Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

The Antihypertensive Effects and Mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction in Rats with H-Type Hypertension
05:57

The Antihypertensive Effects and Mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction in Rats with H-Type Hypertension

Published on: May 17, 2024

Plasma homocysteine is a determinant of tissue necrosis factor-alpha in hypertensive patients

P Bogdanski1, D Pupek-Musialik, J Dytfeld

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|December 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Homocysteine (Hcy) levels predict inflammation in hypertension, unlike lipid measures. Elevated Hcy, particularly with obesity or vascular events, correlates with higher tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), indicating its role in atherosclerosis progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Inflammation Research
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Chronic inflammation in hypertension contributes to atherosclerosis.
  • Homocysteine (Hcy) is implicated in causing inflammation.
  • Lipid measures are established risk factors, but their role in hypertension-related inflammation needs further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the predictive utility of homocysteine (Hcy) and lipid measures as determinants of inflammation in hypertensive patients.
  • To investigate the association between Hcy, inflammation markers, and clinical factors like obesity and vascular events in hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 100 hypertensive patients and 40 healthy controls.
  • Measured plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  • Analyzed correlations and performed multivariate regression to identify independent predictors of TNF-alpha.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive patients showed higher tHcy, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and CRP than controls.
  • Obesity and history of vascular events were associated with increased levels of tHcy and inflammation markers.
  • tHcy strongly correlated with TNF-alpha (r=0.48, p<0.001); lipids did not correlate with TNF-alpha.
  • Multivariate analysis identified tHcy, not lipids, as an independent predictor of TNF-alpha.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma tHcy is a significant determinant of TNF-alpha in hypertensive patients.
  • Obesity and prior vascular events exacerbate inflammation in hypertension.
  • The positive correlation between Hcy and TNF-alpha suggests a pro-atherogenic mechanism for Hcy.

Related Concept Videos

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity01:25

Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity

Bioactivation is a metabolic process that transforms less reactive substances into highly reactive metabolites, initiating tissue toxicity. This transformation can lead to various toxic effects, including carcinogenesis and teratogenesis. Reactive metabolites are classified into two main types: electrophiles and free radicals.Electrophiles are electron-deficient species and are produced primarily by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 during the metabolism of compounds containing carbon, nitrogen, or...
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug binding...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...