Rapid and Reliable Genotyping of the C181T Polymorphism in the Bradykinin B2 Receptor Gene

  • Weiss, Johanna
  • Hesse, Christiane
  • Haefeli, Walter Emil

  • Department of Internal Medicine VI, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

* E-mail of the corresponding author: [email protected]

Received 23 September 2002, revised 2 January 2003, accepted 10 January 2003

Corresponding author: Dr. Johanna Weiss, Department of Internal Medicine VI, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Bergheimer Straße 58, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany

Phone: +49/(0) 6221 565582, Fax: +49/(0) 6221 564642

E-mail: [email protected]

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 41(3):p 281-283, 2003.

Bradykinin is not only a mediator of pain and inflammation but also a potent vasodilator and is likely to contribute to the cardioprotective effects of angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors. The B2 receptor (B2-R) mediating most of the inflammatory and cardiovascular effects of bradykinin represents a candidate gene likely involved in the complex genetic causes of common chronic disorders such as hypertension. The C181T polymorphism of the B2-R gene influences the potency of bradykinin and there is evidence of a possible role of this polymorphism in the development of hypertension and end-stage renal disease. We developed and validated a new, rapid, and reliable method for the detection of the C181T polymorphism based on the hybridization probes format on the LightCycler™, which is superior to the conventional PCR-RFLP method commonly used to detect this polymorphism. It allows the solid evaluation of large patient populations with the best time. Clin Chem Lab Med 2003; 41(3):281–283

Copyright © 2003 Walter de Gruyter