Association Between Serum Selenium Concentration and OPG/RANKL/RANK Axis in Patients with Arterial Hypertension

Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2022 Jul;22(7):620-630. doi: 10.1007/s12012-022-09741-x. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the serum selenium concentration (Se-S) and the blood concentrations of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) and the OPG/RANKL ratio in patients with arterial hypertension. The study group comprised 138 patients with arterial hypertension (age: 56.04 ± 11.59 years). Se-S was determined in all the subjects. Based on the Se-S, the following subgroups were distinguished: a subgroup of patients with a lower Se-S ("low-Se", Se-S < median) and a subgroup of patients with a higher Se-S ("high-Se", Se-S ≥ median). Moreover, the blood concentrations of the parameters of bone metabolism and extraskeletal calcification were assessed: OPG and RANKL. The OPG/RANKL ratio was calculated. In the "low-Se" subgroup, the RANKL concentration was statistically significantly lower, and the OPG/RANKL ratio was statistically significantly higher than in the patients in the "high-Se" subgroup. The correlation analysis showed the negative linear relationships between Se-S and OPG (r = - 0.25, p < 0.05) and between Se-S and OPG/RANKL (r = - 0.47, p < 0.05). Moreover, Se-S positively correlated with RANKL (r = 0.33, p < 0.05). In regression analysis, higher body mass index (BMI), smoking and lower Se-S were independently associated with a higher OPG/RANKL ratio, while lower BMI, use of diuretics, β-blockers and ACE inhibitors and lower OPG/RANKL ratio with effective blood pressure control. In summary, in the group of patients with arterial hypertension, lower Se-S is associated with an unfavourable prognostic panel of parameters of bone metabolism and extraskeletal calcification. Lower Se-S is an independent risk factor for a higher OPG/RANKL ratio, which is an independent prediction factor of ineffective blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.

Keywords: Arterial hypertension; Calcification; Osteoprotegerin; Selenium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / diagnosis
  • Hypertension* / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-kappa B
  • Osteoprotegerin
  • RANK Ligand
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / metabolism
  • Selenium*

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Osteoprotegerin
  • RANK Ligand
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B
  • TNFRSF11A protein, human
  • Selenium