The University of Toledo

Current research in the Joe Lab seeks identification of genetic variants that causally control the trait of blood pressure (BP), elevated levels of which result in hypertension. Primary work is conducted using several experimental rat models that are divergent in their blood pressure. Our investigations have identified sixteen discrete regions of the rat genome that contain underlying genetic determinants of blood pressure, mapped several of these within regions ranging from 104kb to <1Mb and identified variants within novel genes. Functional and translational studies are currently NIH funded research themes for these novel genes.

Inaddition to mapping by the classic methods of linkage and substitution mapping, we employed integrated genomic approaches to identify differentially expressed positional candidates for blood pressure regulation. Based on our work, we prioritized the transcription factor Nr2f2 as a candidate gene for hypertension in rats. Recent studies in humans similarly prioritize Nr2f2 through a haplotype analysis of data obtained from a genome-wide association study for hypertension in humans.

The aforementioned studies have not only facilitated progess in gene identification for hypertension but also allowed us to gain insight into the complex arrangement and properties of various genetic elements that each exerts a causal role in controlling blood pressure. Thus, our goal is to continue positional cloning and in the process, define the ‘genomic landscape of hypertension’.

Support from the NHLBI/NIH (RO1 HL076709 and RO1HL075414) for our research is gratefully acknowledged.

Query for markers with the prefix ‘D1Mco’ that are developed from our laboratory:

Marker:    (Example Value: D10Mco77)

or search using Chromosome Maps Chr1 Chr2 Chr3 Chr4 Chr5 Chr6 Chr7 Chr8 Chr9 Chr10 Chr11 Chr12 Chr13 Chr14 Chr15 Chr16 Chr17 Chr18 Chr19 Chr20 ChrX Select a marker from one of the chromosome maps and enter it in the search form. Enter "all" to see the entire database.

Contact Information:

Bina Joe, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Physiological Genomics Laboratory
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
University of Toledo College of Medicine
Rm 312, Block Health Science Bldg
3034 Arlington Avenue
Toledo, OH 43614

Tel: 419-383-4415
FAX: 419-383-2871
Email: bina.joe@utoledo.edu