Natural killer cells, gamma delta T cells and classical monocytes are associated with systolic blood pressure in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA)

BackgroundHypertension is a major source of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence from mouse models, genetic, and cross-sectional human studies suggest increased proportions of selected immune cell subsets may be associated with levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP). MethodsWe assayed immune cells from cryopreserved samples collected at the baseline examination (2000-2002) from 1195 participants from the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA). We used linear mixed models, with adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking, exercise, body mass index, education, diabetes, and cytomegalovirus titers, to estimate the associations between 30 immune cell subsets (4 of which were a priori hypotheses) and repeated measures of SBP (baseline and up to four follow-up measures) over 10 years. The analysis provides estimates of the association with blood pressure level.ResultsThe mean age of the MESA participants at baseline was 6410 years and 53% were male. A one standard deviation (1-SD) increment in the proportion of gamma delta T cells was associated with 2.40 mmHg [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-3.42] higher average systolic blood pressure; and for natural killer cells, a 1-SD increment was associated with 1.88 mmHg (95% CI 0.82-2.94) higher average level of systolic blood pressure. A 1-SD increment in classical monocytes (CD14(++)CD16(-)) was associated with 2.01 mmHG (95% CI 0.79-3.24) lower average systolic blood pressure. There were no associations of CD4(+) T helper cell subsets with average systolic blood pressure.Conclusion These findings suggest that the innate immune system plays a role in levels of SBP whereas there were no associations with adaptive immune cells.

Automated summary

The study found that with increasing blood pressure levels, the proportion of gamma delta T cells and natural killer cells also increased, while classical monocytes showed an inverse correlation with systolic blood pressure levels.