The Effect of Renal Denervation on T Cells in Patients with Resistant Hypertension

(1) Background: Sympathetic overactivity is a major contributor to resistant hypertension (RH). According to animal studies, sympathetic overactivity increases immune responses, thereby aggravating hypertension and cardiovascular outcomes. Renal denervation (RDN) reduces sympathetic nerve activity in RH. Here, we investigate the effect of RDN on T-cell signatures in RH. (2) Methods: Systemic inflammation and T-cell subsets were analyzed in 17 healthy individuals and 30 patients with RH at baseline and 6 months after RDN. (3) Results: The patients with RH demonstrated higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and higher frequencies of CD4+ effector memory (T-EM), CD4+ effector memory residential (T-EMRA) and CD8+ central memory (T-CM) cells than the controls. After RDN, systolic automated office blood pressure (BP) decreased by -17.6 +/- 18.9 mmHg. Greater BP reductions were associated with higher CD4+ T-EM (r -0.421, p = 0.02) and CD8+ T-CM (r -0.424, p = 0.02) frequencies at baseline. The RDN responders, that is, the patients with >= 10mmHg systolic BP reduction, showed reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, whereas the non-responders had unchanged inflammatory activity and higher CD8+ T-EMRA frequencies with increased cellular cytokine production. (4) Conclusions: The pro-inflammatory state of patients with RH is characterized by altered T-cell signatures, especially in non-responders. A detailed analysis of T cells might be useful in selecting patients for RDN.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of renal denervation (RDN) on T-cell signatures in patients with resistant hypertension (RH). The results showed that patients with RH had higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and certain T-cell populations. However, those who responded well to RDN had reduced levels of inflammation, while non-responders had increased levels of certain T-cells and inflammatory activity. Therefore, a detailed analysis of T-cells might be useful in selecting patients for RDN treatment.