Polymorphisms of adiponectin gene and gene-lipid interaction with hypertension risk in Chinese coal miners: A matched case-control study

Objective Low serum adiponectin level can predict hypertension development, and adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) polymorphisms have been reported to be linked with hypertension risk. Whereas, the interaction between ADIPOQ polymorphisms and environmental factors on the susceptibility of hypertension remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of ADIPOQ polymorphisms with hypertension risk and their interaction with lipid levels in coal miners. Methods A matched case-control study with 296 case-control pairs was performed in a large coal mining group located in North China. The participants were questioned by trained interviewers, and their ADIPOQ genotype and lipid levels were determined. Logistic regression, stratified analysis, and crossover analysis were applied to evaluate the effects of rs2241766, rs1501299, and rs266729 genotypes and gene-lipid interaction on hypertension risk. Results In this matched case-control study, the genotypes of rs2241766 TG+GG, rs1501299 GT +TT, and rs266729 CG+GG were marginally related to hypertension risk. Individuals with high total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level were susceptible to hypertension (TC: odds ratio [OR] = 1.807, 95% confidence intervals [95%CI] = 1.266-2.581; LDL-C: OR = 1.981, 95%CI = 1.400-2.803; HDL-C: OR = 1.559, 95%CI = 1.093-2.223). Antagonistic interactions were detected between rs2241766 and TC, rs1501299 and TC, rs2241766 and LDL-C, and rs1501299 and HDL-C (rs2241766 and TC: OR = 0.393, 95%CI= 0.191-0.806; rs1501299 and TC: OR = 0.445, 95%CI= 0.216-0.918; rs2241766 and LDL-C: OR = 0.440, 95%CI= 0.221-0.877; rs1501299 and HDL-C: OR = 0.479, 95%CI= 0.237-0.967). Stratified analysis showed that hypertension risk was high for the subjects with rs2241766 TG+GG or rs1501299 GG under the low lipid level but low for those under the high lipid level. In the case group, the TC and LDL-C levels for rs2241766 TG+GG were lower than those for rs2241766 GG, and the TC and HDL-C levels for rs1501299 GT+TT were higher than those for rs1501299 GG. Conclusions Although the effects of ADIPOQ polymorphisms alone were not remarkable, an antagonistic interaction was observed between ADIPOQ polymorphisms and lipid levels.