The Link Between Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Hypertension

The Potential Link Between HCMV Infection and Essential Hypertension

It has been reported that mouse cytomegalovirus infection alone can elevate the blood pressure in mice. Since HCMV has uniquely evolved with its human host, with little genetic similarity to the animal CMV counterparts, and it only replicates in human, an epidemiological study is required to define the relevance of HCMV infection and expression of hcmv-miRNA-UL112 to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.

The investigators found that hcmv-miR-UL112, a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded miRNA, was highly expressed in the hypertensive patients. Among the top miRNA target predictions, the investigators demonstrate that IRF-1 is a direct target gene of hcmv-miR-UL112, along with MICB that has been previously reported. Both IRF-1 and MICB play critical roles in immuno/inflammatory and anti-infection response. Thus, the investigators speculated that IRF-1 and MICB repression by hcmv-miR-UL112 could be considered a unifying mechanism that evades the host response at several levels: antiviral, inflammatory, and immune. In addition, there is an increasing evidence that IRF-1 may be important in apoptosis, angiogenesis, neointima formation and the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. IRF-1 can up-regulate angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AGTR2) that exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions and affects regulation of blood pressure. It has been reported that the targeted disruption of the mouse AGTR2 gene resulted in a significant increase in blood pressure and increased sensitivity to angiotensin II. The nitric oxide synthase expression and NO synthesis in macrophages and distinct cardiomyocytes are induced and controlled by IRF-1 in response to inflammation, important steps in vascular biology that may improve endothelial function and inhibit smooth muscle cell migration, and a key pathophysiological event in hypertension. Collectively, these reports support a strong relationship between IRF-1 regulation and hypertension, indicating a potential role of hcmv-miR-UL112 and HCMV infection in the pathogenesis of hypertension.Thus, the investigators want to investigate the potential link between HCMV infection and essential hypertension.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Hypertension; HCMV Infection

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 300

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Chaoyang
    • Beijing, Chaoyang, China, 100020
      • Recruiting
      • Jun Cai
      • Contact: Jun Cai, MD; Phone Number: +86 10 85231217; Email: caijun7879@yahoo.com.cn
      • Sub-Investigator: Jun Cai, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

essential hypertensive patients:

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with essential hypertension are assessed for potential secondary causes, for the severity of hypertension, other risk factors and for end-organ damage
• Aged between 30 to 60 years
• Untreated (whole day average > 140/90 mmHg) or treated hypertension whole-day average < 140/85), as determined by 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Renal failure
• Stroke
• Peripheral artery disease

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
study group; hypertensive patients
control group; healthy volunteer

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
The positive rate of HCMV infection in hypertensive patients and healthy control	1 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
HCMV copies number per ml plasma of hypertensive patients and healthy controls	1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Beijing Chao Yang Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Xin-Chun Yang, MD, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 27, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): April 29, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 29, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2010
• Last Verified: April 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Hypertension; HCMV infection; The Potential Link Between HCMV Infection and Essential Hypertension
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Virus Diseases; Disease Attributes; DNA Virus Infections; Herpesviridae Infections; Hypertension; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Essential Hypertension; Cytomegalovirus Infections
• Other Study ID Numbers: BJCY-CV-2010001; YXinchun (Registry Identifier: YXinchun)