Artery Research

<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2012, Pages 65 - 70

White blood cell count and endothelin-1 vasoconstrictor tone in middle-aged and older adults

Authors
Kyle J. Diehla, Brian R. Weila, Jared J. Greinera, Brian L. Stauffera, b, c, Christopher A. DeSouzaa, b, *
aIntegrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
bDepartment of Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
cDenver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, USA
*Corresponding author. Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, 354 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Tel.: +1 303 492 2988; fax: +1 303 492 6778. E-mail address: desouzac@colorado.edu (C.A. DeSouza).
Corresponding Author
Christopher A. DeSouza
Received 11 January 2012, Revised 5 March 2012, Accepted 8 March 2012, Available Online 3 April 2012.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.03.001How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Endothelin; Vasoconstriction; White blood cell
Abstract

Background: Higher white blood cell (WBC) count is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. However, the influence of higher WBC count on endothelin (ET)-1 vasoconstrictor activity is currently unknown. We tested the hypothesis that adults with elevated WBC count demonstrate enhanced ET-1 system activity.

Methods: Thirty-four healthy adults were studied: 17 with WBC count<5.0×109cells/L (lower WBC; 9M/8F; age: 53±2 yr) and 17 with WBC count>5.0×109cells/L (higher WBC; 10M/7F; 54±3 yr). Forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to intra-brachial infusion of ET-1 (5pmol/min for 20min) and selective ETA receptor blockade (BQ-123; 100nmol/min for 60min) were measured by venous occlusion plethysmography.

Results: The vasoconstrictor response to ET-1 was significantly blunted (∼60%) in the higher WBC group versus the lower WBC group. The FBF responses to selective ETA receptor blockade were also significantly different (P<0.05) between the groups. In the lower WBC group, resting FBF increased marginally (∼5%) to BQ-123, whereas the increase in FBF to BQ-123 was significantly greater (∼15%) in higher WBC group. Furthermore, there was a significant relation between WBC count and FBF response to ET-1 (r=−0.43) and BQ-123 (r=0.41).

Conclusions: Relative elevations in WBC count in middle-aged and older adults, independent of adiposity and other cardiometabolic risk factors, are associated with enhanced ET-1-mediated vasoconstrictor tone. Elevated ET-1 system activity may be a mechanism linking higher WBC count with increased cardiovascular risk.

Copyright
© 2012 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Download article (PDF)
View full text (HTML)

<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
6 - 2
Pages
65 - 70
Publication Date
2012/04/03
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.03.001How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2012 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Kyle J. Diehl
AU  - Brian R. Weil
AU  - Jared J. Greiner
AU  - Brian L. Stauffer
AU  - Christopher A. DeSouza
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/04/03
TI  - White blood cell count and endothelin-1 vasoconstrictor tone in middle-aged and older adults
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 65
EP  - 70
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2012.03.001
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2012.03.001
ID  - Diehl2012
ER  -