Immunosenescence and inflammaging: mechanistic contributions to geriatric hypertension
Abstract
Arterial hypertension remains a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity in the elderly, yet its underlying mechanisms in aging are not fully understood. This study investigated the association between hallmarks of immune aging—immunosenescence and inflammaging—and hypertension in a geriatric population in Uzbekistan. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 180 individuals aged 65 and over, comprising 120 hypertensive and 60 normotensive controls. Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells via flow cytometry was used to quantify senescent (CD28-negative) T-cell subsets, and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured. Statistical analysis revealed significantly higher frequencies of senescent CD8+CD28- T cells in the hypertensive group compared to controls (52.7% ± 11.4 vs. 41.2% ± 10.6, p < 0.001). Similarly, serum IL-6 and hs-CRP levels were markedly elevated in hypertensives (median IL-6: 4.85 vs. 2.90 pg/mL, p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was found between the frequency of CD8+CD28- T cells and systolic blood pressure (Spearman's rho = 0.673, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that both CD8+CD28- percentage and IL-6 level were independent predictors of systolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index.