The Association of Psychological Stress Related Cytokines (TNF Alpha, IFN-Gamma) with Essential Hypertension in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Zhaodi Niu, Jian Zhou, Wenwu Ji, Haixia Li, Dan Bai, Huifang Yang

School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.

DOI: 10.4236/ojemd.2013.37038                

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the association between psychological stress-related cytokines and essential hypertension to provide the theoretical basis for the prevention and control of the essential hypertension. We screened hypertension patients in six communities in Wuzhong City of Ningxia, and chose the healthy people who had lived in the same community for full 5 years as a control group. Finally, we selected 210 pairs of cases and controls randomly, including 108 pairs of Hui and 102 pairs of Han (50% male; age 35 -74). The results showed that the serum TNF alpha levels of hypertension group were higher than the control group (ρ < 0.01), and the serum IFN-gamma levels were lower than the control group both in Hui and Han (ρ < 0.01). Further analysis showed that the serum TNF alpha level of the Hui hypertension group was higher than the Han hypertension group (ρ < 0.01), while the serum IFN-gamma level was lower than Han hypertension group (ρ < 0.01). In conclusion, TNF alpha and IFN-gamma were the important related cytokines between psychological stress and hypertension, and taking effective measures to control the level of serum TNF alpha. IFN-gamma may have the vital significance in alleviating or preventing the genesis and development of essential hypertension.

Keywords

Essential Hypertension; Psychological Stress; TNF Alpha; IFN-Gamma

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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