Abstract

ROLE OF VASCULAR INFLAMMATION IN INDUCTION OF HYPERTENSION AND THERAPEUTIC ROLE OF PLANT DERIVED TERPENES

Shahnawaz Ahmad Wani, Ayesha Aiman and Seemi Farhat Basir*

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is multifactorial and a serious chronic cardiovascular condition which affects the majority of population all over the world. Inflammation is a protective mechanism in response to infection or injury to the cells and maintains homeostasis within the body. However, sustained robust inflammation can cause vasoconstriction, provoking hypertension. The aetiology of high blood pressure is complex, and its exact mechanism is still yet to be discovered. However, we have tried to propose a general outlook of how inflammation induces hypertension. During injury, the innate immune system gets activated and releases pro-hypertensive cytokines and TNF-α. On further stimulation, it leads to the activation of adaptive immune response and releases pro-inflammatory mediators resulting into low-grade inflammation leading towards increased blood pressure and damage to end-organs. The immune mediated forms of hypertension can provide a hypothesis that may explain how an immune response that is triggered by the central nervous system would cause hypertension. Angiotensin-II, a modulator of blood pressure, can access CNS via circumventricular organs to activate circulating T-cells during vascular inflammation. ROS mediated generation of inflammatory response is also a major contributor to hypertension. Terpenes are plant derived secondary metabolites that have shown their role in many biological processes such as plant growth, development, reproduction and defence. They are considered as a potent therapeutic agent against hypertension due to their vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Keywords: Hypertension, inflammation, terpenes, innate immune system, adaptive immune system.