Correlation Between RhoA/ROCK Signaling Pathway,Blood Pressure Variability And Carotid Artery Intima-media Thickness In Essential Hypertension Patients

Objective Rho family is a kind of low molecular weight GTPases. Its sub-families contains RhoA, RhoB, RhoC, RhoD, RhoE, etc.Rho-kinase (Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein serine/threonine kinase,ROCK),which is a sort of serine/ threonine kinase of relative molecular mass of 160 x 103, including two subtypes of ROCK1 and ROCK2,is the earliest discovered downstream effector of RhoA.In recent years, the research of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway in cardiac disease is becoming increasingly rapid. RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway plays an significant role in the contraction,migration and proliferation in vascular smooth muscle and participates in pathophysiological process of some common cardiocerebral vascular disease,such as hypertension, cerebral vasospasm, atherosclerosis, coronary artery spasm, myocardial infarction and primary pulmonary hypertension.Hypertension is not only characterized by the rise of the average blood pressure, but also accompanied by the variation of blood pressure rhythm.Blood pressure variability is a quantitative indicator to describe the degree of blood pressure fluctuation in a certain period of time,which is often indicated by the standard deviation of the blood pressure.Along with the increasingly deepening of the hypertension research and widespread application of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(ABPM) in clinical practice, the degree of fluctuation of blood pressure draws increasing attention.Research shows the change of circadian rhythm of blood pressure in essential hypertensive patients will lead to artery atherosclerosis (AS),thereby increasing the damage of target organ.Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) can make effective prediction of the target organ damage in hypertensive patients as a early manifestation of whole body AS.The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether the blood pressure variability (BPV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was associated with the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway in essential hypertension patients though measuring the level of serum ROCK 1,monitoring the blood pressure variability and measuring the carotid artery IMT of hypertensive patients.Methods:73 hypertension patients were divided into two groups based on ROCK1 serum level:the group with high level of ROCK1 (37cases) and the group with low level of ROCK1 (36cases).40 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. The level of serum ROCK1 was measured by Human Rockl Elisa kit and BIORAD Model 680 microplate reader. The mean blood pressures (systolic blood pressures, diastolic blood pressures) and the standard deviations of 24h,daytime and nighttime (24hSSD、dSSD、nSSD、24hDSD、dDSD、nDSD) were detected by the examination of the 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The carotid artery IMT was determined by color Doppler ultrasound monitor.Result:1. The level of serum ROCK1 in hypertension group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05)2. Compared with the group with low ROCK1 level, the 24hSSD,dSSD and nSSD was significant increased in the group with high ROCK1 level (P<0.05)3. The carotid artery IMT in hypertension patients was thicker than that of control group(P<0.05), The carotid artery IMT of the group with high ROCK1 level was thicker than that of the low level group (P<0.05)4. The level of serum ROCK1 showed significantly positive correlations with 24hSSD, dSSD, nSSD and carotid artery IMT in hypertension patients (P<0.05).Conclusion:1. The BPV was closely associated with expression of Rho/ROCK signaling pathway in hypertension patients.2. The overexpression of Rho/ROCK signaling pathway plays a key role in the progression of the carotid artery IMT and atherosclerosis.