The Link Between Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Hypertension

Hypertension Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Potential Link Between HCMV Infection and Essential Hypertension

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01113359
• Other study ID #: BJCY-CV-2010001
• Secondary ID: YXinchun
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• First received: April 27, 2010
• Last updated: April 28, 2010
• Start date: April 2010
• Est. completion date: May 2010

Study information

• Verified date: April 2010
• Source: Beijing Chao Yang Hospital
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: China: National Natural Science Foundation
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

It has been reported that mouse cytomegalovirus infection alone can elevate the blood pressure in mice. Since HCMV has uniquely evolved with its human host, with little genetic similarity to the animal CMV counterparts, and it only replicates in human, an epidemiological study is required to define the relevance of HCMV infection and expression of hcmv-miRNA-UL112 to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.

The investigators found that hcmv-miR-UL112, a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded miRNA, was highly expressed in the hypertensive patients. Among the top miRNA target predictions, the investigators demonstrate that IRF-1 is a direct target gene of hcmv-miR-UL112, along with MICB that has been previously reported. Both IRF-1 and MICB play critical roles in immuno/inflammatory and anti-infection response. Thus, the investigators speculated that IRF-1 and MICB repression by hcmv-miR-UL112 could be considered a unifying mechanism that evades the host response at several levels: antiviral, inflammatory, and immune. In addition, there is an increasing evidence that IRF-1 may be important in apoptosis, angiogenesis, neointima formation and the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. IRF-1 can up-regulate angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AGTR2) that exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions and affects regulation of blood pressure. It has been reported that the targeted disruption of the mouse AGTR2 gene resulted in a significant increase in blood pressure and increased sensitivity to angiotensin II. The nitric oxide synthase expression and NO synthesis in macrophages and distinct cardiomyocytes are induced and controlled by IRF-1 in response to inflammation, important steps in vascular biology that may improve endothelial function and inhibit smooth muscle cell migration, and a key pathophysiological event in hypertension. Collectively, these reports support a strong relationship between IRF-1 regulation and hypertension, indicating a potential role of hcmv-miR-UL112 and HCMV infection in the pathogenesis of hypertension.Thus, the investigators want to investigate the potential link between HCMV infection and essential hypertension.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 300
• Est. completion date: May 2010
• Est. primary completion date: May 2010
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 30 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with essential hypertension are assessed for potential secondary causes, for the severity of hypertension, other risk factors and for end-organ damage

• Aged between 30 to 60 years

• Untreated (whole day average > 140/90 mmHg) or treated hypertension whole-day average < 140/85), as determined by 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cancer

• Diabetes

• Smoking

• Renal failure

• Stroke

• Peripheral artery disease

Study Design

Observational Model: Case Control, Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• HCMV Infection
• Hypertension
• Infection

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
China	Jun Cai	Beijing	Chaoyang

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Beijing Chao Yang Hospital

Country where clinical trial is conducted

China, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The positive rate of HCMV infection in hypertensive patients and healthy control		1 month	No
Secondary	HCMV copies number per ml plasma of hypertensive patients and healthy controls		1 month	No