title: Pathophysiology of polymorphonuclear leukocyte in arterial hypertension.
abstract: This review shows how polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) play a pivotal role in the development of the organ injury that is associated with arterial hypertension. Elevated white blood cell count and higher levels of PMNs activation are risk factors for arterial hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Spontaneously activated PMNs release proinflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species, which have negative effects on vascular tone and on their adhesion to the endothelium. The oxidative stress in hypertensive PMNs is revealed by increased NADPH-oxidase production and lipid peroxidation and by decreased cytosolic and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase concentrations. The overexpression of adhesion molecules, such as beta2-integrin, promotes PMNs rolling and leukocyte-endothelium interactions too. All these events underline how polymorphonuclear leukocytes may contribute to the vascular damage accompanying arterial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Malattie Cardiovascolari e Nefrourologiche, Cattedra di Semeiotica e Metodologia Medica, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hopps
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lo Presti
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caimi
mesh_terms: D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D036904:Leukocyte Rolling; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018821:CD18 Antigens; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D019255:NADPH Oxidases