Immune Cell Type-Specific DNA Methylation Regions Associate With 24-Hour Blood Pressure Regulation in Black People

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Epigenetics
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Blood pressure (BP) regulation involves DNA methylation and immune cells, but specific immune cell profiles and DNA methylation patterns linked to BP remain unclear.
• Hypertension development is associated with altered immune cell dynamics and epigenetic modifications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate immune cell profiles and cell type-specific DNA methylation associated with blood pressure phenotypes.
• To identify potential epigenetic targets for hypertension management.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated 19 cell type deconvolution algorithms using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing data.
• Applied the top-performing algorithm, EpiDISH-Robust Partial Correlations, to 281 Black inpatients with 24-hour BP monitoring.
• Utilized regression analysis to examine immune cell profiles and DNA methylation regions associated with BP phenotypes.

Main Results:

• Elevated B-cell and CD4 effector memory T-cell abundances in hypertensive patients.
• Positive correlations between monocyte/CD8 effector memory T-cell fractions and nighttime BP; inverse association of CD3 T cells with office BP.
• Identified novel cell type-specific DNA methylation regions associated with BP phenotypes, predominantly in effector CD8 T cells.

Conclusions:

• Novel insights into epigenetically regulated immune mechanisms underlying BP regulation.
• Identification of potential therapeutic targets for hypertension management through specific immune cell epigenetic markers.