Effects of Ora-Pro-Nóbis on arterial hypertension induced by high sodium diet and L-NAME in mice exposed to PM2.5

• Grant number: 24/13479-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Talita Rojas Cunha Sanches
• Grantee: Julia Hadermeck dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/19433-0 - Pollution is the motor of premature ageing of the kidney, AP.TEM

Abstract

Air pollution is an environmental factor that is known to be harmful to human health. In the respiratory system, we can mention the increased risk of lung cancer, respiratory infections and worsening of conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary as diseases influenced by air pollution. Cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, peripheral arterial disease, venous thrombosis, acute myocardial infarction and stroke are also influenced by the increase in PM2.5 present in ambient air. The kidneys are also known to be susceptible to harm because of pollution. Living close to main roads is related to a reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (TGFe) and exposure to pollutants increases markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and DNA damage, increasing the risk of developing chronic kidney disease and kidney disease in terminal stage.Systemic arterial hypertension is another important morbidity factor in the contemporary world. It is estimated that the hypertensive population will reach 1.56 billion individuals in 2025, representing an increase of 60% since the turn of the millennium, in 2000. The relationship between high blood pressure and cardiovascular outcomes is already well established. Due to its high vascularization, the kidney is an organ susceptible to damage from high blood pressure. Controlling the blood pressure of the vessels responsible for irrigating the parenchyma is essential for the integrity of renal function, given the need to fine regulation of the glomerular tuft pression for the filtration process, and to preserve the tissues from pressure stress.It is clear that both air pollution and hypertension are widely studied individually as factors causing kidney diseases. However, in practice, both overlap, with the increasing prevalence of hypertensive patients, who are exposed daily to increasing atmospheric pollution in urban areas. Therefore, it is necessary to know the effects of exposing a hypertensive organism to air pollution and evaluate the evolution of the renal and cardiovascular system to these combined stimuli.Our research group has studied the action of Pereskia aculeata Miller, popularly known as Ora-Pro-Nóbis (OPN), on the blood pressure of rats and mice. OPN is considered an unconventional food plant and stands out for having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In data not yet published, we observed the action of OPN on the blood pressure of rats fed for one month with a standard rodent diet supplemented with 10% OPN powder.Considering the prevalence of hypertension and the lack of sufficient public policies to reduce the exposure to air pollution, it is important to identify the possible effects of PM2.5 on hypertension and ways to reduce harmful outcomes in affected organs. Therefore, we propose to study the effect of OPN supplementation in hypertensive mice exposed to PM2.5.