Association of increased phagocytic NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide production with diminished nitric oxide generation in essential hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension and its complications through alterations in nitric oxide (NO) metabolism. This study was designed to investigate whether a relationship exists between phagocytic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-dependent superoxide anion (*O2-) production and NO generation in patients with essential hypertension.


METHODS
Superoxide production was assayed by chemiluminescence under baseline and stimulated conditions on mononuclear cells obtained from hypertensives (n=51) and normotensives (n=43). NO production was evaluated by determining serum NO metabolites, nitrate plus nitrite (NOx).


RESULTS
Although there were no differences in baseline *O2- production between normotensives and hypertensives, the *O2- production in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated mononuclear cells was increased (P <0.05) in hypertensives compared with normotensives. The PMA-induced *O2- production was completely abolished by apocynin, a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Moreover, stimulation of *O2- production by angiotensin II and endothelin-1 was higher (P <0.05) in cells from hypertensives than in cells from normotensives. In addition, diminished (P <0.001) serum NOx was detected in hypertensives compared with normotensives. Interestingly, an inverse correlation (r=0.493, P <0.01) was found between *O2- production and NOx in hypertensives.


CONCLUSIONS
Generation of *O2- mainly dependent on NADPH oxidase is abnormally enhanced in stimulated mononuclear cells from hypertensives. It is suggested that this alteration could be involved in the diminished NO production observed in these patients.
Fortuño
Ana
A
Area of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Center for Applied Medical Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. afortuno@unav.es
Oliván
Sara
S
Beloqui
Oscar
O
San José
Gorka
G
Moreno
María U
MU
Díez
Javier
J
Zalba
Guillermo
G
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019255:NADPH Oxidases