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Cortisol/cortisone ratio and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity are associated with pediatric primary hypertension

Alejandro Martinez-Aguayo1, Carmen Campino, Rene Baudrand

  • 1aDivision of Pediatrics bDepartment of Endocrinology cMillennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile dAdvanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chile eStudent, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile fFacultad de Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián gDepartment of Clinical Laboratories, Facultad de Medicina hDepartment of Celular and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile *Alejandro Martinez-Aguayo and Carmen Campino contributed equally to this work.

Journal of Hypertension
|August 5, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity and the cortisol/cortisone ratio are elevated in children with primary hypertension, independent of obesity. These findings suggest potential novel biomarkers for hypertension risk in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Pediatric primary hypertension is a growing health concern with complex contributing factors.
  • Identifying reliable biomarkers is crucial for early detection and management of hypertension in children.
  • Existing biomarkers may not fully capture the pathophysiology of pediatric hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel biomarkers associated with pediatric primary hypertension.
  • To investigate the relationship between various biochemical markers and blood pressure in children.
  • To explore the role of inflammation and metabolic markers in pediatric hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 350 children aged 4-16 years, excluding those with specific comorbidities.
  • Measured anthropometric parameters and a panel of biomarkers including hormones, inflammatory markers, and enzyme activities (e.g., MMP-9).
  • Utilized univariate and multiple regression analyses to identify associations with hypertension, controlling for obesity.

Main Results:

  • Systolic and diastolic blood pressure positively correlated with BMI-SDS, HOMA-IR, MMP-9 activity, and the cortisol/cortisone ratio.
  • Hypertensive children exhibited significantly higher BMI-SDS, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, MMP-9 activity, PAI-1, and cortisol/cortisone ratio compared to non-hypertensive children.
  • Multiple regression identified higher BMI-SDS, cortisol/cortisone ratio, and MMP-9 activity as independent predictors of hypertension.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated MMP-9 activity and cortisol/cortisone ratio are associated with pediatric primary hypertension, independent of obesity.
  • These factors represent potential novel biomarkers for hypertension risk in children.
  • Further research is warranted to explore their utility in blood pressure regulation and hypertension prediction.
Abstract

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