Global DNA methylation changes in blood of patients with essential hypertension

Background: Hypertension is a common disease of the cardiovascular system and one of the main causes of mortality in the world. Its etiopathogenesis and molecular mechanisms are unknown. Epigenetic changes may play a role in its development. Therefore the level of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), a well-known epigenetic marker, was analyzed in DNA from the blood of essential hypertension patients. Material/Methods: TLC chromatographic analysis of the DNA nucleotide composition was used to determine 5mC levels in blood DNA samples from 60 patients suffering from essential hypertension (30 with stage 1 and 30 with stage 2 hypertension) and 30 control subjects. Results: The mean levels of 5mC were 1.80 +/- 0.69 in the healthy subjects, 1.14 +/- 0.48 in all the patients with essential hypertension, 1.29 +/- 0.50 in those with stage 1, and 0.99 +/- 0.42 in those with stage 2 of hypertension. Statistically significant differences in 5mC amount in DNA were observed between the control group and the whole patient group, the control group and each subgroup of patients, and the groups of patients with stage 1 and stage 2 of hypertension. The level of 5mC in the DNA of the essential hypertension patients was independent of clinical and biochemical factors. Conclusions: The level of 5mC in the DNA of patients suffering from essential hypertension is lower than in healthy people and depends of the progression of hypertension.