title: Involvement of the lymphatic system in salt-sensitive hypertension in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanisms of salt sensitivity as an important intermediate phenotype of essential hypertension remain elusive. A novel theory proposes that lymphatic vessels regulate sodium and fluid homeostasis. Since vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) plays a vital role in lymphatic capillary hyperplasia, we hypothesized that VEGF-C was involved in salt-sensitive hypertension. We therefore investigated its plasma concentration in salt-sensitive subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven subjects (BP ≤ 160/100 mmHg; age range 25-50 years) from a rural community of northern China were enrolled in this study. The baseline BP of volunteers was monitored for 3 days, followed by a low-salt diet for 7 days (3 g/day, NaCl) and a high-salt diet for 7 days (18 g/day, NaCl). Those who exhibited a BP increase of 10% from low-salt period to high-salt period were diagnosed as salt-sensitive subjects. The concentration of plasma VEGF-C was measured by an immunoenzyme method (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High salt intake significantly increased the plasma VEGF-C level. It was higher in the salt-sensitive subjects (3642.2 ± 406.1 pg/ml) than in the salt-resistant subjects (2249.8 ± 214.6 pg/ml). The comparison of VEGF-C levels between the 2 groups had significant statistical difference (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VEGF-C level increases significantly in the salt-sensitive subjects after high salt intake. VEGF-C could be used as a biomarker of salt sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Fuqiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Zuyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Qiufang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Shuhui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Guanji
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Enqi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002681:China; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D012965:Sodium Chloride