Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Visualizing Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Techniques and Pitfalls
10:16

Visualizing Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Techniques and Pitfalls

Published on: January 4, 2018

Pathophysiology of polymorphonuclear leukocyte in arterial hypertension

Eugenia Hopps1, Rosalia Lo Presti, Gregorio Caimi

  • 1Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Malattie Cardiovascolari e Nefrourologiche, Cattedra di Semeiotica e Metodologia Medica, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation
|March 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) contribute to organ injury in arterial hypertension. Activated PMNs increase inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging blood vessels and worsening cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Immunology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Arterial hypertension is linked to organ injury.
  • Elevated white blood cell counts and activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of PMNs in arterial hypertension-associated organ injury.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which PMNs contribute to vascular damage in hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on PMN activation and function in hypertension.
  • Analysis of molecular and cellular events involving PMNs and vascular endothelium.

Main Results:

  • Activated PMNs release inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species, impairing vascular tone and promoting endothelial adhesion.
  • Hypertensive PMNs exhibit increased oxidative stress, evidenced by higher NADPH-oxidase and lipid peroxidation, and lower superoxide dismutase levels.
  • Overexpression of adhesion molecules like beta2-integrin on PMNs enhances leukocyte-endothelium interactions.

Conclusions:

  • PMNs are key players in the vascular damage associated with arterial hypertension.
  • PMN activation contributes to hypertension-related organ injury through inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms.

More Related Videos

Imaging Leukocyte Adhesion to the Vascular Endothelium at High Intraluminal Pressure06:20

Imaging Leukocyte Adhesion to the Vascular Endothelium at High Intraluminal Pressure

Published on: August 23, 2011

Related Concept Videos

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,...
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System01:18

Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is an intricate network of nerves that controls functions such as the regulation of heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure regulation. When this system malfunctions, it can lead to various disorders that affect multiple bodily functions. One common feature of many autonomic disorders is the involvement of smooth blood vessels, which play a crucial role in regulating blood flow throughout the body.
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's phenomenon, is a...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of β1 Blockers01:17

Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of β1 Blockers

β1-receptors are primarily located in the heart and kidneys. In cardiac myocytes, these receptors interact with neurotransmitters released by the sympathetic nervous system during heightened activity or danger. As a result, β1-receptors get activated, initiating a series of biochemical processes. Excessive activation of beta receptors due to chronic stress can abnormally increase heart rate and contractility, resulting in high blood pressure or hypertension. To counteract this, β1-blockers...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers01:30

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

In the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormone called angiotensin II plays a crucial role. It binds to the AT1 receptors in vascular smooth muscles coupled with Gq proteins. The activation of these receptors activates an enzyme called phospholipase C, which releases two molecules: inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These molecules cause a chain reaction that leads to the phosphorylation of myosin light chains and promotes interaction between actin and myosin, leading to smooth...
Inflammation01:38

Inflammation

Overview