We investigated the relationship between polymorphisms of the E-selectin gene, SELE (L/F554, S/R128 and 98G/T), a cell adhesion molecule, and interindividual variability in blood pressure and changes over time. The study population was extracted from the Stanislas Cohort (1006 families), a cohort of nuclear families volunteering for a free health check-up and recruited by the Centre of Preventive Medicine in Nancy (CMP) between 1993 and 1994. For this specific study, 359 men and 337 women were selected from families that had already visited the CMP 11 years before the recruitment of the Stanislas Cohort. Measurements of blood pressure at the time -11 years (t-11) and at the time of recruitment (t0), and all other measurements necessary for the analysis (BMI, lipids, SELE genotypes) were available. Pregnant women or subjects taking antihypertensive, lipid lowering or anti-inflammatory medications were excluded from the study. During the follow-up period, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were lower in SELE F554 allele carriers than in those with the L/L554 genotype (p < or = 0.05), whereas longitudinal changes were not related to any SELE polymorphism. Multiple regression analysis showed that at t-11 SELE L/F554 polymorphism was associated with both SBP and DBP levels (p < or = 0.01 and p < or = 0.05, respectively). However, these associations were no longer present at t0. Our results suggest an age-specific effect of the SELE L/F554 polymorphism on blood pressure levels. If confirmed in other studies, these findings would suggest that assessment of common variation in an adhesion molecule could be useful in predicting blood pressure.