Identification of biomarkers, pathways and potential therapeutic agents for salt-sensitive hypertension using RNA-seq

Identification of the Neointimal Hyperplasia-Related LncRNA-mRNA-Immune Cell Regulatory Network in a Rat Carotid Artery Balloon Injury Model

Excessive neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) of coronary vessels in patients is the main cause of restenosis (RS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study aimed to identify the regulatory genes related to NIH in a rat carotid artery balloon injury model.We established a rat model and performed RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) and differentially expressed message RNAs (DEmRNAs). Immune cells were analyzed using a murine Microenvironment Cell Population counter. The Pearson correlation between DEmRNAs, DElncRNAs, and immune cells was analyzed, followed by function enrichment analysis. Core DEmRNA was identified using Cytoscape. Next, a core lncRNAs-mRNAs-immune cell regulatory network was constructed. NIH-related gene sets from the Gene Expression Omnibus and GeneCards databases were used for validation.A total of 2,165 DEmRNAs and 705 DElncRNAs were identified in rat carotid artery tissue. Four key immune cells were screened out, including mast cells, vessels, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Based on the Pearson correlation between DEmRNAs, DElncRNAs and 4 key immune cells, 246 DEmRNAs and 93 DElncRNAs were obtained. DEmRNAs that interact with lncRNAs were mainly involved in the cell cycle, MAPK signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. A core lncRNA-mRNA-immune cell regulatory network was constructed, including 9 mRNAs, 4 lncRNAs, and fibroblasts. External datasets validation confirmed the significant correlation of both these mRNAs and lncRNAs with NIH.In this study, an lncRNA-mRNA-immune cell regulatory network related to NIH was constructed, which provided clues for exploring the potential mechanism of RS in cardiovascular diseases.

Salt Sensitivity: Causes, Consequences, and Recent Advances

Salt (sodium chloride) is an essential nutrient required to maintain physiological functions. However, for most people, daily salt intake far exceeds their physiological need and is habitually greater than recommended upper thresholds. Excess salt intake leads to elevation in blood pressure which drives cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Indeed, excessive salt intake is estimated to be responsible for ≈5 million deaths per year globally. For approximately one-third of otherwise healthy individuals (and >50% of those with hypertension), the effect of salt intake on blood pressure elevation is exaggerated; such people are categorized as salt sensitive and salt sensitivity of blood pressure is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death. The prevalence of salt sensitivity is higher in women than in men and, in both, increases with age. This narrative review considers the foundational concepts of salt sensitivity and the underlying effector systems that cause salt sensitivity. We also consider recent updates in preclinical and clinical research that are revealing new modifying factors that determine the blood pressure response to high salt intake.