Increased levels of transforming growth factor-β1 in essential hypertension

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been linked to vascular remodeling processes, myocardial hypertrophy, and renal fibrosis. Recently a correlation between serum levels of TGF-beta1 and blood pressure (BP) levels in patients with end-stage renal disease was shown. In addition, it is not clear whether TGF-beta1 is a causative factor in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and associated with hypertensive target organ damage (TOD). Methods: Using a TGF-beta1-specific sandwich ELISA, we compared plasma levels of active and total TGF-beta1 of 30 normotensive persons and 85 patients with essential hypertension with and without TOD, as measured by microalbuminuria or left ventricular hypertrophy. Results: Active and total TGF-beta1 levels were significantly higher in plasma of patients with essential hypertension than in normotensive controls (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively). However, neither active nor total TGF-beta1 correlated with systolic or diastolic BP (R-2 < 0.14 for all parameters). Levels of active and total TGF-beta 1 were significantly higher in hypertensive patients with than without TOD (P < .05). Conclusions: Active and latent TGF-beta1 levels are markedly increased in plasma of hypertensive patients. We assume that TGF-beta1 contributes substantially to the development of TOD in essential hypertension, independent of BP levels. Am J Hypertens 2002;15:207-211 (C) 2002 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.