Leukocyte telomerase concentration is inversely associated with central wave reflection in patients with hypertension

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Telomere length and telomerase are biomarkers of aging and cardiovascular diseases. Arterial stiffness is associated with vascular age and higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Decreased reparative cell's potential may cause vascular ageing and predispose to the progression of hypertension. Objective To determine association leukocyte telomerase concentration (TC) and relative telomere length (RTL) with arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients. Material and methods The study included 120 people (70 patients with uncomplicated arterial hypertension (AH) and 50 normotensive individuals). Mean age of hypertensives was 54.8±9.3 and of normotensives was 50.2±9.73 years. Dietary habits, smoking, level of physical activity, body mass index, waist circumference, presence of obesity, blood pressure (BP) level, family history of cardiovascular deseases, depressive episodes and psychological stress according the international questionnaires, glucose; cholesterol, angiotensin II, renin and aldosteron in blood were assessed in the participants. Aortic BP, aortic pulse pressure, augmentation index (AIx), AIx adjusted for heart rate 75 beats per minute (Aix@HR75), pulse wave velocity (PWV) were determined by the applanation tonometry. RTL of peripheral blood leukocytes was performed by real-time PCR. The leukocyte TC was measured using the enzyme immunoassay. Results There were no differences between patients with AH and normotensives in both leukocyte TC (4.9 (4.0; 8.0) versus 6.2 (4.1; 9.4), p=0.281) and RTL (0.94 (0.86; 1.0) versus 0.96 (0.83; 1.0), p=0.978). In hypertensive and normotensive groups the mean systolic aortic BP were 130.6±17,7 and 109.9±11.7 mmHg (p<0.001), aortic pulse pressure – 41.5±9,7 and 33.6±10,4 mmHg (p<0.001), Aix@HR75 – 16.0 (7.0; 28.0) and 27.0 (13.0; 35.0)% (p=0.004), PWV –7.9±1.4 and 8.1±1,7 m/s (p=0.409) respectively. In patients with AH the mean leukocyte TC was lower with an increased Aix@75 (>25%) in contrast to the group of patients with normal Aix@75 (4.45 (3.9; 7.8) versus 7.97 (4.6; 10.0) ng/ml; p=0.043). Based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis independent factors influencing on the Aix@75 were leukocyte TC <5 ng/ml with the family history of AH (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.4; p=0.036), the degree of AH combined with decreased salt sensitivity (OR=3.1; 95% CI: 1.3–7.5; p=0.010) and age (OR=1.2; 95% CI: 1.1–1.2; p=0.001). Conclusions Decrease of the leukocyte telomerase concentration associated with the raise of augmentation index in patient with uncomplicated AH. As a parameter of central wave reflection the augmentation index may considered as an early sign of biological and vascular aging in hypertension. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): The state program of scientific research “Fundamental and applied sciences for medicine”