Plasma total homocysteine is a determinant of carotid intima-media thickness and circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Accumulating evidence suggests that elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy), prevalent in hypertensive patients, affects oxidant/antioxidant balance of the body, and is linked to the development of atherosclerosis, inflammation, and endothelium injury. Our objective was to examine a hypothesis that Hcy is a predictor of total antioxidant status (TAS) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), important in the repair of injured endothelium, in hypertensive patients.


METHODS
This study was conducted with newly diagnosed essential hypertension patients (n=42) and healthy controls (n=20). Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, including plasma Hcy, lipids, TAS, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed in carotid arteries. Blood derived EPCs were quantified using an in vitro culture assay.


RESULTS
Hcy, IMT, and CRP were significantly elevated while TAS and EPCs were significantly lower in hypertensive patients compared with controls. In multivariate regression analysis Hcy was a predictor of IMT of carotid artery and EPCs number.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that Hcy might increase carotid artery IMT by reducing EPCs numbers. Possible involvement of Hcy in the reduction of EPCs number in hypertensive patients might be in part mediated by Hcy influence on the TAS.
Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Paweł
P
Bogdanski
Ewa
E
Miller-Kasprzak
Danuta
D
Pupek-Musialik
Anna
A
Jablecka
Mariusz
M
Lacinski
Piotr P
PP
Jagodzinski
Hieronim
H
Jakubowski
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D006710:Homocysteine