Mendelian randomization analysis on blood cell indices and blood pressure-related traits.
Principal Investigator:
Professor Tomasz Guzik
Approved Research ID:
50282
Approval date:
June 18th 2019
Lay summary
Hypertension is a genetically complex trait and important risk factor for majority of cardiovascular diseases. Inflammatory status of various organs, such as kidney or perivascular adipose tissue, has been associated with the development and progression of hypertension in animal models. However, there is lack of convincing evidence that inflammatory status is causally related to the development of hypertension in humans. UK Biobank creates a unique opportunity to test whether genetic polymorphisms, associated with the level of blood cell indices and used as a proxy for inflammation level, associate with blood pressure level as well. By utilizing a mendelian randomization concept the proposed project aims to verify whether total number of circulating lymphocytes as well as neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils and monocytes is causally related to blood pressure level. Therefore, our proposal may contribute to the understanding of blood pressure regulation in humans and add additional target to treat abnormally elevated blood pressure level.