Abstract P138: Controlling For Hypertension Does Not Alter Sex Differences In Renal T Cell Profiles In Doca-Salt Rats.

Abstract

Our lab has shown that there are sex differences in the renal T cell profile in deoxycorticosterone acetate salt (DOCA) hypertension. The current study tested the hypothesis that sex differences in renal T cells in DOCA-salt rats is blood pressure (BP) dependent. At 10 wks of age, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (N=9-12/group) were anesthetized, a telemeter was implanted for BP measurement, and a right uni-nephrectomy was performed. After one wk, all rats received a subcutaneous slow-release DOCA pellet (200 mg) with 0.9% saline to drink. To prevent DOCA-salt induced increases in BP, a subset of rats were randomized to receive hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ; 55 mg/kg/day) and reserpine (4.5 mg/kg/day) combined with saline in drinking water. After 3 wks, the remaining kidney was isolated for flow cytometric analysis of T cells. After 3 wks of DOCA-treatment, males had a higher BP than females (P sex =0.0001). Treatment with HCTZ and reserpine prevented DOCA-induced increases in BP in both sexes (P t x t <0.0001; P int =0.307). With DOCA-salt induced hypertension, males had more renal CD4 + T cells (P sex =0.4) and Th17 (P sex =0.02) than females. HCTZ and reserpine decreased both CD4 + cells (P t x t <0.0001) and Th17 cells (P t x t <0.0001) and the decreases were comparable between sexes (CD4 + : P int =0.86; Th17: P int =0.55). With DOCA alone, females had more renal Tregs than males (P sex <0.0001). HCTZ and reserpine did not significantly change renal Tregs in either sex (P t x t =0.11; P int =0.38).Our data suggests that while preventing DOCA-salt induced increases in BP attenuates the increase in renal pro-inflammatory T cells, sex differences in renal T cells is not BP dependent.