Genetic polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) have been associated with hypertension in various ethnic groups, but no relation between these polymorphisms and hypertension has yet been systematically evaluated. To assess the relationship between allelic variation of RAS genes and hypertension, we performed the case-control studies using genetic markers in Korean normotensives and hypertensives. The allele and genotype frequencies of RAS genes in Korean population were not significantly different between normotensives and hypertensives. To investigate the distribution of allele frequencies among various populations, the data obtained in this study were compared to those in other ethnic groups studied previously. Except for T174M polymorphism of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene, allele frequencies of RAS genes were different among racial groups. The reason for these differences may be due to the difference in various genetic or environmental background or due to the effects by various sample size studied. In addition, it can be emphasized that carefully designed studies are required to minimize the ethnic heterogeneity of the case and control populations.

Essential hypertension is considered to be caused by a complicated combination of genetic and environmental factors. Alterations of lipid metabolism in plasma have been reported to be related to an increased risk of essential hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between two genetic polymorphisms (Pvu II and Hind III RELPs) of the human lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene and essential hypertension in korean population. In our result the Pvu II RFLP of LPL gene was significantly associated with essential hypertension (P < 0.05). Therefore, we suggest that the Pvu II RFLP of LPL gene may be useful as a genetic marker for essential hypertension in Korean population.

In view of the effect of antithrombin III on essential hypertension, we investigated the 5' untranslated exon 1 length (I/D) polymorphism and intron 5'-DdeI RFLP of the human antithrombin III gene in the Korean patients with essential hypertension. There were no significant differences in the allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of these polymorphisms between normotensive and essential hypertensive subjects. The significant linkage disequilibrium was however, detected between I/D polymorphism and Dde I RFLP. The I/D polymorphism was also significantly associated with BMI, total cholesterol (TC) and HDL- cholesterol levels, while DdeI polymorphism with age and BMI. Therefore, our results suggest that the significant association between the genetic polymorphisms in the antithrombin III gene and variable cardiovascular risk factors may reflect the potential role of human antithrombin III gene in cardiovascular function.

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder with a strong genetic component. There are many candidate genes for obesity and its related phenotypes. We studied genetic variations between Korean obese and lean groups. Polymorphisms investigated were the Msp I polymorphism of the $\alpha$$_{2A}$-adrenergic receptor ($\alpha$$_{2A}$-AR) gene, the Mnl I polymorphism of the $\alpha$$_2$-adrenergic receptor ($\alpha$$_2$-AR) gene, the BstO I polymorphism of the $\beta$$_3$-adrenergic receptor ($\beta$$_3$-AR) gene, the Pml I polymorphism of the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene, the Hga I polymorphism of the clearance receptor (NPRC) gene, the Msp I polymorphism of the leptin gene, BclI polymorphism of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCPI) gene and the Hha I polymorphism of the fatty acid binding protein 2 (FABP2) gene. Among these genetic markers, Pml I polymorphism at the LMNA gene and Bcl I polymorphism at the UCP1 gene were significantly associated with obesity. However, further studies are required whether thease findings are reproduced in large population, although two polymorphisms might be useful as genetic markers in the ethiology of obesity in Korean population.ion.

Essential hypertension is complex disorder influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Alterations of lipid metabolism in plasma have been reported to be related to an increased risk of essential hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between two SNPs of the human LDL receptor and CETP gene and hypertension in Korean population. There were no significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies of two SNPs in normotensives and hypertensives. With respect to Hinc II RFLP in the LDL receptor gene, pooled odds ratio value indicated the significant heterogeneity among populations studied by meta-analysis (Breslow-Day test df = 2, P<0.05). In the case of Bam HI RFLP in the CETP gene,. our study is the first report of an association between the SNP of the CETP gene and hypertension, although our result failed to demonstrate the significant association between the Bam HI RFLP of the CETP gene and hypertension in Korean population. Further work, using larger sample sizes and various ethnic groups, is required to establish the precise role of these two candidate gene polymorphisms on hypertension.

We have used cDNA microarray hybridization to identify gene regulated in response to gamma-irradiation in U-937 cell. The cDNA-chip was composed entirely of 1,000 human cancer related gene including apoptosis and angiogenesis etc. In gamma-irradiated U-937 cell, highly charged protein, ribosomal protein L32, four and a half LIM domains 3, lipocalin 2 (oncogene 24p3) and interleukin 15, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (includes complementation groups A, C and D) genes showed increased level of its transcription, and cell division cycle 25A, dihydrofolate reductase, topoisomerase (DNA) II beta(180kD), kinase suppressor of ras and strarigin genes showed reduced level of its transcription compared to untreated U-937 cell. The significant change of level of transcription was not found in well-known ionizing radiation(IR)-responsive gene, such as transcription factor TP53 and p53 related gene, except ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene.