Increased human urotensin II levels are correlated with carotid atherosclerosis in essential hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Circulating blood levels of human urotensin II (U-II), the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide identified to date, are increased in patients with essential hypertension. Our previous studies showed that U-II accelerates human macrophage foam cell formation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, suggesting development of atherosclerotic plaque. In this study, we demonstrated a correlation between plasma U-II level and progression of atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.


METHODS
The intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque score in the carotid artery, blood pressure (BP), plasma levels of U-II, and atherosclerotic parameters were determined in 50 hypertensive patients and 31 normotensive controls.


RESULTS
Plasma U-II level, maximum IMT, plaque score, systolic BP, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly greater in hypertensive patients than normotensive controls. Age, gender, body mass index, and serum levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), HDL and LDL cholesterols, small dense LDL, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), insulin, and fasting plasma glucose level were not significantly different between the two groups. In all subjects, plasma U-II level showed significant positive correlations with systolic BP, maximum IMT, plaque score, and HOMA-IR. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the contribution of plasma U-II levels to carotid plaque formation (plaque score >/=1.1) was significantly still greater with a 60% increase than those of established risk factors, such as age, systolic BP, high-sensitive CRP, small dense LDL, and HOMA-IR.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that increased levels of U-II may play a crucial role in the development of carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.
Suguro
Toshiaki
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Watanabe
Takuya
T
Ban
Yoshiyuki
Y
Kodate
Syuusuke
S
Misaki
Asako
A
Hirano
Tsutomu
T
Miyazaki
Akira
A
Adachi
Mitsuru
M
D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014579:Urotensins / Q000097:blood*
D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II