| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
Fiscal Year 2007: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
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| Research Abstract |
In order to assess the membrane abnormalities in the metabolic syndrome, we investigated the vasoactive substances on the membrane fluidity in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Membrane fluidity is a physicochemical feature of biomembranes and is an important factor modulating microcirculation. Using the electron paramagnetic resonance and spin-labeling method, we examine the alterations in membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in hypertensive subjects with obesity and diabetes mellitus. We demonstrated that the higher plasma insulin level, the lower the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes. This might indicate that hyperinsulinemia is involved in the regulation of membrane fluidity of erythrocytes. The decreased membrane fluidity of erythrocytes might cause a disturbance in the blood rheologic behavior and the microcirculation, which could contribute, at least in part, to the pathophysiology of hypertension. One hypothesis is that insulin might accelerate the vascular complications in subjects with hyperinsulinemia. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the reduced membrane fluidity of erythrocytes was associated with lower plasma nitric oxide (NO) and higher asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) levels. Furthermore, the lower the plasma adiponectin levels, the lower the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes.
In this context, it is strongly suggested that abnormalities in membrane function and their regulation by vasoactive substances might contribute, at least in part, to the pathophysiology of hypertension and the metabolic syndrome.
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