Age-related features of the immune status associated with the development of arterial hypertension in employees of an oil production enterprise

Introduction. Arterial hypertension (AH) is a multifactorial disease, the main risk factors of which are environmental determinants, the duration and level of their exposure, as well as the age of the examined population. The conditions of the production environment are characterized by a more pronounced effect of technogenic factors compared to the environment, which creates prerequisites for the development of adaptation disorders and an increased risk of hypertension among employees of the oil production enterprise.

The aim of study was to analyze age — related features of the immune status associated with the development of AH in employees of an oil production enterprise in the Perm region.

Materials and methods. 150 oil production operators exposed to chronic exposure to harmful production factors were examined. The observation group consisted of 67 people over 40 years of age with more than 10 years of work experience who had episodes of increased blood pressure (BP). The comparison group consisted of 73 men under 45 years of age with less than 10 years of experience and no cardiovascular pathology. Determination of the total IgE, IgG to benzene, and VEGF content was performed by the ELISA method. The content of CD3+CD25+, CD127–, CD3+CD95+, and Bax was determined by flow cytometry. Phagocytic activity of white blood cells was studied using formalized sheep red blood cells. The relationship between age and seniority with the development of episodes of increased blood pressure was evaluated using the odds — OR ratio indicator. Statistical processing of the results was performed using the Statistica 6.0 software package. Differences between groups were considered significant at p<0.05.

Results. Episodes of increased blood pressure in employees of an oil production enterprise in the Perm region are significantly associated with work experience of more than 10 years when they reach the age of 40 years (p<0.05). The observation group is characterized by an increased (p<0.05) level of General (IgE General) and specific (IgG to benzene) sensitization. A decrease (p<0.05) in the CD3+CD25+ content relative to the comparison group was found against the background of an increase (p<0.05) in the level of regulatory CD127 lymphocytes. Episodes of increased blood pressure in the observation group are associated (p<0.05) with a reduced (p<0.05) level of the Bax protein and CD95+-receptor of lymphocytes relative to the comparison group. At the same time, signs of phagocytosis activation (p<0.05) were established according to the criteria of phagocytosis percentage, phagocytic number, and absolute phagocytosis relative to the comparison group.

Conclusions. Detected changes in immune regulation: an increase in the level of General (IgE General) and specific (IgG to benzene) sensitization, suppression of the immune response (CD3+CD25+, CD127–) and apoptosis (CD3+CD95+, Bax) against the background of phagocytosis activation characterize the development of hypertension in employees of an oil production enterprise older than 40 years with more than 10 years of experience in this industry.

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