Oxidative stress and post-transplant hypertension in pediatric kidney-transplanted patients.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that oxidative stress signaling contributes to post-transplant endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in pediatric post-transplant hypertension.


METHODS
This study evaluated in 16 pediatric renal transplant patients, divided in two groups based on the presence of post-transplant hypertension, the oxidative stress status measuring the gene expression (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) of two major oxidative stress-related proteins, p22(phox) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Total plasma antioxidant power (ELISA) was also evaluated.


RESULTS
Mononuclear cell p22(phox) gene expression was higher in hypertensive patients compared with the normotensive group (0.91 +/- 0.06 vs 0.79 +/- 0.08 densitometric units, P < .02), whereas HO-1 RNA production and total plasma antioxidant power were higher in the normotensive group (0.38 +/- 0.04 vs 0.20 +/- 0.11 d.u., P < .006, and 1189.35 +/- 145.75 vs 772.71 +/- 196.03 micromol/L, P < .01, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative stress is associated with post-transplant hypertension in hypertensive pediatric kidney-transplant patients, who therefore are at risk of oxidative stress-induced organ damage. They might benefit from treatments addressing not only hypertension but also oxidant-related complications.
Calò
Lorenzo A
LA
Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Clinica Medica 4, and Pediatric Nephrology University of Padova, Italy. renzcalo@unipd.it
Dall'Amico
Roberto
R
Pagnin
Elisa
E
Bertipaglia
Lara
L
Zacchello
Graziella
G
Davis
Paul A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000235:genetics*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003300:Copper; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C086986:CYBA protein, human