Parameters of lymphocyte Na+-Ca2+ regulation and blood pressure: the gender effect

Predictive molecular profiling in blood of healthy vasospastic individuals: clue to targeted prevention as personalised medicine to effective costs

Paradigm change from late interventional approach to predictive diagnostics followed by targeted prevention before manifest pathology, presents innovative concept for advanced healthcare. Preselection of healthy but pathology-predisposed individuals is the primary task in the overall action. Vasospasm is a frequent syndrome defined as an inappropriate constriction or insufficient dilatation in microcirculation. Vasospastic individuals are considered as healthy subpopulation predisposed to several pathologies including neurodegeneration. Clinical observations, subcellular imaging and “gene hunting”-investigations provide evidence for vasospasm as predisposition to glaucoma; development of further related pathologies cannot be excluded. Predictive molecular-profiling in blood can specify individual predisposition for effective prevention.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs): a possible model for studying cardiovascular biology systems

BACKGROUND

The inflammation system, alone or in relation to or interaction with other cardiovascular pathways, is suggested to be the central pathway in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present investigation was to propose a specific and informative model for exploring this hypothesis.

METHODS

In a biological system approach, we studied the expression of 182 candidate cardiovascular genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cells that provide specific information on the inflammatory pathway. We explored their expression in 20 individuals with or without risk factors (obesity, hypertension) for cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

We found that: 1) 166 among the 182 selected genes were expressed in at least one individual's PBMCs, some of them being detected for the first time in this tissue; 2) all pathways were represented by the majority of their genes selected; 3) genes were expressed at a level sufficient for further study of the inter-individual variations in their mRNA to determine their biological variation; and 4) 15 genes discriminated hypertensive from obese or controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present investigation support our proposal of a promising novel strategy based on PBMC transcriptomic studies to elucidate the complexity of the cardiovascular system in relation to inflammation. Preliminary data support the usefulness of the PBMC model in hypertension/inflammation research.

Transient receptor potential channels in essential hypertension

OBJECTIVE

The role of nonselective cation channels of the transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) family in essential hypertension has not yet been investigated.

METHODS

We studied TRPCs in 51 patients with essential hypertension and 51 age-matched and sex-matched normotensive control subjects. Calcium and gadolinium influx into human monocytes was determined using the fluorescent dye technique. TRPC expression was measured using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and in-cell western assay. Gene silencing by small interfering RNA for specific TRPC knockdown was also performed.

RESULTS

We observed an increased gadolinium/calcium-influx ratio through TRPC in essential hypertensive patients compared with normotensive control subjects [cation influx ratio (mean +/- SEM), 125 +/- 14 versus 80 +/- 7%; each n = 51; P < 0.01], due to an increase of gadolinium influx in hypertensive patients compared with normotensive control subjects (48 +/- 4 versus 36 +/- 3%; each n = 51; P < 0.05). We observed a significant increase of TRPC3 and TRPC5 protein expression in essential hypertensive patients compared with normotensive control subjects (normalized TRPC3 expression, 3.21 +/- 0.59 versus 1.36 +/- 0.07; each n = 20; P < 0.01; normalized TRPC5 expression, 2.10 +/- 0.28 versus 1.40 +/- 0.52; each n = 12; P < 0.05). We used small interfering RNA for knockdown of TRPC5. The thereby reduced channel expression caused a significant attenuation of calcium and gadolinium influx.

CONCLUSION

This study points to an important role of TRPCs in essential hypertension.