Table 3

Summary of the strongest genetic markers associated with salt sensitivity

GeneGene function and association with salt sensitivityrsIDAssociated risk alleleRisk allele prevalence*Magnitude of effect
Solute carrier family 4 member 5 (SLC4A5)Encodes a protein that transports sodium and bicarbonate ions in renal tubule cells back into circulation.49 rs7571842AUS Caucasian: 0.57.
British Caucasian: 0.59.
Asian: 0.34.
African-American: 0.34.		OR=4.76 (p=8.9×10-5) for salt sensitivity.49
Solute carrier family 4 member 5 (SLC4A5)Encodes a protein that transports sodium and bicarbonate ions in renal tubule cells back into circulation.49 rs10177833AUS Caucasian: 0.62.
British Caucasian: 0.60.
Asian: 0.34.
African-American: 0.52.		OR=3.50 (p=2.6×10-4) for salt sensitivity.49
G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4)Codes for an enzyme that deactivates activated G protein-coupled receptors via phosphorylation. GRK4 regulates the dopamine D1 receptor. The D1 receptor plays a role in regulating the renal tubule ion transport.51 rs296036, rs1024323 and rs1801058.A (rs296036), T (rs1024323), T (rs1801058).rs296036:
US Caucasian: 0.19.
British Caucasian: 0.23.
Asian: 0.15.
African-American: 0.18.
rs1024323
US Caucasian: 0.38.
British Caucasian: 0.36.
Asian: 0.20.
African-American: 0.61.
rs1801058
US Caucasian: 0.39.
British Caucasian: 0.42.
Asian: 0.53.
African-American: 0.14.		Predictive of salt sensitivity with 94% accuracy if three or more variants are present.50 52
Predictive of salt sensitivity with 78.4% accuracy if the rs1024323 variant is present.50 52

  • Ethnic groups defined by specific 1000 Genomes Project populations: US Caucasian: Utah residents with northern and western European ancestry (CEU); British Caucasian: British in England and Scotland (GBR); Asian: Han Chinese in Beijing, China (CHB); African American: Americans of African Ancestry in SW USA (ASW).

  • *Source: 1000 Genomes Project Samples.53