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Increased red cell sodium-lithium countertransport and lymphocyte cytosolic calcium are separate phenotypes in patients with essential hypertension

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 16, pages 353–358 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Increased red blood cell sodium-lithium countertransport (SLC) activity and elevated intracellular calcium have been observed in hypertensive patients. The association of these ion transport abnormalities with each other and with another phenotype, insulin resistance, has been suggested. We investigated whether elevated SLC activity and increased lymphocyte cytosolic calcium (Cacyt) occur in the same individuals and whether either is associated with hyperinsulinaemia. We measured SLC activity, lymphocyte Cacytand fasting insulin levels in hypertensive patients and normal subjects. Consistent with prior studies, SLC activity was significantly and positively correlated with fasting insulin levels (r = 0.45, P < 0.01). However, SLC activity and lymphocyte Cacyt were significantly but inversely correlated (r = −0.42, P < 0.01) and lymphocyte Cacyt was also inversely correlated with fasting insulin (r = −0.55, P < 0.001). When the study participants were instead separated into two groups based on fasting insulin levels, those above the median (15 μU/ml) had significantly higher SLC activity and significantly lower Cacyt. When separated by lymphocyte Cacyt levels (above or below 120 nM) those patients with low lymphocyte Cacyt had significantly higher SLC activity and significantly higher insulin levels. Multiple linear regression showed that fasting insulin was significantly predictive of SLC activity (P = 0.05) and Cacyt (P < 0.01). Thus, elevated SLC activity and increased lymphocyte Cacyt are separate and distinct ion transport phenotypes in hypertensive patients, linked through a relationship to hyperinsulinaemia that is direct with SLC activity and inverse with lymphocyte Cacyt.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from VA Medical Research Service, National Institutes of Health (HL57173, HL04069, DK53538, DK02817, RR02635), and by Regione Veneto grant 782/01/97.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology-Hypertension Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    J R Romero & P R Conlin

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    A Rivera

  3. Clinica Medica 4, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    A Monari, G Ceolotto & A Semplicini

  4. Medical Service, VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    P R Conlin

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  1. J R Romero
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  2. A Rivera
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  3. A Monari
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  4. G Ceolotto
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  5. A Semplicini
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  6. P R Conlin
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Correspondence to P R Conlin.

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Romero, J., Rivera, A., Monari, A. et al. Increased red cell sodium-lithium countertransport and lymphocyte cytosolic calcium are separate phenotypes in patients with essential hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 16, 353–358 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001387

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001387

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