Lowering of blood pressure leads to decreased circulating interleukin-6 in hypertensive subjects

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), the major proinflammatory cytokine, has been described to be associated with the hypertensive and atherosclerotic states. We aimed to explore whether the concentration of circulating IL-6 and adhesion molecules could be modified by decreasing blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. A total of 30 subjects (18 men), aged 34-48 years, were enrolled in this study, 17 hypertensive never-treated patients (HTA) and 13 normotensive subjects (C). HTA subjects were treated with irbesartan, 150-300 mg/day for 3 months, and serum IL-6, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, sP-selectin, sE-selectin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were measured at 0 and 12 weeks. The two study groups were similar in age, body mass index (BMI) and gender.At baseline, circulating IL-6 levels, but not adhesion molecules, were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (r ¼ 0.41; P ¼ 0.03) and BMI (r ¼ 0.53; P ¼ 0.005). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (Po0.01) in parallel to serum IL-6 levels (from 3.7270.82 to 3.2370.19 pg/ml, P ¼ 0.02) reaching a similar concentration to normotensive patients (3.3370.3 pg/ml) after treatment with irbesartan. No significant changes were observed in any other of the tested parameters. In conclusion, the treatment of high blood pressure lowers circulating IL-6 in young hypertensive patients.

Effects of the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Antagonist Telmisartan on Monocyte Adhesion and Activation in Patients with Essential Hypertension

“…The blocking of Ang II activity by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists has been shown to result in anti-inflammatory effects and prevent or reduce the development of atherosclerosis in animal models. In humans, the anti-inflammatory effects of these agents have been suggested by a study of Vazquez-Oliva et al, which showed that treatment with the AT1 receptor antagonist irbesartan decreased blood pressure in hypertensive patients in parallel with an decrease in serum interleukin (IL)-6 to levels similar to those in normotensive individuals (17). Sanada et al reported that the elevation of serum soluble E-and Pselectin in patients with hypertension is preserved by benidipine, a long-acting calcium channel blocker (18).…”

Protective effects of telmisartan on ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat ovary: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation

“…Vazquez-Oliva et al (18) have shown that irbesartan treatment decreased the interleukin-6 level owing to its antiinflammatory effect in humans through the blocking of Ang II activity by Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB), such as telmisartan, widely used for the treatment of hypertension to prevent organ damage such as renal and cardiac remodeling, are provided to obtain the benefits of selectively blocking Ang II at the level of the AT1 receptor.…”

Classic Interleukin-6 Receptor Signaling and Interleukin-6 trans-Signaling Differentially Control Angiotensin II-Dependent Hypertension, Cardiac Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 Activation, and Vascular Hypertrophy in Vivo

“…Plasma levels of IL-6 are strongly associated with hypertension in humans and can be decreased by administration of Ang II receptor antagonists. [1][2][3][4][5][6] In animal models of hypertension and volume overload-induced hypertrophy, IL-6 and its related cytokines, leukemia-inhibitory factor and cardiotrophin-1, are elevated. [7][8][9][10] In addition, Ang II can increase IL-6 synthesis in cultured cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinase, mitogenactivated protein kinase, and cAMP response elementbinding protein.…”