Porreca E, Di Febbo C, Mincione G, Reale M, Guglielmi MD, Castellani ML, Cuccurullo F, Colletta G
Increased expression of TGF-beta isoforms by human monocytes of hypertensive patients
16th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension
ISH Abstract Book (Jun) 16: 1996

Transforming growth factor b is a regulator of extracellular matrix component synthesis. Interstitial fibrosis is a common feature of pressure overload hypertrophy and TGF-b, may be involved in the development of cardiovascular remodeling associated to hypertension. Since inflammatory cells, such as peripheral blood monocytes, are potential sources of TGF-b in vivo, we studied TGF b mRNA gene expression in the ex-vivo cell culture of human nonactivated monocytes of hypertensive patients.

Eight hypertensive patients with concentric LV hypertrophy and eight matched control healthy subjects were analyzed. The expression of TGF-b isoforms was evaluated by Northern blot hybridization of total mRNA extracted from cultures of unstimulated peripheral monocytes after 24 hrs of incubation time. b1, b2 and b3 isoforms were expressed in the peripheral blood monocytes.

TGF-b1 and TGF-b2 mRNA expression were significantly induced in the monocytes fractions of hypertensive patients respect to controls (1.7 ñ 0.5 fold and 2.2 ñ 0.3 respectively, P < 0.01); TGF-b3 mRNA expression was unchanged in hypertensive patients respect to controls.

Comment: These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the induction of TGFb isoforms, particularly b1 and b2, in hypertensive patients may be associated with ventricular remodeling hypertrophy (Carmine Zoccali, M.D, Reggio Calabria, Italy).

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16th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension
H: Pathophysiology : Heart in hypertension