Abstract:Objective To investigate the alterations of plasma metabolism in prehypertension. Methods A group of 53 individuals were within the range of prehypertension during repeated measurements in a 3-year period. This group was compared with control group of 53 normotensive subjects who were matched for age and gender. Metabolomic profiles were analyzed with UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Results The prehypertensive group showed higher levels of lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs) containing C14 :0, C16 :1,C16 :0, C18 :2, C18 :1, C18 :0, C20 :5, C20 :4, C20 :3, and C22 :6, higher activity of circulating Lp-PLA2, oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), interleukin 6 (IL-6), urinary 8-epi-PGF 2α, and higher brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baP-WV), by adjusting for factors including BMI, WHR, smoking, alcohol consumption, serum lipid profiles, glucose, and insulin. LysoPC (16 :0) was a plasma metabolite for evaluating the difference between the control and the prehypertensive groups and it showed a significant statistic difference (P < 0.05) and independent association with DBP and SBP. The level of lysoPC (16 :0) in the prehypertensive group was positively correlated with ox-LDL, Lp-PLA 2 activity, 8-epi-PGF 2α, ba-PWV, and IL-6 by adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusions Prehypertension-associated increases in lysoPCs, Lp-PLA 2 activity, ox-LDL, urinary 8-epi-PGF 2α, IL-6, and ba-PWV indicate increasing oxidative stress by Lp-PLA2-catalyzed hydrolysis of PC in increasing LDL oxidation process, which enhances proinflammation and arterial stiffness.
