A potential role of memory T cells in hypertension (1074.1)

Immunological memory is an important component of adaptive immunity. We have previously shown that T cells are important in hypertension. We therefore hypothesized that memory T cells contribute to long‐term and repeated hypertensive challenges. To test this, mice received 2 weeks of angiotensin II, were allowed to recover for 3 weeks and then were received a low dose of ang II (140 ng/kg/min) that minimally raises blood pressure in naïve mice. This low‐dose of ang II increased blood pressure to 137±6 mmHg in mice that had previously received a vehicle infusion, but to 172±12 mmHg in mice that had received ang II. In keeping with a memory T cell response, we found that ang II increased CD8+ central memory cells in the kidney 5 to 10‐fold while reducing these effector memory CD8+ T cells in the spleen. CD8+ memory T cells require co‐stimulatory signaling between CD70 on macrophages and CD27 on T cells. We found that ang II infusion increased CD70 mRNA in isolated kidney vessels by 5 to 10‐fold. Similarly, flow cytometry revealed that ang II increased macrophages expressing CD70 and CD8+ T cells expressing CD27 expression in the kidney. Thus, these studies indicate that repeated exposures to ang II promote an immune memory response of CD8+ T cells and markedly enhance the hypertensive response. The role of CD27 and CD70 signaling requires additional study but might serve as a therapeutic target.