Greater T Regulatory Cells in Females Attenuate DOCA-Salt Induced Increases in Blood Pressure vs. Males

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Tex. 1979), 2020-04, Vol.75 (6), p.1615-1623
• Main Authors: Belanger, Kasey M., Crislip, G. Ryan, Gillis, Ellen E., Abdelbary, Mahmoud, Musall, Jacqueline B., Mohamed, Riyaz, Baban, Babak, Elmarakby, Ahmed, Brands, Michael W., Sullivan, Jennifer C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0194-911X; 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14089

Hypertension is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease, causing over 18 million deaths a year. Although the mechanisms controlling blood pressure (BP) in either sex remain largely unknown, T cells play a critical role in the development of hypertension. Further evidence supports a role for the immune system in contributing to sex differences in hypertension. The goal of the current study was to first, determine the impact of sex on the renal T cell profiles in DOCA-salt hypertensive males and females, and secondly, test the hypothesis that greater numbers of T regulatory cells (Tregs) in females protect against DOCA-salt induced increases in BP and kidney injury. Male rats displayed greater increases in BP than females following 3 weeks of DOCA-salt treatment, although increases in renal injury were comparable between the sexes. DOCA-salt treatment resulted in an increase in pro-inflammatory T cells in both sexes, however, females had more anti-inflammatory Tregs than males. Additional male and female DOCA-salt rats were treated with anti-CD25 to decrease Tregs. Decreasing Tregs significantly increased BP only in females, thereby abolishing the sex difference in the BP response to DOCA-salt. This data supports the hypothesis that Tregs protect against the development of hypertension and are particularly important for the control of BP in females.