Objective: This study systematically assessed circulating proteins to identify new serum biomarkers and risk of hypertension using Mendelian randomisation.
Methods: The associations between 4,782 human circulating proteins and the risk of hypertension were evaluated using two-sample Mendelian randomisation. The FinnGen study demonstrated a link between genetic predisposition and hypertension in 85,438 cases and 223,663 controls.
Results: Inverse variance weighted and sensitivity analysis revealed nine proteins in circulation that have a causative effect on hypertension. SMOC1 and TIE1 were determined to be causative factors in the decreased likelihood of developing hypertension, with odds ratios of 0.86 (95% CI 0.81-0.91; p=1.06e-06) and 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.98; p=9.39e-05), respectively. NDUFB4, ETHE1, POFUT2, TRIL, ADAM23, GXYLT1, OXT, TPST2, and TMCC3 showed a possible connection to hypertension.
Conclusions: This two-sample Mendelian randomisation study found that SMOC1 and TIE1 are causally linked to hypertension, making them a promising target for therapy.
Keywords: Causal effect; Circulating proteins; Hypertension; Mendelian randomisation.
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