No abstract

Kisspeptin and leptin have been shown to have an effect on the cardiovascular system. This study aimed to compare serum kisspeptin and leptin levels between the non-hypertensive (non-HT) and the hypertensive (HT) groups with or without body mass index matching, and determine correlations between systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure with serum kisspeptin and leptin levels as well as clinical and adipocyte parameters. 30 female patients who underwent abdominal surgery were recruited. Blood samples, anthropometric data, and tissue samples of visceral and subcutaneous fat were obtained. Serum kisspeptin levels (ng/ml) (non-HT=1.01±0.1 vs. HT=1.53±0.19), body weight (kg) (non-HT=55.45±3.37 vs. HT=63.69±2.42), waist circumference (cm) (non-HT=78.01±2.49 vs. HT=84.89±2.40), hip circumference (cm) (non-HT=92.94±2.18 vs. HT=99.43±1.85), plasma glucose (mg/ml) (non-HT=55.45±3.37 vs. HT=63.69±2.42), plasma insulin (μM/ml) (non-HT=4.64±0.92 vs. HT=7.13±0.85), the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (non-HT=0.94±0.20 vs. HT=1.72±0.22), and height of visceral adipocytes (μm) (non-HT=72.64±6.75 vs. HT=90.25±4.52) were significantly higher but the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (non-HT=0.41±0.01 vs. HT=0.36±0.01) was significantly lower in hypertensive compared to non-hypertensive subjects (p<0.05 all). Systolic blood pressure had significantly positive correlations with diastolic blood pressure (R=0.568), glucose (R=0.526), the HOMA-IR (R=0.387), and serum kisspeptin (R=0.569), but has a significantly negative correlation with the QUICKI (R=-0.414). Diastolic blood pressure had positive correlations with body weight (R=0.477), waist circumference (R=0.517), hip circumference (R=0.578), glucose (R=0.533), the HOMA-IR (R=0.415), and width (R=0.436) and height (R=0.439) of visceral adipocytes, but has a negative correlation with the QUICKI (R= -0.464). In conclusion, kisspeptin, obesity especially visceral adiposity, and insulin resistance might contribute to increased blood pressure in hypertensive subjects.