Genetic Appraisal of RAAS-Associated SNPs: REN (rs16853055), AGT (rs3789678) and ACE (rs4305) in Preeclamptic Women Living with HIV Infection

Abstract

Purpose of review: The primary goal of this review article was to determine whether the three RAAS-associated SNPs, Renin-rs16853055, AGT-rs3789678 and ACE-rs4305 are genetically linked to the development of hypertension in preeclampsia. The secondary goal was to establish if there was a link between these SNPs and HIV infection.

Recent findings: There is a paucity of findings related to the aforementioned SNPs and preeclampsia. There are no recent findings on the rs16853055 renin polymorphism. The rs3789678 angiotensinogen polymorphism correlated significantly with gestational hypertension. The rs4305 ACE polymorphism showed no significant association with the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension. There are conflicting findings when determining the relationship between ethnicity and the predisposition of preeclampsia and hypertension in relation to the discussed RAAS-associated SNPs. To date, the association between RAAS-associated SNPs and preeclamptic women co-morbid with HIV in South Africa has revealed that certain alleles of the AGT gene are more prominent in HIV-infected PE compared to normotensive pregnant HIV-infected women.

Keywords: rs16853055; rs3789678; rs4305; HIV; Hypertension; Preeclampsia.

Fig. 1

Single nucleotide polymorphisms and the RAAS. a Double-stranded DNA showing the outcome of a genetic mutation (SNP) (adapted from [26]). b The RAAS pathway is displayed in conjunction with prominent functions/effects of certain analytes (adapted from [27]). (ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; AT1R, angiotensin II type 1 receptor; AT2R, angiotensin II type 2 receptor)

Fig. 2

The role of renin in HIV infection (adapted from [••]). The interaction between HIV infection and REN is established via receptors and pathways, resulting in the synthesis of p24, a core HIV protein. ((P)RR, pro-renin receptor; PLZF, promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger; PI-3 K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; NF-_KB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; LTR, long terminal repeat). +Increases function, ++accelerates synthesis of polyproteins