Review on the systems biology research of Yin-deficiency-heat syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a systematic medical method that has existed for more than 3,000 years. Unlike Western medicine, the disease diagnosis in TCM is carried out by inspection, auscultation, olfaction, interrogation, and palpation. The patient is then treated according to the disease and corresponding TCM syndrome. However, the development of Chinese medicine is stagnated, partially because it can be influenced by subjective factors, such as the experience and knowledge of TCM practitioners, and there is a lack of relevant biological research on TCM syndromes. Yin-deficiency-heat (YDH) syndrome in TCM is characterized by a series of pathological changes caused by the insufficiency of Yin-fluid, inability to moisturize, and the failure to suppress Yang. In recent years, systems biology research on TCM syndromes has gradually become the focus of TCM research, including syndrome differentiation and functional research using systems biology methodologies such as proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. This journal aims to publish a series of issues on the systems biology research of TCM syndromes that can provide biological indicators for the syndrome differentiation of YDH syndrome and can provide perspectives on the biological research of YDH syndrome.

Differences in HDL-related mortality risk between individuals with and without hypertension: a prospective cohort study in UK Biobank

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Very high levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have been paradoxically linked to increased mortality risk. The present study aimed to examine associations of HDL-C and varied sizes of the HDL particle (HDL-P) with mortality risk stratified by hypertension.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This prospective cohort study included 429 792 participants (244 866 with hypertension and 184 926 without hypertension) from the UK Biobank. During a median follow-up of 12.7 years, 23 993 (9.8%) and 8142 (4.4%) deaths occurred among individuals with and without hypertension, respectively. A U-shaped association of HDL-C with all-cause mortality was observed in individuals with hypertension after multivariable adjustment, whereas an L-shape was observed in individuals without hypertension. Compared with individuals with normal HDL-C of 50-70 mg/dL, those with very high HDL-C levels (>90 mg/dL) had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality among individuals with hypertension (hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-1.61), but not among those without hypertension (1.05, 0.91-1.22). As for HDL-P, among individuals with hypertension, a larger size of HDL-P was positively whereas smaller HDL-P was negatively associated with all-cause mortality. After additional adjustment for larger HDL-P in the model, the U-shaped association between HDL-C and mortality risk was altered to an L-shape among individuals with hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased risk of mortality associated with very high HDL-C existed only in individuals with hypertension, but not in those without hypertension. Moreover, the increased risk at high HDL-C levels in hypertension was likely driven by larger HDL-P.

Plasma metabolomic profiles associated with hypertension and blood pressure in response to thiazide diuretics

This study aimed to identify the metabolomic alterations associated with hypertension (HTN) and the response of blood pressure (BP) to thiazide diuretics. A total of 50 participants previously untreated for HTN were prospectively recruited. After a 2-week lifestyle adjustment, 30 participants with systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg were classified into the HTN group and prescribed hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) at 50 mg per day for 2 weeks. The remaining 20 participants, who had relatively normal BP, were assigned to the normotension group. Metabolomic profiles related to the response of BP to thiazide diuretics were analyzed. A total of 73 differential metabolites were found to be associated with HTN, and 27 metabolites were significantly changed upon HCTZ treatment (HCTZ-sensitive metabolites). Among the identified metabolites, 7 (aspartate, histidine, C5-DC, C5-M-DC, C14:1, phosphatidylcholine ae C34:1, and phosphatidylcholine ae C34:3) were positively associated with HTN and decreased in abundance upon HCTZ treatment (HCTZ-reduced/HTN-associated metabolites). Moreover, multivariate analysis of 20 metabolites whose baseline levels were associated with the response of BP revealed that aspartate, glutamate, lysophosphatidylcholine C16:0, lysophosphatidylcholine C20:3, and sphingomyelin C24:1 were independently related to systolic BP reduction, and lysophosphatidylcholine C20:3 was independently associated with diastolic BP reduction. In conclusion, we identified 5 metabolites independently related to BP changes with HCTZ treatment. An advanced biomarker profile of thiazide-induced metabolomic changes may provide a clue with which to further explore the complex and mixed effects of thiazide treatment in a clinical setting.

Potential mechanisms of the anti-hypertensive effects of RVPSL on spontaneously hypertensive rats using non-targeted serum metabolomics

The study aimed to investigate potential mechanisms for the anti-hypertensive effects of RVPSL on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) using a non-targeted metabonomic approach. In this study, UPLC/MS-based non-targeted metabolomics was performed to discover metabolite variation of serum in SHRs with RVPSL treatment. As a result, the serum metabolites of SHRs that were administered RVPSL for four weeks exhibited distinct alterations. Nine potential biomarkers, i.e., choline, adenosine, adrenic acid, L-tryptophan, niacinamide, glycocholic acid, propiolic acid, D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, and phosphoglycolic acid, were significantly altered, which were mainly involved in lipid metabolism, vitamin and amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the renin-angiotensin system. This study suggested that RVPSL potentially exerted potent effects of alleviating hypertension in the SHRs mainly via integrated regulations of metabolism and production of choline, L-tryptophan, nicotinamide, and adenosine.

Antihypertensive activity of oleanolic acid is mediated via downregulation of secretory phospholipase A2 and fatty acid synthase in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Oleanolic acid (OA) is reported to possess antihypertensive activity via the regulation of lipid metabolism; however, the mechanisms underlying lipid regulation by OA are yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mechanisms via which OA regulates lipid metabolism in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) via ultra‑performance liquid chromatography‑quadrupole/Orbitrap‑mass spectrometry (MS)‑based lipidomics analysis. SHRs were treated with OA (1.08 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. The liver tissues were excised, homogenized in dichloromethane and centrifuged, and subsequently the supernatant layer was collected and concentrated under vacuum to dryness. The dichloromethane extract was subjected to MS analysis and database searching, and comparison of standards was performed to identify potential biomarkers. Partial least squares‑discriminant analysis performed on the liver lipidome revealed a total of 14 endogenous metabolites that were significantly changed in the SHR model group (SH group) compared with Wistar Kyoto rats [normal control (NC group)], including glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and glycerides. Heatmaps revealed that the liver lipid profiles in the OA group were clustered more closely compared with those observed in the NC group, indicating that the antihypertensive effect of OA was mediated via regulation of liver lipid metabolites. It was observed that the protein levels of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were increased in the SH group compared with the NC group. In addition, the levels of lysophosphatidylcholine and triglycerides in the liver were elevated, whereas the levels of low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol and high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol were reduced in the SH group. Upon treatment with OA, the mRNA and protein levels of PLA2 and FAS were observed to be downregulated. Collectively, the present study indicated that the antihypertensive activity of OA was mediated via downregulation of sPLA2 and FAS in SHRs, and that treatment with OA resulted in significant improvements in blood pressure and associated abnormalities in the lipid metabolites.

A novel time-dimension and circadian rhythm-dependent strategy for pharmacodynamic evaluation of Uncaria in the regulation of neurotransmitter circadian metabolic homeostasis in spontaneously hypertensive rats

In the present study, we aimed to use metabolomics platforms to examine circadian-regulated neurotransmitters across a 24-h day and the effects of Uncaria administration on daily rhythmicity in order to establish a strategy for evaluating the spatiotemporal efficacy evaluation strategy of Uncaria. By using targeted ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics, we quantified 32 neurotransmitter metabolites every 4 h over 24 h. To assess 24-h metabolite rhythmicity, we performed cosinor analysis. The expression of hypothalamic rhythm genes was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data revealed circadian loss of many neurotransmitters during the entire circadian cycle in the serum of group M, indicating that hypertension causes circadian rhythm disorders. Cosinor analysis of the rhythmic oscillations of the levels of 32 neurotransmitters in the three groups showed that the metabolite rhythms peaked at approximately the same time of day (ZT4 and ZT16). Moreover, the amplitudes of the metabolite rhythms were altered. After treatment with Uncaria, the amplitudes of 13 neurotransmitters reverted to normal. The change trends in the hypothalamic rhythm genes confirmed the rhythm changes in neurotransmitters. Collectively, a novel pharmacodynamic evaluation strategy was established to dynamically observe the holistic effects of Uncaria on 32 circulating neurotransmitters within 24 h from the perspective of time dimension.

LC-MS-Based Lipidomic Analysis of Serum Samples from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Treated with an Extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Fruits

Recently, lipidomics has revealed that many diseases are highly associated with altered lipid metabolism, as in the case of hypertension affecting serum lipid metabolism. In this study, an LC-MS-based lipidomic approach was used to profile serum lipids in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) treated with an extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruits (ASF), to elucidate the serum lipid metabolism alteration by hypertension and the treatment of a drug or ASF. First, UPLC-QTOF/MS profiled a total of 208 lipids from six pooled samples of normal controls, SHR, SHR + 100 mg/kg of drug, and SHR + ASF 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg. These six groups were differentiated by the PCA and sPLS-DA, and 120 lipid species were identified as differentially regulated lipids (DRLs) by ANOVA (p values < 0.05). Second, UPLC-QqQ/MS was used for the target profiling of 120 DRLs from individual samples of the six groups. Using an ANOVA, 67 lipids (38 TGs, 4 DGs, 17 PCs, 2 PEs, and 6 LPCs) were selected as validated DRLs. The mostly altered lipids, such as TG (62:13), TG (60:13), PC (34:4), PC (36:5), and PC (38:2), were decreased in SHR compared to the normal control, and received little by treatment with ASF. These results demonstrated the correlation between hypertension and serum lipid metabolism. Furthermore, both drug and ASF treatment similarly altered the lipid profiles of SHRs. Finally, we found that DRLs have the potential to help us to interpret the lipid metabolism of hypertension.

Synergistic therapeutic effects of Duzhong Jiangya Tablets and amlodipine besylate combination in spontaneously hypertensive rats using 1 H-NMR- and MS-based metabolomics

Duzhong Jiangya Tablet (DJT) composed of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. and several other traditional Chinese medicines is a Chinese herbal compound, which is clinically used to treat hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antihypertensive effect of DJT and amlodipine besylate (AB) on the synergistic treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and to explore its antihypertensive mechanism. The synergistic therapeutic effect of DJT in combination with AB on SHR was studied using two metabolomics methods based on mass spectrum (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance. Metabolomics analysis of plasma, urine, liver, and kidney and the combination of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis was performed to expose potential biomarkers. Then, the overall metabolic characteristics and related abnormal metabolic pathways in hypertensive rats were constructed. Blood pressure measurements showed that DJT combined with AB has better effects in treating hypertension than it being alone. A total of 30 biomarkers were identified, indicating that hypertension disrupted the balance of multiple metabolic pathways in the body, and that combined administration restored metabolite levels better than their administration alone. The changes of biomarkers revealed the synergistic therapeutic mechanism of DJT combined with AB, which provided a reference for the combination of Chinese and Western medicines.

Emerging Applications of Metabolomics in Traditional Chinese Medicine Treating Hypertension: Biomarkers, Pathways and More

Hypertension is a prevalent, complex, and polygenic cardiovascular disease, which is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Across the world, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constituted by herbal medicine and non-pharmacological therapies is used to assist blood pressure management. Though widely accepted in daily practice, its mechanism remains largely unknown. Recent years saw a number of studies utilizing metabolomics technologies to elucidate the biological foundation of the antihypertensive effect of TCM. Metabolomics is a relatively "young" omics approach that has gained enormous attention recently in cardiovascular drug discovery and pharmacology studies of natural products. In this review, we described the use of metabolomics in deciphering TCM diagnostic codes for hypertension and in revealing molecular events that drive the antihypertensive effect. By corroborating the diagnostic rules, there's accumulating evidence showing that metabolic profile could be the signature of different syndromes/patterns of hypertension, which offers new perspectives for disease diagnosis and efficacy optimization. Moreover, TCM treatment significantly altered the metabolic perturbations associated with hypertension, which could be a crucial mechanism of the therapeutic effect of TCM. Not only significantly rebalances the dynamics of metabolic flux, TCM but also elicits metabolic network reorganization through restoring the functions of key metabolites, and metabolic pathways. The role of TCM in regulating metabolic perturbations will be informative to researchers seeking new leads for drug discovery. This review further envisioned the promises of employing metabolomics to explore network pharmacology, host-gut microbiota interactions and metabolic reprogramming in TCM, and possible herb-drug interactions in this field in future.

QGQS Granule in SHR Serum Metabonomics Study Based on Tools of UPLC-Q-TOF and Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Form Protein Profilin-1

QGQS granule is effective for the therapeutic of hypertension in clinic. The aim of this research is to observe the antihypertension effect of QGQS granule on SHR and explain the mechanism of its lowering blood pressure. 30 SHR were selected as model group, captopril group, and QGQS group, 10 WKYr were used as control group, and RBP were measured on tail artery consciously. And all the serum sample analysis was carried out on UPLC-TOF-MS system to determine endogenous metabolites and to find the metabonomics pathways. Meanwhile, ELISA kits for the determination pharmacological indexes of PRA, AngI, AngII, and ALD were used for pathway confirmatory; WB for determination of profilin-1 protein expression was conducted for Ang II pathway analysis as well. It is demonstrated that QGQS granule has an excellent therapeutic effect on antihypertension, which exerts effect mainly on metabonomics pathway by regulating glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, and arachidonic acid metabolism, and it could inhibit the overexpression of the profilin-1 protein. We can come to a conclusion that RAAS should be responsible mainly for the metabonomics pathway of QGQS granule on antihypertension, and it plays a very important role in protein of profilin-1 inhibition.

A metabolomic approach shows sphingosine 1-phosphate and lysophospholipids as mediators of the therapeutic effect of liver growth factor in emphysema

Tobacco smoke exposure is the principal cause of lung tissue destruction, which in turn results in emphysema that leads into shortness of breath. Liver growth factor (LGF, a cell and tissue regenerating factor with therapeutic activity in several organs) has antifibrotic and antioxidant properties that could be useful to promote lung tissue regenerating capacity in damaged lungs. The current study has examined differences in metabolite profiles (fingerprints) of plasma from mice (strain C57BL/6J, susceptible to develop emphysema) exposed to tobacco smoke during six months. One group of mice received a treatment with Liver Growth Factor (LGF) after emphysema was established, whereas the other group did not receive the treatment. Age and sex-matched mice not exposed to smoke were also maintained with or without treatment as controls. Metabolic fingerprints (untargeted analysis) of plasma after protein precipitation were obtained by LC-QTOF-MS. The signals were processed and a large number of possible metabolites were found (23944). Multivariate data analysis provided models that highlighted the differences between control and smoke exposed mice in both conditions. Accurate masses of features (possible compounds) representing significant differences were searched using online public databases. Lipid mediators, related to intracellular signaling in inflammation, were found among the metabolites putatively identified as markers of the different conditions and among them, sphingosine, sphingosine 1-phosphate and lysophospholipids point at the relevance of such metabolites in the regulation of the processes related to tissue regeneration mediated by LGF. These results also suggest that metabolomic fingerprinting could potentially guide the characterization of relevant metabolites leading the regeneration of lungs in emphysema disease.

Blood pressure-lowering effect of Korean red ginseng associated with decreased circulating Lp-PLA2 activity and lysophosphatidylcholines and increased dihydrobiopterin level in prehypertensive subjects

We evaluated the effects of red ginseng consumption on blood pressure (BP) and the fasting plasma metabolome. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included nonobese, nondiabetic, prehypertensive subjects consuming 10 capsules daily containing 5 g red ginseng (n=31) or placebo (n=31). Fasting plasma metabolome profiles were obtained using ultra performance liquid chromatography-linear trap quadrupole Orbitrap MS. After 12 weeks, participants consuming red ginseng showed reductions of 6.5 and 5.0 mm Hg in systolic and diastolic BP, respectively. Compared with controls, those consuming red ginseng showed greater reductions in changed values of systolic BP, diastolic BP and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity, after adjusting for baseline values. In addition, the red ginseng group showed a greater increase in dihydrobiopterin levels and greater decrease in palmitic amide and lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs). The change in diastolic BP positively correlated with changes in lysoPCs and Lp-PLA2 activity. The BP-lowering effect of red ginseng is associated with decreased Lp-PLA2 and lysoPCs and increased dihydrobiopterin levels in prehypertensive subjects (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02326766).

Metabolomics and its application to the evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of traditional Chinese herb medicines

Traditional Chinese herb medicines (TCHMs) have been used in the treatment of a variety of diseases for thousands of years in Asian countries. The active components of TCHMs usually exert combined synergistic therapeutic effects on multiple targets, but with less potential therapeutic effect based on routine indices than Western drugs. These complex effects make the assessment of the efficacy of TCHMs and the clarification of their underlying mechanisms very challenging, and therefore hinder their wider application and acceptance. Metabolomics is a crucial part of systems biology. It allows the quantitative measurement of large numbers of the low-molecular endogenous metabolites involved in metabolic pathways, and thus reflects the fundamental metabolism status of the body. Recently, dozens of metabolomic studies have been devoted to prove the efficacy/safety, explore the underlying mechanisms, and identify the potential biomarkers to access the action targets of TCHMs, with fruitful results. This article presents an overview of these studies, focusing on the progress made in exploring the pharmacology and toxicology of various herbal medicines.

The application of metabolomics in traditional Chinese medicine opens up a dialogue between Chinese and Western medicine

Metabolomics provides an opportunity to develop the systematic analysis of the metabolites and has been applied to discovering biomarkers and perturbed pathways which can clarify the action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). TCM is a comprehensive system of medical practice that has been used to diagnose, treat and prevent illnesses more than 3000 years. Metabolomics represents a powerful approach that provides a dynamic picture of the phenotype of biosystems through the study of endogenous metabolites, and its methods resemble those of TCM. Recently, metabolomics tools have been used for facilitating interactional effects of both Western medicine and TCM. We describe a protocol for investigating how metabolomics can be used to open up 'dialogue' between Chinese and Western medicine, and facilitate lead compound discovery and development from TCM. Metabolomics will bridge the cultural gap between TCM and Western medicine and improve development of integrative medicine, and maximally benefiting the human.

RECENT ADVANCES IN ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases for thousands of years in China. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) is a relatively new technique offering new possibilities. This paper reviews recent developments in UHPLC in the separation and identification, fingerprinting, quantification, and metabolism of traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, the combination of UHPLC with MS has improved the efficiency of the analysis of these materials.

Prehypertension-associated elevation in circulating lysophosphatidlycholines, Lp-PLA2 activity, and oxidative stress

Prehypertension is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. We investigated alterations in plasma metabolites that are associated with prehypertension. A group of 53 individuals was identified who remained within the range of prehypertension during repeated measurements in a 3-year period. This group was compared with the control group of 53 normotensive subjects who were matched for age and gender. Metabolomic profiles were analyzed with UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The prehypertensive group showed higher levels of lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs) containing C14:0, C16:1, C16:0, C18:2, C18:1, C18:0, C20:5, C20:4, C20:3, and C22:6, higher circulating Lp-PLA₂ activity, oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), interleukin 6 (IL-6), urinary 8-epi-PGF_2α, and higher brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), before and after adjusting for BMI, WHR, smoking, alcohol consumption, serum lipid profiles, glucose, and insulin. LysoPC (16:0) was the most important plasma metabolite for evaluating the difference between control and prehypertensive groups, with a variable important in the projection (VIP) value of 17.173, and it showed a positive and independent association with DBP and SBP. In the prehypertensive group, the levels of lysoPC (16:0) positively and significantly correlated with ox-LDL, Lp-PLA₂ activity, 8-epi-PGF_2α, ba-PWV, and IL-6 before and after adjusting for confounding variables. Prehypertension-associated elevations in lysoPCs, Lp-PLA₂ activity, ox-LDL, urinary 8-epi-PGF_2α, IL-6, and ba-PWV could indicate increased oxidative stress from Lp-PLA₂-catalyzed PC hydrolysis during increased LDL oxidation, thereby enhancing proinflammation and arterial stiffness.

Mass Spectrometry-based Lipidomics and Its Application to Biomedical Research

Lipidomics, a branch of metabolomics, is the large-scale study of pathways and networks of all cellular lipids in biological systems such as cells, tissues or organisms. The recent advance in mass spectrometry technologies have enabled more comprehensive lipid profiling in the biological samples. In this review, we compared four representative lipid profiling technoligies including GC-MS, LC-MS, direct infusion-MS and imaging-MS. We also summarized representative lipid database, and further discussed the applications of lipidomics to the diagnostics of various diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and Alzheimer diseases.

Metabonomic study of Wu-tou decoction in adjuvant-induced arthritis rat using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A urinary metabonomics method based on the ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) had been established to investigate the holistic efficacy of Wu-tou decoction (WTD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model. Multivariate statistical approaches, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structures squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to distinguish healthy control group, AIA model group and WTD treated group and find potential biomarkers. There was a clear separation among the three groups in PCA model. Sixteen potential biomarkers had been identified using OPLS-DA, and 11 of them was considered to be in response to therapeutic effects of WTD involved in tryptophan metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, bile acid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis and valine metabolism. In this study, WTD also showed good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in vivo, and it could suppress histopathological changes of AIA rats. There might be a correlation between these results and the regulation of the disturbed metabolites in urine. This study demonstrates that metabonomics is a powerful methodology to gain insight in the mechanism of TCM formula in therapy.

Plasma lipidomic profile signature of hypertension in Mexican American families: specific role of diacylglycerols

Both as a component of metabolic syndrome and as an independent entity, hypertension poses a continued challenge with regard to its diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment. Previous studies have documented connections between hypertension and indicators of lipid metabolism. Novel technologies, such as plasma lipidomic profiling, promise a better understanding of disorders in which there is a derangement of the lipid metabolism. However, association of plasma lipidomic profiles with hypertension in a high-risk population, such as Mexican Americans, has not been evaluated before. Using the rich data and sample resource from the ongoing San Antonio Family Heart Study, we conducted plasma lipidomic profiling by combining high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectroscopy to characterize 319 lipid species in 1192 individuals from 42 large and extended Mexican American families. Robust statistical analyses using polygenic regression models, liability threshold models, and bivariate trait analyses implemented in the SOLAR software were conducted after accounting for obesity, insulin resistance, and relative abundance of various lipoprotein fractions. Diacylglycerols, in general, and the DG 16:0/22:5 and DG 16:0/22:6 lipid species, in particular, were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), as well as liability of incident hypertension measured during 7140.17 person-years of follow-up. Four lipid species, including the DG 16:0/22:5 and DG 16:0/22:6 species, showed significant genetic correlations with the liability of hypertension in bivariate trait analyses. Our results demonstrate the value of plasma lipidomic profiling in the context of hypertension and identify disturbance of diacylglycerol metabolism as an independent biomarker of hypertension.