Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Relationship of serum immunoglobulin levels to blood pressure and hypertension in an adult population

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 32, pages 212–218 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Evidence suggests long-term chronic inflammation, as the pathological basis of formation and development, plays an important part in atherosclerosis. Immunoglobulins (Igs) provided key information on the humoral immune status. However, few studies have evaluated the correlation between Igs and hypertension and blood pressure (BP) in a general population. We designed a cross-sectional study to evaluate whether serum Ig levels are related to BP and the prevalence of hypertension. About 12,373 participants in Tianjin, China were recruited for this study. Hypertension was diagnosed according to the criteria of the JNC 7 and serum levels of Igs were determined by the immunonephelometric technique. Multiple logistic regression analysis and analysis of covariance were used to assess relationships between serum Ig concentrations and the prevalence of hypertension and BP. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 35.5%. The means (standard deviation) of immunoglobulins [immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin E (IgE), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin A (IgA)] were 1206.0 (249.0) mg/dL, 93.8 (235.4) IU/mL, 105.3 (56.8) mg/dL, and 236.7 (98.1) mg/dL, respectively. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of hypertension for the highest immunoglobulins (IgG, IgE, IgM, and IgA) quintile, when compared to the lowest quintile were 1.10 (0.96–1.26), 1.04 (0.91–1.19), 0.83 (0.72–0.96), and 1.32 (1.15–1.51), respectively. Decreased IgM and increased IgG and IgA were related to a higher prevalence of hypertension. IgM was negatively correlated with BP, while IgG and IgA were positively correlated with BP.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andersson C, Gislason GH, Weeke P, Kjaergaard J, Hassager C, Akkan D, et al. The prognostic importance of a history of hypertension in patients with symptomatic heart failure is substantially worsened by a short mitral inflow deceleration time. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2012;12:30.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang J, Zhang L, Wang F, Liu L, Wang H. China National Survey of Chronic Kidney Disease Working G. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in China: results from a national survey. Am J Hypertens. 2014;27:1355–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Wang JG. Chinese hypertension guidelines. Pulse (Basel). 2015;3:14–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Trott DW, Harrison DG. The immune system in hypertension. Adv Physiol Educ. 2014;38:20–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Venegas-Pont M, Manigrasso MB, Grifoni SC, LaMarca BB, Maric C, Racusen LC, et al. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist etanercept decreases blood pressure and protects the kidney in a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Hypertension. 2010;56:643–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Xiao L, Kirabo A, Wu J, Saleh MA, Zhu L, Wang F, et al. Renal denervation prevents immune cell activation and renal inflammation in angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Circ Res. 2015;117:547–57.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Justin Rucker A, Crowley SD. The role of macrophages in hypertension and its complications. Pflug Arch. 2017;469:419–30.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Itani HA, McMaster WG Jr., Saleh MA, Nazarewicz RR, Mikolajczyk TP, Kaszuba AM, et al. Activation of human T cells in hypertension: studies of humanized mice and hypertensive humans. Hypertension. 2016;68:123–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Matsuura E, Kobayashi K, Inoue K, Shoenfeld Y. Intravenous immunoglobulin and atherosclerosis. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2005;29:311–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tsiantoulas D, Diehl CJ, Witztum JL, Binder CJ. B cells and humoral immunity in atherosclerosis. Circ Res. 2014;114:1743–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Karvonen J, Paivansalo M, Kesaniemi YA, Horkko S. Immunoglobulin M type of autoantibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein has an inverse relation to carotid artery atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2003;108:2107–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Tsimikas S, Brilakis ES, Lennon RJ, Miller ER, Witztum JL, McConnell JP, et al. Relationship of IgG and IgM autoantibodies to oxidized low density lipoprotein with coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events. J Lipid Res. 2007;48:425–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Tsimikas S, Willeit P, Willeit J, Santer P, Mayr M, Xu Q, et al. Oxidation-specific biomarkers, prospective 15-year cardiovascular and stroke outcomes, and net reclassification of cardiovascular events. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60:2218–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lichtman AH, Binder CJ, Tsimikas S, Witztum JL. Adaptive immunity in atherogenesis: new insights and therapeutic approaches. J Clin Invest. 2013;123:27–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Yla-Herttuala S, Palinski W, Butler SW, Picard S, Steinberg D, Witztum JL. Rabbit and human atherosclerotic lesions contain IgG that recognizes epitopes of oxidized LDL. Arterioscler Thromb. 1994;14:32–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Muscari A, Bozzoli C, Gerratana C, Zaca F, Rovinetti C, Zauli D, et al. Association of serum IgA and C4 with severe atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. 1988;74:179–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Muscari A, Bozzoli C, Puddu GM, Rovinetti C, Vallar G, Renzi C, et al. Increased serum IgA levels in subjects with previous myocardial infarction or other major ischemic events. Cardiology. 1993;83:383–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ebringer A, Doyle AE. Raised serum IgG levels in hypertension. Br Med J. 1970;2:146–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Adlin EV, Moctezuma J, Marks AD, Moctezuma J, Channick BJ. Serum immunoglobulins in hypertension. Hypertension. 1979;1:650–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Liu L, Gu Y, Li C, Zhang Q, Meng G, Wu H, et al. Serum uric acid is an independent predictor for developing prehypertension: a population-based prospective cohort study. J Hum Hypertens. 2017;31:116–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Small EM, Frost RJ, Olson EN. MicroRNAs add a new dimension to cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2010;121:1022–32.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Dzielak DJ. The immune system and hypertension. Hypertension. 1992;19(Suppl):I36–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Olsen F. Arteriolar permeability and destruction of elastic membrane in hypertension. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1969;75:527–36.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Weir DM. The immunologicial consequences of cell death. Lancet. 1967;2:1071–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Park SH, Chen WC, Durmus N, Bleck B, Reibman J, Riemekasten G, et al. The Effects of antigen-specific IgG1 antibody for the pulmonary-hypertension-phenotype and B cells for inflammation in mice exposed to antigen and fine particles from air pollution. PLoS ONE. 2015;10:e0129910.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Wu R, de Faire U, Lemne C, Witztum JL, Frostegard J. Autoantibodies to OxLDL are decreased in individuals with borderline hypertension. Hypertension. 1999;33:53–59.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kerr MA. Function of immunoglobulin A in immunity. Gut. 2000;47:751–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Snoeck V, Peters IR, Cox E. The IgA system: a comparison of structure and function in different species. Vet Res. 2006;37:455–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Honour J. The possible involvement of intestinal bacteria in steroidal hypertension. Endocrinology. 1982;110:285–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dolle L, Tran HQ, Etienne-Mesmin L, Chassaing B. Policing of gut microbiota by the adaptive immune system. BMC Med. 2016;14:27.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang J, Cheng X, Xiang MX, Alanne-Kinnunen M, Wang JA, Chen H, et al. IgE stimulates human and mouse arterial cell apoptosis and cytokine expression and promotes atherogenesis in Apoe-/- mice. J Clin Invest. 2011;121:3564–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Jeziorska M, McCollum C, Woolley DE. Mast cell distribution, activation, and phenotype in atherosclerotic lesions of human carotid arteries. J Pathol. 1997;182:115–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Magen E, Mishal J, Vardy D. Selective IgE deficiency and cardiovascular diseases. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2015;36:225–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

  This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81673166, 81372118, 81372467 and 81302422), the key technologies R&D program of Tianjin (Key Project: No. 11ZCGYSY05700, 12ZCZDSY20400, 13ZCZDSY20200, and 15YFYZSY00020), the National Science and Technology Support Program (No. 2012BAI02B02), 2012 and 2016 Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS) Nutrition Research Foundation—DSM Research Fund (No. 2014-071, 2016-046 and 2016-023), the Technologies development program of Beichen District of Tianjin (No. bcws2013-21, bcws2014-05 and 2015-SHGY-02), the technologies project of Tianjin Binhai New Area (No. 2013-02-04 and 2013-02-06), the Science Foundation of Tianjin Medical University (No. 2010KY28 and 2013KYQ24), the Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety (Fudan University), Ministry of Education (No. GW2014-5), and the National Training Programs of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates (No. 201510062013), China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China

    Xiaotong Wang, Yajun Li, Huihui Li, Yeqing Gu, Ge Meng, Hongmei Wu, Yang Xia, Xue Bao, Qian Su, Liyun Fang, Huijun Yang, Fei Yu, Yuntang Wu, Hong Chang & Kaijun Niu

  2. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China

    Yanqi Song

  3. Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China

    Qing Zhang, Li Liu, Hongbin Shi, Shaomei Sun, Xing Wang, Ming Zhou, Huanli Jiao, Qiyu Jia, Kun Song & Kaijun Niu

  4. Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China

    Zhanxin Yao

Authors
  1. Xiaotong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yajun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Huihui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yeqing Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yanqi Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Qing Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Li Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ge Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Zhanxin Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Hongmei Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Yang Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Xue Bao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Hongbin Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Qian Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Liyun Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Huijun Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Fei Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Shaomei Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Xing Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. Ming Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. Huanli Jiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. Qiyu Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. Kun Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  24. Yuntang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  25. Hong Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  26. Kaijun Niu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hong Chang or Kaijun Niu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, X., Li, Y., Li, H. et al. Relationship of serum immunoglobulin levels to blood pressure and hypertension in an adult population. J Hum Hypertens 32, 212–218 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-018-0029-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-018-0029-2

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links