Abstract
Background The interleukin-12 (IL-12) family consists of four members, namely, IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of circulating IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 in hypertensive patients. Methods Blood samples were collected from hypertensive patients and nonhypertensive (control) subjects, and protein multifactorial monitor kits were used to measure the plasma IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 levels in each sample. In addition, all enrolled subjects underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and vascular stiffness. Results Hypertensive patients exhibited higher IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels and lower IL-35 levels than control subjects; IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels were positively correlated with both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), while IL-35 levels were negatively correlated with SBP and DBP. IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels gradually increased in patients with grade I, II, and III hypertension, while IL-35 levels gradually reduced. According to the ABPM results, hypertensive patients were divided into the dipper and nondipper hypertension groups; IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 levels showed no differences between the two groups, but IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels in both groups increased compared with those in the control group, while IL-35 levels decreased. Additionally, the expression of these IL-12 family members was influenced by many clinical factors and was independently associated with the occurrence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Conclusions The changes in IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 levels were not associated with the presence of the nondipper type but were closely associated with the development of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in hypertensive patients.
Highlights
Among many chronic diseases, the number of patients with hypertension ranks the first in the world; its incidence is gradually increasing, and the affected population is gradually getting younger [1]
The clinical characteristics, including male gender, elderly, overweight, smoking, drinking, nondipper, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), HLP, sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (SAHS), hypoxemia, C-reactive protein (CRP), total homocysteine (tHcy), and the IL-12 members, were used to perform univariate analysis, and the results showed that IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, IL-35, male gender, elderly, overweight, drinking, nondipper, T2DM, HLP, SAHS, hypoxemia, and tHcy showed a trend
The results showed that plasma IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels were all independently positively associated with the occurrence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques (CAP), while plasma IL-35 levels were independently negatively associated with the presence of CAP
Summary
The number of patients with hypertension ranks the first in the world; its incidence is gradually increasing, and the affected population is gradually getting younger [1]. The IL-12 family members can bind to receptors on Mediators of Inflammation target organs, activate downstream Janus kinase 1/2-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK1/2STAT1/3/4) pathways, regulate inflammation, and participate in downstream signal regulation [5,6,7]. Despite their similarities in structure, composition, receptors, and signaling pathways, their biological effects are quite different. The expression of these IL-12 family members was influenced by many clinical factors and was independently associated with the occurrence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The changes in IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 levels were not associated with the presence of the nondipper type but were closely associated with the development of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in hypertensive patients
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