A new word in the treatment of hypertension?
Scientists have created an implant to lower blood pressure
This development opens the way to the creation of fundamentally new strategies for the treatment of hypertension, according to an article published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Rossger et al., Reward-based hypertension control by a synthetic brain-dopamine interface, publicly available - VM).
Martin Fussenegger from the University of Basel and his colleagues have genetically engineered human cells to synthesize a certain protein marker under the action of dopamine, a "pleasure hormone" that is produced by the brain in response to various pleasant stimuli, such as food, drugs and sex, and with the blood flow reaches peripheral nerves.
By placing the cells in semi-permeable microcapsules, the scientists implanted these capsules into mice and made sure that the content of the marker protein in the blood of animals increased under the influence of stimuli that "trigger" the release of dopamine – food, methamphetamine, sexual arousal.
The researchers then reprogrammed the cells, forcing them to respond to the presence of dopamine by synthesizing a "working" protein – atrial natriuretic peptide (PNP), which has a powerful vasodilating effect. Such capsules were implanted in male mice with high blood pressure. When "hypertensive" males were kept together with females who caused sexual arousal in them, the level of PNP in the blood of males increased, and the pressure decreased.
Diagram from an article in PNAS
SEAP – secreted alkaline phosphatase, ANP – atrial natriuretic peptide – VMThe authors of the study suggest that their development can be used to automatically normalize blood pressure in people suffering from hypertension.
Synthesis of PNP can be carried out by artificial systems that react not only to dopamine, but also to other neuroactive substances.
"The fact that unconscious behavior is able to control the work of transgenic therapeutic constructs gives us favorable opportunities to develop future treatment strategies," the scientists write.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru17.10.2013