Hypertension: An immune related disorder?

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 212; p. 108247
• Main Authors: Sereti, Eleni, Stamatelopoulos, Kimon S., Zakopoulos, Nikolaos A., Evangelopoulou, Aikaterini, Mavragani, Clio P., Evangelopoulos, Maria Eleftheria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2020
• Subjects: B-cells; Cardiovascular disease; Humoral/Cellular immune responses; Hypertension; Immunoglobulins; T-cells; Hypertension; T-cells; B-cells; Cardiovascular disease; Immunoglobulins; Humoral/Cellular immune responses
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2019.108247

Hypertension is a multifactorial disorder with serious complications and unknown etiology. Among potential contributors, immune dysregulation has been also proposed. The study population included 61 consecutive hypertensive patients and 55 healthy individuals of similar age and sex distribution. All study participants underwent a thorough evaluation for subclinical atherosclerosis. A full immunological profile including quantification of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) and lymphocyte subpopulations was also obtained. Immunoglobulin levels IgG, IgA and IgM and complement factor C3 were found to be significantly increased in the hypertensive compared to the HC group while a statistically significant decrease in peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ in hypertensive patients versus controls was detected. These findings might support a putative involvement of altered cellular and humoral immune responses in the pathogenesis of hypertension, implying a promising role for immunomodulatory strategies, already implemented in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, in the future management of hypertension. •IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 serum levels were significantly increased in hypertensive patients compared to healthy controls.•Significant decrease in peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells in hypertensives versus healthy subjects was observed.•Negative correlations between homocysteine levels along with CD4+ and CD8+ numbers were detected in all study participants.