Chemoattraction and Recruitment of Activated Immune Cells, Central Autonomic Control, and Blood Pressure Regulation

Inflammatory mediators play a critical role in the regulation of sympathetic outflow to cardiovascular organs in hypertension. Emerging evidence highlights the involvement of immune cells in the regulation of blood pressure. However, it is still unclear how these immune cells are activated and recruited to key autonomic brain regions to regulate sympathetic outflow to cardiovascular organs. Chemokines such as C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), are upregulated both peripherally and centrally in hypertension. More specifically, they are upregulated in key autonomic brain regions that control sympathetic activity and blood pressure such as the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Furthermore, this upregulation of inflammatory mediators is associated with the infiltration of immune cells to these brain areas. Thus, expression of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines is a potential mechanism promoting invasion of immune cells into key autonomic brain regions. In pathophysiological conditions, this can result in abnormal activation of brain circuits that control sympathetic nerve activity to cardiovascular organs and ultimately in increases in blood pressure. In this review, we discuss emerging evidence that helps explain how immune cells are chemoattracted to autonomic nuclei and contribute to changes in sympathetic outflow and blood pressure.

The role of the blood-brain barrier in hypertension

NEW FINDINGS

What is the topic of this review? This review highlights the importance of the blood-brain barrier in the context of diseases involving autonomic dysfunction, such as hypertension and heart failure. What advances does it highlight? It highlights the potential role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leucocytes and angiotensin II in disrupting the blood-brain barrier in cardiovascular diseases. Advances are highlighted in our understanding of neurovascular unit cells, astrocytes and microglia, with a specific emphasis on their pathogenic roles within the brain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial barrier that provides both metabolic and physical protection to an immune-privileged CNS. The BBB has been shown to be disrupted in hypertension. This review addresses the importance of the BBB in maintaining homeostasis in the context of diseases related to autonomic dysfunction, such as hypertension. We highlight the potentially important roles of the immune system and neurovascular unit in the maintenance of the BBB, whereby dysregulation may lead to autonomic dysfunction in diseases such as heart failure and hypertension. Circulating leucocytes and factors such as angiotensin II and pro-inflammatory cytokines are thought ultimately to downregulate endothelial tight junction proteins that are a crucial component of the BBB. The specific mechanisms underlying BBB disruption and their role in contributing to autonomic dysfunction are not yet fully understood but are a growing area of interest. A greater understanding of these systems and advances in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms causing BBB disruption will allow for the development of future therapeutic interventions in the treatment of autonomic imbalance associated with diseases such as heart failure and hypertension.

Iodine Mineral Status of Etawah Crossbred Goat at Different Physiological Stages Fed Elephant Grass and Tofu Byproduct

Abstract. The objective of the study was to determine the iodine status and to map the thyroxin hormone concentration in etawah crossbred goat (ECG) at different physiological stages and its interrelation to the nutrition and performance. Fifteen female ECG was allotted in three physiolgical stage groups:  female kid, young female goat and lactating goat, fed elephant grass and tofu byproduct. The study was conducted  in Tossa Shakti Agro Company (TSA), Central Java, Indonesia. Analysis of variance in completely randomized design was used to determine the effect of physiological stages on soil and feed iodine content, blood serum thyroxin hormone concentration, nutrient and feed dry matter consumption, average daily gain and milk production. Result showed that soil iodine content was adequate to stimulate plant growth (3.109 mg/kg). Consumed feed iodine content  was adequate to all physiological stages, female kid, young female and lactating goat (1.003; 0.940 and 0.820 mg/kg, respectively). Thyroxin hormone concentration in blood serum of female kid and young female goat was  in normal range (8.23 and 10.05 µg/dl) but the concentration of thyroxin hormone in blood serum of lactating goat was  marginal ( 6.17 µg/dl).  Iodine supplementation was required for  lactating etawa crossbred goat  if tofu byproduct was included in its ration.Key words : nutrient, iodine, thyroxin hormone, etawah crossbred goat Abstrak.  Penelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji status iodine dan memetakan konsentrasi hormone tiroksin kambing peranakan etawah (PE) pada berbagai status fisiologis dan interelasinya dengan status nutrisi serta performans ternak.  Sebanyak 15 ekor kambing PE betina digunakan dalam penelitian yang terbagi atas tiga kelompok status fisiologis, yakni: cempe betina, kambing dara dan kambing laktasi.  Sebagai pakan, digunakan rumput gajah dan ampas tahu.  Penelitian ini dilakukan di PT. Tossa Shakti Agro (TSA) Kendal, Jawa Tengah.  Variabel yang diukur meliputi kandungan iodin tanah dan pakan, kadar hormon tiroksin serum darah, konsumsi bahan kering pakan dan nutrien, pertambahan bobot badan serta produksi susu. Data yang terkumpul diolah secara statistik dengan analisis variansi dalam rancangan acak lengkap guna mengetahui pengaruh status fisiologis terhadap variable-variabel tersebut.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kandungan iodine tanah memadai untuk menstimulasi pertumbuhan tanaman (3,109 mg/kg).  Kandungn iodin pakan terkonsumsi memadai untuk semua status fisiologis, dalam hal ini cempe betina, kambing dara dan kambing laktasi (masing-masing: 1,003; 0,940 dan 0,820 mg/kg).  Konsentrasi hormon tiroksin serum darah cempe betina dan kambing dara dalam kisaran normal (8,23 dan 10,05 ug/dl), tetapi konsentrasi hormon tiroksin serum darah kambing laktasi berada pada batas normal (borderline), yakni 6,17 ug/dl.  Suplementasi iodin diperlukan bagi kambing peranakan etawa yang sedang laktasi, jika ampas tahu digunakan sebagai bagian dari ransum.Kata kunci:  nutrien, iodin, hormone , kambing peranakan etawah