Insertion/deletion polymorphism at angiotensin-converting enzyme gene in PTSD individuals and their reciprocal effects on blood pressure

ABSTRACT

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism at angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as their interactions on blood pressure.

Methods

Variants of ACE I/D were identified by polymerase chain reaction method and verified by DNA sequencing. PTSD symptoms were assessed by the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) based on DSM-IV-TR criteria among high school students at 6 months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

Results

Female subjects were found to have higher prevalence of PTSD and PCL-C scores than male counterparts in the II homozygotes (p = .038 for PTSD and p = .003 for PCL-C scores) and the ID heterozygotes (p = .000 for PTSD and p = .000 for PCL-C scores), but not in the DD homozygotes. Male subjects with the ID (p = .046) or the DD genotype (p = .039) had lower pulse pressure (PP) than the male II homozygotes, while the female II homozygotes had lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) than the female DD homozygotes (p = .036). ACE I/D, PTSD, or PCL-C scores, as well as gender and BMI, were found to be the predictors of PP.

Conclusions

These results indicate that there are interactions of ACE I/D and PTSD, together with gender and BMI, on PP. This finding may be the additional explanation for the heterogeneous relationships between PTSD and blood pressure, and suggest psychiatry care and different medication strategies for patients with comorbidities of PTSD and hypertension and with different genotypes of ACE I/D.

KEYWORDS:

• Blood pressure
• ACE I/D
• genetic variations
• PTSD

Acknowledgments

Research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81974043). Professor Ding Zhi Fang is the recipient of the grant.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

Jia Lin and Ding Zhi Fang were responsible for conception, study design, data interpretation and manuscript finalization. Ling Nan Kong was responsible for lab experiments, statistical analysis and manuscript preparation. Yi Lin Shen and Yong Li Chen was involved in lab experiments and revising the manuscript. Xu Chen, Guo Ming Su, and Jin Hua Wang were involved in lab experiments and statistical analysis. Gui Bang Xiao, Qi Wei Guo, and Ji Cheng Zhang participated in performing the experiments and drafting the manuscript. All authors have contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [81974043].