Analyzing FOXO3A gene as a marker in adults with hypertension

Hypertension remains a global health problem. It caused high morbidity and death. It occurs in people in low- and middle-income countries which aged 30 to 80 years old. Symptoms are often asymptomatic; it became unaware until reached an advanced stage. Vascular aging is suspected to be one of the causes of high blood pressure. Modification layers of blood vessels such as thick, stiff, and inelastic, are caused by oxidative stress. This development is influenced by the FOXO3A gene. FOXO3A plays a role in slowing aging which is a transcription factor that plays a role in signal modulation, cell death, oxidation-reduction reactions, cell metabolism and DNA damage. Previous research on FOXO3A gene expression in people over 70 years of age found significantly lower levels compared to those aged 50-60 years. Because of the limited knowledge regarding FOXO3A gene expression in hypertension, this study aims to analyzed FOXO3A gene expression in the elderly. Sixty subjects were divided into hypertension and normotension based on JNC 8 criteria. Quantitative Real Time PCR was used to calculate FOXO3A expression. The Livak formula was used to measure elative expression. FOXO3A relative expression was 7.95 fold lower in hypertension than normotension. FOXO3A expression was reduced in hypertension. Further research at the protein level is needed to confirm these findings. Keywords: hypertension, expression, mRNA, FOXO3A