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Circulating aminopeptidase activities in men and women with essential hypertension

R Sánchez-Agesta Ortega1, J M Arias de Saavedra-Alías, A Liébana-Cañada

  • 1School of Experimental Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Campus Universitario Las Lagunillas, E-23071, Jaén, Spain. mramirez@ujaen.es.

Current Medicinal Chemistry
|August 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Essential hypertension is linked to altered enzyme activities, particularly in the renin-angiotensin system. These findings offer new insights into hypertension causes and potential therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Essential hypertension significantly contributes to premature morbidity and mortality.
  • The fundamental causes of essential hypertension remain largely unknown.
  • Proteolytic regulatory enzymes play crucial roles in various physiological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the activity of specific proteolytic enzymes involved in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), oxytocin, GnRH, TRH, and enkephalin metabolism in essential hypertension.
  • To elucidate the role of these enzymes in the mechanisms underlying essential hypertension.
  • To explore potential gender differences in enzyme activity and hormone levels related to hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Assayed serum enzyme activities (APA, APN, APB, IRAP, oxytocinase, Pcp, EDA) in 53 individuals with essential hypertension and 60 healthy controls.
  • Measured serum levels of gonad hormones (testosterone, estradiol), TSH, and free thyroxin (fT4).
  • Analyzed differences in enzyme activities and hormone levels between hypertensive and control groups, considering gender.

Main Results:

  • Observed significant differences in specific activities of aminopeptidase A (APA), aminopeptidase N (APN), pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase (Pcp), and enkephalin-degrading activity (EDA) between hypertensive and control groups.
  • Found differences in serum gonad hormone levels between the groups.
  • Noted gender-specific differences only in Pcp activity.

Conclusions:

  • Altered activities of APA and APN suggest changes in the renin-angiotensin system, potentially increasing angiotensin II levels.
  • Changes in RAS-regulating enzymes and other neuroendocrine-modulating enzymes are associated with essential hypertension, with minor gender differences.
  • Aminopeptidases represent novel targets for understanding and potentially treating essential hypertension.

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