Poster Presentation 2014 International Biophysics Congress

Mechanisms of iron misregulation in hypertension induced by epinephrine and norepinephrine (#593)

Shu-E Zhao 1 , Yun-Zhe Ci 1 , Xiang-Lin Duan 1 , Yan-Zhong Chang 1
  1. College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

Hypertension is a very common disease particularly in the elderly population. Clinical investigations have found that there is a strong correlation between the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine and the levels of serum ferritin and transferritin receptor (TfR), suggesting that epinephrine and norepinephrine may closely regulate the body's iron homeostasis. To explore the relation of serum iron levels and the change of epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in hypertension patients, and further reveal the underlying regulatory mechanisms, mice were injected with epinephrine and norepinephrine intravenously, and various iron-related protein levels were detected. We found that the L-ferritin and total iron levels of ascending aorta was significantly increased, the expression of iron uptake proteins, TfR and DMT1(+IRE), were increased and the expression of iron release protein FPN1 decreased. These results indicated the iron uptake in hypertension is elevated. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of increased iron levels caused by adrenaline and norepinephrine in the ascending aorta not only will deepen the understanding of hypertension pathogenesis, but also provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.