Effect of angiotensin-(1-7) on vascular endothelial cell function and correlation with blood pressure variability in patients with secondary hypertension

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of a ngiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) on vascular endothelial cell function and determine the correlation with blood pressure variability in patients with secondary hypertension. Methods: A total of 80 patients with hypertension admitted to the department of cardiovascular medicine of Inner Mongolia People's Hospital from September 2016 to September 2017 (observation group), and 80 healthy subjects in the same period (control group), were compared for the levels of Ang-(1-7), endothelin-1 (ET1), and inflammatory factors including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Results: The observation group presented lower level of serum Ang-(1-7), and higher levels of serum ET-1, IL-6 and IL-8, compared with the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the 24-hour measures of blood pressure variability among the hypertensives showed a negative correlation with serum Ang-(1-7) level and positive correlations with the levels of serum ET-1, IL-6, and IL-8. Moreover, univariate logistic regression analysis showed that Ang-(1-7) was a risk factor for blood pressure variability in the hypertensives. Conclusion: Ang-(1-7) can participate in the development and progression of hypertension and blood pressure variability by affecting the function of vascular endothelial cells and mediating inflammatory reactions.