INDICATORS OF CYTOKINE ACTIVITY AND BETA-ENDORPHIN PRODUCTION LEVEL IN ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATED WITH ASTHENIC/NEUROTIC DISORDERS IN YOUNG MEN EMPLOYED IN STRESSFUL PROFESSIONS

Abstract

At the present time, arterial hypertension is the most common somatic pathology among young and able-bodied persons. Development and progression of hypertension in young people occupied with stressful jobs presents a particular problem. Anxiety and depression arise quite commonly in such persons subjected to chronic stress. Direct pathophysiological effects of anxiety and depressive disorders upon cardiovascular system leads to development of disturbances of basic regulatory processes and life-threatening clinical forms of ischemic heart disease and hypertension. However, despite sufficient data about the impact of anxiety and depressive disorders on the course of cardiac pathology, some open questions remain concerning the degree of changes in neuropeptide-cytokine pool of immune system in young, intensively working hypertensive patients.Moreover, there is lack of knowledge concerning interdependence in functioning of the major regulatory systems (autonomic nervous and immune) in such patients.In this connection, the aim of this work was to study cytokines of the immune system, and the levels of betaendorphin production in hypertension, proceeding with astheno-neurotic disorders in young men of intensive specialties, as well as study of interactions between the indices of autonomic nervous system functioning, and immunity parameters in these patients. The following groups were under study: 1st (n = 34) included patients with hypertension and astheno-neurotic problems; 2nd (n = 20), patients with hypertension without psychological disorders, with acute or chronic stress in previous history (controls). Neuropeptide-cytokine profile of the immune system was evaluated by levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6), antiinflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), and β-endorphin.In the course of clinical and laboratory examination, we have found that, in the patients with hypertension and astheno-neurotic disorders, activation of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6), suppression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), and reduced β-endorphin in the blood are registered. Moreover, the disturbances detected showed the mutual interactions between autonomic nervous and immune systems in these patients.

Keywords

• hypertension
• asthenia
• β-endorphin
• cytokine
• interleukin
• inflammation