymorphic variants rs17249754 and rs2681472 of the ATP2B1 gene are associated with a reduced risk for IHD and AH only in non-smokers.

Calcium dysregulation in heart diseases: Targeting calcium channels to achieve a correct calcium homeostasis

Intracellular calcium signaling is a universal language source shared by the most part of biological entities inside cells that, all together, give rise to physiological and functional anatomical units, the organ. Although preferentially recognized as signaling between cell life and death processes, in the heart it assumes additional relevance considered the importance of calcium cycling coupled to ATP consumption in excitation-contraction coupling. The concerted action of a plethora of exchangers, channels and pumps inward and outward calcium fluxes where needed, to convert energy and electric impulses in muscle contraction. All this without realizing it, thousands of times, every day. An improper function of those proteins (i.e., variation in expression, mutations onset, dysregulated channeling, differential protein-protein interactions) being part of this signaling network triggers a short circuit with severe acute and chronic pathological consequences reported as arrhythmias, cardiac remodeling, heart failure, reperfusion injury and cardiomyopathies. By acting with chemical, peptide-based and pharmacological modulators of these players, a correction of calcium homeostasis can be achieved accompanied by an amelioration of clinical symptoms. This review will focus on all those defects in calcium homeostasis which occur in the most common cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, hypertrophy, heart failure and cardiomyopathies. This part will be introduced by the state of the art on the proteins involved in calcium homeostasis in cardiomyocytes and followed by the therapeutic treatments that to date, are able to target them and to revert the pathological phenotype.

CYP17A1-ATP2B1 SNPs and Gene-Gene and Gene-Environment Interactions on Essential Hypertension

Background: The association between the CYP17A1 and ATP2B1 SNPs and essential hypertension (referred to as hypertension) is far from being consistent. In addition to the heterogeneity of hypertension resulting in inconsistent results, gene–gene and gene–environment interactions may play a major role in the pathogenesis of hypertension rather than a single gene or environmental factor.

Methods: A case–control study consisting of 1,652 individuals (hypertension, 816; control, 836) was conducted in Maonan ethnic minority of China. Genotyping of the four SNPs was performed by the next-generation sequencing technology.

Results: The frequencies of minor alleles and genotypes of four SNPs were different between the two groups (p < 0.001). According to genetic dominance model analysis, three (rs1004467, rs11191548, and rs17249754) SNPs and two haplotypes (CYP17A1 rs1004467G-rs11191548C and ATP2B1 rs1401982G-rs17249754A) were negatively correlated, whereas rs1401982 SNP and the other two haplotypes (CYP17A1 rs1004467A-rs11191548T and ATP2B1 rs1401982A-rs17249754G) were positively associated with hypertension risk (p ≤ 0.002 for all). Two best significant two-locus models were screened out by GMDR software involving SNP–environment (rs11191548 and BMI ≥ 24 kg/m²) and haplotype–environment (CYP17A1 rs1004467G-rs11191548C and BMI ≥ 24 kg/m²) interactions (p ≤ 0.01). The subjects carrying some genotypes increased the hypertension risk.

Conclusions: Our outcomes implied that the rs1004467, rs11191548, and rs17249754 SNPs and CYP17A1 rs1004467G-rs11191548C and ATP2B1 rs1401982G-rs17249754A haplotypes have protective effects, whereas the rs1401982 SNP and CYP17A1 rs1004467A-rs11191548T and ATP2B1 rs1401982A-rs17249754G haplotypes showed adverse effect on the prevalence of hypertension. Several SNP–environment interactions were also detected.

ATP2B1 genotypes rs2070759 and rs2681472 polymorphisms and risk of hypertension in Saudi population

This study examined an association of ATP2B1 gene polymorphism and hypertension in the Saudi population. The 246 hypertensive cases and 300 healthy human controls were genotyped. The results showed that genotypes rs.207075 (CA + AA) [p = 0.05; OR: 95% CI, 1.5:(1.0 to 2.4) and p = 0.001, OR: 95% CI, 2.4: (1.5 to 4.0) and rs2681472 (CT + TT) [p = 0.05; OR: 95% CI, 1.5 (1.0 to 2.4) and p = 0.006 OR: 95% CI, 2.0 (1.2 to 3.1) respectively] associated with the risk of hypertension. Cases carrying the recessive models: [(CA + AA)/(CT + TT)] and [(AA)/(TT)] genotypes confer a strong susceptibility risk of hypertension [p = 0.002; OR: (95%CI) 1.8 (1.2 to 2.6) and p = 0.001; OR: (95%CI) 2.6 (1.5 to 4.7) respectively]. However, cases with body-mass-index (BMI)<25, carrying homozygous mutant genotypes [AA, rs2070759, p = 0.007; OR: (95%CI) 2.75(1.37 to 5.5) and (TT, rs2681472, p = 0.05; OR: (95%CI) 1.96 (1.03 to 3.72)] as well as A allele of rs2070759 [p = 0.006; OR: (95%CI) 1.62 (1.16 to 2.25)] and T allele of rs2681472, p = 0.04, 1.43(1.03 to 1.98)] showed a significant association with high risk of hypertension. In short, a significant association between ATP2B1 gene polymorphism and risk of hypertension was noticed. In addition, individuals carrying recessive genotypes have greater risk in developing hypertension than those carrying dominant genotypes. Moreover, cases with high-risk BMI associated with ATP2B1 variants may play a critical role in developing hypertension.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15257770.2021.1973034 .

ATP2B1 gene polymorphisms rs2681472 and rs17249754 are associated with susceptibility to hypertension and blood pressure levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationships between ATP2B1 gene polymorphisms with blood pressure (BP) level and susceptibility to hypertension.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Databases were systematically searched by 2 independent researchers to screen studies on ATP2B1 gene polymorphisms and BP related phenotypes. The records retrieval period was limited from the formation of the database to March 4, 2021. Pooled odds rations (ORs) or β and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated to assess the association between ATP2B1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of hypertension or BP levels. Publication bias and sensitivity analysis were conducted to find potential bias. All the statistical analysis were conducted with Stata version 11.0 software.

RESULTS

A total of 15 articles were ultimately included in the present study, including 15 polymorphisms of ATP2B1 gene. Nine articles (N = 65,362) reported the polymorphism rs17249754, and 7 articles(N = 91,997) reported rs2681472 (both loci were reported in 1 article). Meta-analysis showed that rs17249754 (G/A) and rs2681472 (A/G) were associated with the susceptibility to hypertension (rs17249754: OR = 1.19, 95%CI: 1.10-1.28; rs2681472: OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.12-1.17), and were positively associated with systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (rs17249754: SBP, β=1.01, 95%CI: 0.86-1.16, DBP, β=0.48, 95%CI: 0.30-0.66; rs2681472: SBP, β=0.92, 95%CI: 0.77-1.07, DBP, β=0.50, 95%CI: 0.42-0.58) in the additive genetic model. Subgroup analysis stratified by race, population, sample size, and BP measurement method revealed that the association between A allele in rs2681472 polymorphism and risk of hypertension was slightly stronger in European (EUR) populations (OR = 1.16, 95%CI: 1.13-1.20) than in East Asians (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.10-1.17). While in East Asians, relation between rs17249754 with risk of hypertension (OR = 1.19, 95%CI: 1.10-1.28) is stronger than rs2681472 (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.10-1.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that ATP2B1 gene polymorphism rs2681472 and rs17249754 were associated with BP levels and the susceptibility to hypertension.

Serum from patients with hypertension promotes endothelial dysfunction to induce trophoblast invasion through the miR‑27b‑3p/ATPase plasma membrane Ca2+ transporting 1 axis

Pregnancy‑induced hypertension is often accompanied by preeclampsia. The present study investigated whether microRNA (miR)‑27b‑3p affected the occurrence of preeclampsia by regulating the function of endothelial cells. Expressions levels of miR‑27b‑3p and ATPase plasma membrane Ca²⁺ transporting 1 (ATP2B1) were determined using reverse‑transcription quantitative PCR. miR‑27b‑3p targeting ATP2B1 was predicted using bioinformatics and further confirmed by dual‑luciferase reporter assays. Cell Counting Kit‑8, Transwell and Matrigel tube formation assays were performed to detect the effects of miR‑27b‑3p on proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), respectively. Moreover, HTR8/SVneos cells were co‑cultured with HUVECs to detect the invasion of trophoblast cells, and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑2 and MMP‑9 of HUVECs and HTR8/SVneos were detected by western blotting. Expression levels of miR‑27b‑3p were upregulated in the serum of patients with hypertension and preeclampsia, which could target and regulate the expression of ATP2B1. The expression levels of miR‑27b‑3p were increased and those of ATP2B1 were reduced in HUVECs from hypertensive serums. Moreover, miR‑27b‑3p mimics reduced the expression level of ATP2B1, and miR‑27b‑3p inhibitor reversed the effect of hypertensive serum on ATP2B1 expression. Furthermore, patients with hypertension showed increased endothelial dysfunction, reduced trophoblastic invasion and the expressions of VEGF, MMP‑2 and MMP‑9, and miR‑27b‑3p mimics and silencing of ATP2B1 produced similar results to HUVECs. The miR‑27b‑3p inhibitor reversed the effect of hypertensive serum, and silencing of ATP2B1 inhibited the improvement of miR‑27b‑3p inhibitor to HUVECs and HTR‑8/SVneo cells in proliferation, migration and tube formation. The current findings suggested that miR‑27b‑3p promoted proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs and enhanced invasion of trophoblast cells, via regulation of ATP2B1. Thus, miR‑27b‑3p could be considered as a molecular risk factor in the pathogenesis and development of preeclampsia.

Targeting Ca2 + Handling Proteins for the Treatment of Heart Failure and Arrhythmias

Diseases of the heart, such as heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias, are a growing socio-economic burden. Calcium (Ca²⁺) dysregulation is key hallmark of the failing myocardium and has long been touted as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the heart, Ca²⁺ is essential for maintaining normal cardiac function through the generation of the cardiac action potential and its involvement in excitation contraction coupling. As such, the proteins which regulate Ca²⁺ cycling and signaling play a vital role in maintaining Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Changes to the expression levels and function of Ca²⁺-channels, pumps and associated intracellular handling proteins contribute to altered Ca²⁺ homeostasis in CVD. The remodeling of Ca²⁺-handling proteins therefore results in impaired Ca²⁺ cycling, Ca²⁺ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and reduced Ca²⁺ clearance, all of which contributes to increased intracellular Ca²⁺. Currently, approved treatments for targeting Ca²⁺ handling dysfunction in CVD are focused on Ca²⁺ channel blockers. However, whilst Ca²⁺ channel blockers have been successful in the treatment of some arrhythmic disorders, they are not universally prescribed to heart failure patients owing to their ability to depress cardiac function. Despite the progress in CVD treatments, there remains a clear need for novel therapeutic approaches which are able to reverse pathophysiology associated with heart failure and arrhythmias. Given that heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias are closely associated with altered Ca²⁺ homeostasis, this review will address the molecular changes to proteins associated with both Ca²⁺-handling and -signaling; their potential as novel therapeutic targets will be discussed in the context of pre-clinical and, where available, clinical data.

Genetics of Human Primary Hypertension: Focus on Hormonal Mechanisms

Increasingly, primary hypertension is being considered a syndrome and not a disease, with the individual causes (diseases) having a common sign-an elevated blood pressure. To determine these causes, genetic tools are increasingly employed. This review identified 62 proposed genes. However, only 21 of them met our inclusion criteria: (i) primary hypertension, (ii) two or more supporting cohorts from different publications or within a single publication or one supporting cohort with a confirmatory genetically modified animal study, and (iii) 600 or more subjects in the primary cohort; when including our exclusion criteria: (i) meta-analyses or reviews, (ii) secondary and monogenic hypertension, (iii) only hypertensive complications, (iv) genes related to blood pressure but not hypertension per se, (v) nonsupporting studies more common than supporting ones, and (vi) studies that did not perform a Bonferroni or similar multiassessment correction. These 21 genes were organized in a four-tiered structure: distant phenotype (hypertension); intermediate phenotype [salt-sensitive (18) or salt-resistant (0)]; subintermediate phenotypes under salt-sensitive hypertension [normal renin (4), low renin (8), and unclassified renin (6)]; and proximate phenotypes (specific genetically driven hypertensive subgroup). Many proximate hypertensive phenotypes had a substantial endocrine component. In conclusion, primary hypertension is a syndrome; many proposed genes are likely to be false positives; and deep phenotyping will be required to determine the utility of genetics in the treatment of hypertension. However, to date, the positive genes are associated with nearly 50% of primary hypertensives, suggesting that in the near term precise, mechanistically driven treatment and prevention strategies for the specific primary hypertension subgroups are feasible.

Association of ATP2B1 common variants with asymptomatic intracranial and extracranial large artery stenosis in hypertension patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Genetic factors play an important role in the cervico-cerebral large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis (LAS), and ATP2B1 gene has been associated with the process of atherosclerosis disorders, such as coronary artery disease and arterial stiffness. But there is little information about the relationship between ATP2B1 gene and atherosclerosis in the intracranial arteries. We hereby investigated the association of common variants in ATP2B1 gene with LAS in asymptomatic Chinese hypertension patients.

METHODS

The stenosis of intracranial and extracranial arteries were evaluated in 899 subjects through computerized tomography angiography from the aortic arch to the skull base. A total of 11 ATP2B1 common variants were genotyped. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out in a dominant model with confounding factors adjusted.

RESULTS

rs17249754-A (OR = 0.43, p = 0.0002) and rs1401982-G (OR = 0.47, p = 0.0007) were associated with decreased susceptibility of concurrent extra and intracranial stenosis even after Bonferroni correction. These two minor alleles were also significantly associated with less stenotic arteries and moderate-to-severe stenosis.

CONCLUSION

rs17249754 and rs1401982 were associated with asymptomatic LAS in stroke-free Chinese hypertension patients and might benefit early recognition of LAS patients in clinical practice.

The Plasma Membrane Calcium ATPases and Their Role as Major New Players in Human Disease

The Ca²⁺ extrusion function of the four mammalian isoforms of the plasma membrane calcium ATPases (PMCAs) is well established. There is also ever-increasing detail known of their roles in global and local Ca²⁺ homeostasis and intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling in a wide variety of cell types and tissues. It is becoming clear that the spatiotemporal patterns of expression of the PMCAs and the fact that their abundances and relative expression levels vary from cell type to cell type both reflect and impact on their specific functions in these cells. Over recent years it has become increasingly apparent that these genes have potentially significant roles in human health and disease, with PMCAs1-4 being associated with cardiovascular diseases, deafness, autism, ataxia, adenoma, and malarial resistance. This review will bring together evidence of the variety of tissue-specific functions of PMCAs and will highlight the roles these genes play in regulating normal physiological functions and the considerable impact the genes have on human disease.

A Review of the Genetics of Hypertension with a Focus on Gene-Environment Interactions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Here, we discuss the interpretation and modeling of gene-environment interactions in hypertension-related phenotypes, with a focus on the necessary assumptions and possible challenges.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recently, small cohort studies have discovered several novel genetic variants associated with hypertension-related phenotypes through modeling gene-environment interactions. Several consortia-based meta-analytic efforts have uncovered many novel genetic variants in hypertension without modeling interaction terms, giving promise to future meta-analytic efforts that incorporate gene-environment interactions. Heritability studies and genome-wide association studies have established that hypertension, a prevalent cardiovascular disease, has a genetic component that may be modulated by the environment (such as lifestyle factors). This review includes a discussion of known genetic associations for hypertension/blood pressure, including those resulting from the incorporation of gene-environmental interaction modeling.

Interaction between Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Urinary Sodium, Potassium, and Sodium-Potassium Ratio on the Risk of Hypertension in Korean Adults

Hypertension is a complex disease explained with diverse factors including environmental factors and genetic factors. The objectives of this study were to determine the interaction effects between gene variants and 24 h estimated urinary sodium and potassium excretion and sodium-potassium excretion ratios on the risk of hypertension. A total of 8839 participants were included in the genome-wide association study (GWAS) to find genetic factors associated with hypertension. Tanaka and Kawasaki formulas were applied to estimate 24 h urinary sodium and potassium excretion. A total of 4414 participants were included in interaction analyses to identify the interaction effects of gene variants according to 24 h estimated urinary factors on the risk of hypertension. CSK rs1378942 and CSK-MIR4513 rs3784789 were significantly modified by urinary sodium-potassium excretion ratio. In addition, MKLN rs1643270 with urinary potassium excretion, LOC101929750 rs7554672 with urinary sodium and potassium excretion, and TENM4 rs10466739 with urinary sodium-potassium excretion ratio showed significant interaction effects. The present study results indicated that the mutant alleles of CSK rs1378942 and CSK-MIR4513 rs3784789 had the strongest protective effects against hypertension in the middle group of 24 h estimated urinary sodium-potassium excretion ratio. Further studies are needed to replicate these analyses in other populations.

Plasma membrane calcium ATPases (PMCAs) as potential targets for the treatment of essential hypertension

The incidence of hypertension, the major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is increasing. Thus, there is a pressing need for the development of new and more effective strategies to prevent and treat hypertension. Development of these relies on a continued evolution of our understanding of the mechanisms which control blood pressure (BP). Resistance arteries are important in the regulation of total peripheral resistance and BP; changes in their structure and function are strongly associated with hypertension. Anti-hypertensives which both reduce BP and reverse changes in resistance arterial structure reduce cardiovascular risk more than therapies which reduce BP alone. Hence, identification of novel potential vascular targets which modify BP is important. Hypertension is a multifactorial disorder which may include a genetic component. Genome wide association studies have identified ATP2B1, encoding the calcium pump plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 (PMCA1), as having a strong association with BP and hypertension. Knockdown or reduced PMCA1 expression in mice has confirmed a physiological role for PMCA1 in BP and resistance arterial regulation. Altered expression or inhibition of PMCA4 has also been shown to modulate these parameters. The mechanisms whereby PMCA1 and 4 can modulate vascular function remain to be fully elucidated but may involve regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis and/or comprise a structural role. However, clear physiological links between PMCA and BP, coupled with experimental studies directly linking PMCA1 and 4 to changes in BP and arterial function, suggest that they may be important targets for the development of new pharmacological modulators of BP.

Genetic determinants of arterial stiffness

Stiffness of large arteries (called arteriosclerosis) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although previous studies have shown that arterial stiffness is moderately heritable, genetic factors contributing to arterial stiffness are largely unknown. In this paper, we reviewed the available literature on genetic variants that are potentially related to arterial stiffness. Most variants have shown mixed depictions of their association with arterial stiffness across multiple studies. Various methods to measure arterial stiffness at different arterial sites can contribute to these inconsistent results. In addition, studies in patient populations with hypertension or atherosclerosis may overestimate the impact of genetic variants on arterial stiffness. Future studies are recommended to standardize current measures of arterial stiffness in different age groups. Studies conducted in normal healthy subjects may also provide better opportunities to find novel genetic variants of arterial stiffness.

The common single-nucleotide polymorphism rs2681472 is associated with early-onset preeclampsia in Northern Han Chinese women

Preeclampsia, characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Recently, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified the single-nucleotide polymorphism, rs2681472, as a new hypertension susceptibility genetic variant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between preeclampsia and rs268172 in a Northern Han Chinese population. We genotyped 1218 unrelated Northern Han Chinese women, including 515 patients with preeclampsia and 703 healthy controls. No significant differences were detected in the allele frequencies between patients and controls (P = .23). When patients were divided into early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia according to gestational age of disease onset, the allele frequencies significantly differed between controls and patients with early-onset preeclampsia (P = .02). Genotype frequencies also were significantly different between controls and patients early-onset preeclampsia when data were analyzed under additive (P = .03) and dominant (P = .009) models. We replicated this association in an independent Northern Han Chinese population and observed a significant difference in the allele frequencies between patients with early-onset preeclampsia and controls (P = .011). We report that rs2681472 is associated with early-onset preeclampsia in Northern Han Chinese women.