Circulating progenitor cells in hypertensive subjects: Effectiveness of a treatment with olmesartan in improving cell number and miR profile in addition to expected pharmacological effects

PLoS One. 2017 Mar 16;12(3):e0173030. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173030. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

CD34+ circulating progenitor cells (CD34+CPCs) are a population of multipotent cells which can delay the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in conditions of increased CV risk. MicroRNAs (miRs) 221 and 222 modulate different genes regulating angiogenesis and inflammation; moreover, miR221/22 have beenshown to participate in differentiation and proliferation of CD34+CPCs, inhibiting cell migration and homing. miR221/222 in CD34+CPCs from hypertensive subjects are also increased and associated with CD34+cell number and reactive oxygen species (ROS). We evaluated CD34+CPC number, intracellular miR221/222 and ROS levels, arterial stiffness (AS)and echocardiography indices at baseline (T0).Then, after a six-month treatment with olmesartan, 20 mg/day (T1), in 57 hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and with no additional risk factor for CVD, and in 29 healthy controls (baseline),fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose and lipid profiles were also evaluated.At T1, blood pressure values, CRP and fibrinogen levels, ROS and miR221/222 were significantly decreased (all p <0.001), as were AS indices and LV mass index (p<0.001), while cell number was increased (p<0.001). Olmesartan is effective in reducing miR and ROS levels in CD34+CPCs from hypertensive subjects, as well as in increasing CD34+CPC number, providing multilevel CV protection, in addition to its expected pharmacological effects.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD34 / blood
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / blood*
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / genetics
  • Imidazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / pathology*
  • Tetrazoles / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Imidazoles
  • MicroRNAs
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Tetrazoles
  • olmesartan

Grants and funding

This study has been carried out with a support of funds allocated by our Department (Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Messina) for Clinical Research. These funding are annually assigned by the University of Messina. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.