Mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) Mutations in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Arterial hypertension remains a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have noted a maternal effect on blood pressure (BP). Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have become an additional target of investigations on the missing BP heritability. The major objective of the present work was to investigate mutations in the tRNALeu(UUR) gene in 20 Pakistani patients with EH and compare the amplified sequences to the mitochondrial reference sequence. DNA was extracted from their saliva, and the mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) gene was amplified using PCR with specified primers. The present study did not find mutations in the tRNALeu(UUR) gene in Pakistani EH patients. Further studies are needed for confirmation.