NPPA and Hypertension: Indeed, miRNAs are also associated with hypertension; for example, binding of miR-425 decreased atrial natriuretic factor (encoded by Nppa gene) expression and lowered the circulating levels of the corresponding protein; interestingly, such binding does not occur in the presence of the G allele at the rs5068 locus of Nppa gene, previously linked to blood pressure [105].