Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Physiol., 21 March 2018
Sec. Vascular Physiology
This article is part of the Research Topic Redox and Nitrosative Signaling in Cardiovascular System: from Physiological Response to Disease View all 24 articles

The Antioxidant Therapy: New Insights in the Treatment of Hypertension

  • 1Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate, Università Federico II, Napoli, Italy
  • 2Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Baronissi, Italy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a key role in the regulation of the physiological and pathological signaling within the vasculature. In physiological conditions, a delicate balance between oxidants and antioxidants protects cells from the detrimental effects of ROS/RNS. Indeed, the imbalance between ROS/RNS production and antioxidant defense mechanisms leads to oxidative and nitrosative stress within the cell. These processes promote the vascular damage observed in chronic conditions, such as hypertension. The strong implication of ROS/RNS in the etiology of hypertension suggest that antioxidants could be effective in the treatment of this pathology. Indeed, in animal models of hypertension, the overexpression of antioxidants and the genetic modulation of oxidant systems have provided an encouraging proof of concept. Nevertheless, the translation of these strategies to human disease did not reach the expected success. This could be due to the complexity of this condition, whose etiology depends on multiple factors (smoking, diet, life styles, genetics, family history, comorbidities). Indeed, 95% of reported high blood pressure cases are deemed “essential hypertension,” and at the molecular level, oxidative stress seems to be a common feature of hypertensive states. In this scenario, new therapies are emerging that could be useful to reduce oxidative stress in hypertension. It is now ascertained the role of Vitamin D deficiency in the development of essential hypertension and it has been shown that an appropriate high dose of Vitamin D significantly reduces blood pressure in hypertensive cohorts with vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, new drugs are emerging which have both antihypertensive action and antioxidant properties, such as celiprolol, carvedilol, nebivolol. Indeed, besides adrenergic desensitization, these kind of drugs are able to interfere with ROS/RNS generation and/or signaling, and are therefore considered promising therapeutics in the management of hypertension. In the present review we have dealt with the effectiveness of the antioxidant therapy in the management of hypertension. In particular, we discuss about Vitamin D and anti-hypertensive drugs with antioxidant properties.

Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress: Physio-Pathological Implications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in several cellular systems within the cell: plasma membrane, cytosol, peroxisomes, mitochondria, lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum (Di Meo et al., 2016). The enzymes involved in ROS generation are: nitric oxide synthase, peroxidases, NADPH oxidase, NADPH oxidase isoforms (NOX), xanthine oxidase (XO), lipoxygenases (LOXs), glucose oxidase, cyclooxygenases (COXs), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (Bhattacharyya et al., 2014). Moreover, exogenous sources of ROS also exists that include air pollution, smoking, ionizing radiations, foods and drugs, chemical agents, heavy metals, organic solvents, pesticides (Bhattacharyya et al., 2014). ROS derive from oxygen reduction which produces, through several steps, important intermediate products: superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical. Superoxide anion (O2-) is the most common ROS, which is generated in mitochondria by the electron transport chain (ETC) through the partial reduction of oxygen (Bolisetty and Jaimes, 2013). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is responsible of H2O2 production from superoxide anion by means of amino acid and xanthine oxidase or a dismutation reaction. In the presence of metal ions and superoxide anion, H2O2 can produce the hydroxyl radical (·OH), that is the most reactive and dangerous one (Quinlan et al., 2013; Ogun, 2015).

RNS derives from nitric oxide (NO) that is generated during the breakdown of arginine to citrulline by the NADPH-dependent enzyme nitric oxide synthase (Drew and Leeuwenburgh, 2002). NO is a neurotransmitter and a blood pressure regulator; it is a free radical but is not a very reactive one. NO is able to form other nitrogen reactive intermediates (nitrate, peroxynitrite, and 3-nitrotyrosine), which affect cell function (Ramchandra et al., 2005; Ogun, 2015). NO competes with O2 for the binding at the binuclear center of cytochrome c oxidoreductase, leading to the inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity (Cleeter et al., 1994). In mitochondria it increases the production of ROS and RNS which affect several processes such as mitochondrial biogenesis, respiration, and oxidative stress (Bolisetty and Jaimes, 2013; Ogun, 2015). NO reacts with O2-, which derives from mitochondrial respiratory chain, to give peroxynitrite (OONO), which spontaneously decompose to NO2. and hydroxyl radical (.OH). Peroxynitrite is cytotoxic, oxidizes low-density lipoprotein and inhibits mitochondrial function (Radi et al., 2002; Halliwell, 2007). Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) derives from the reaction of peroxyl radical and NO, triggers lipid peroxidation and oxidizes ascorbic acid (Patel et al., 1999).

ROS and RNS play a key role in both health and disease acting as signaling molecules (Di Meo et al., 2016). Indeed, they are involved in several physiologic processes (proliferation, growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, contraction, and cytoskeletal regulation,) but, when in excess, they also trigger the development of pathologic conditions (chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases, sensory impairment, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, fibrotic disease, obesity, insulin resistance, neurological disorders, and infectious diseases; Mittler et al., 2011; Sena and Chandel, 2012; Brown and Griendling, 2015). In physiological conditions, a delicate balance between oxidants and antioxidants exists that allow cells to conduct their physiological functions and to improve the systemic defense mechanisms (Figure 1; Ristow and Schmeisser, 2014; Ogun, 2015). However, when this balance is impaired leading to an excessive production of ROS/RNS, oxidative and nitrosative stress occurs and causes extensive cellular damage. This dual effect of ROS has been named mitohormesis, indicating a non-linear dose-response relationship between ROS levels and mortality (Ristow and Schmeisser, 2014).

FIGURE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1. Physiological and pathological ROS levels. In physiological conditions, there is a delicate balance between oxidants and antioxidants that allow cells to conduct their physiological functions and to improve systemic defense mechanisms by inducing an adaptive response. In this conditions ROS production is physiologic and not dangerous. However, when the balance between oxidants and antioxidants is impaired and ROS production increase over the physiological threshold, excessive ROS levels trigger the development of pathologic conditions.

The Involvement of ROS/RNS in the Etiology of Hypertension

Hypertension is a complex condition whose etiology depends on several factors (smoking, diet, genetics, family history, pre-existing pathologies) and, in most cases, it is difficult to determine the main cause (“essential hypertension”). Besides the complex etiology of this disease, oxidative and nitrosative stress appear to be a common feature within hypertensive disorders (Harrison et al., 2007; Harrison and Gongora, 2009; Baradaran et al., 2014). Even if it is still debated whether excessive ROS/RNS production is the cause or the consequence of hypertension, several in vitro and in vivo evidence suggest that ROS/RNS trigger the activation of specific molecular mechanisms which in turn increase blood pressure levels (Ward and Croft, 2006).

In Vitro Evidence in Cultured Vascular Cells

Vascular cell types (endothelialcells, smooth muscle cells, adventitial fibroblasts, and perivascular adipocytes) are able to produce ROS through the activity of many enzymes (Touyz and Briones, 2011; Kim and Byzova, 2014). Among these latter, mitochondrial enzymes and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (Nox) are the major sources of ROS in the vascular wall that trigger mitochondrial dysfunction and consequently oxidative stress. Angiotensin II has been shown to induce mitochondrial ROS production through the activation of NADPH oxidase (Doughan et al., 2008; Figure 2). The vascular production of ROS/RNS causes a significant reduction of NO production and eNOS activity (Rodrigo et al., 2011). Indeed, when the levels of superoxide anion increase, nitric oxide is rapidly degraded causing endothelial dysfunction (McIntyre et al., 1999; Touyz and Schiffrin, 2004). The peroxynitrite oxidizes BH4, an important NO synthase cofactor, and inducing an increase of superoxide production leading to the development of oxidative stress (Laursen et al., 2001). Through lipid peroxidation, ROS can also cause the generation of secondary products (lipid-derived aldehydes) that contributes to endothelial dysfunction and hypertension (Cracowski et al., 2002).

FIGURE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 2. Angiotensin II-dependent ROS production induces hypertension. Angiotensin II induces ROS production through the activation of mitochondrial enzymes and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (Nox). Angiotensin II-dependent ROS production causes in turn a significant reduction of eNOS activity and NO production, lipid peroxidation, induction of apoptotic signaling, and NFκB activation. These all lead to endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation that trigger the development of the hypertensive state.

In hypertension, ROS affected several processes which in turn trigger endothelial dysfunction (apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation). Indeed, in endothelial cells, the increase of ROS production in response to pro-inflammatory and pro-atherosclerotic factors (Ang II, oxLDL, TNFalpha), activates apoptotic events which are prevented by the treatment with antioxidants (Dimmeler and Zeiher, 2000). The pro-apoptotic effects of ROS in endothelial cells derives from the impairment of mitochondrial membrane permeability followed by cytochrome c release and caspase activation (Breitschopf et al., 2000; Lee et al., 2009).

In the endothelium, the expression of some adhesion molecules (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1) is ROS-dependent, suggesting that ROS promote adhesion of inflammatory cells (Marui et al., 1993; Khan et al., 1996).

It has been demonstrated that ROS-dependent angiogenesis is associated with VEGF expression (Kim and Byzova, 2014). Indeed, hydrogen peroxide increases VEGF expression both in vascular smooth muscle cells and in endothelial cells, thus promoting angiogenic responses (Ruef et al., 1997; Chua et al., 1998). ROS also affect the dimerization and autophosphorylation of VEGFR2 in response to VEGF, and subsequent angiogenesis induced by VEGFR2 activation (Colavitti et al., 2002; Ushio-Fukai et al., 2002; Kim and Byzova, 2014). Recent studies also identified novel mechanisms of ROS-dependent angiogenesis which are VEGF-independent (Kim et al., 2013; Kim and Byzova, 2014). Indeed, ROS are involved in the generation of new lipid oxidation products with proangiogenic activities through TLR-2 dependent NFkappaB activation. Also, ROS-dependent NFkappaB activation induces the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (Malinin et al., 2011; Kim et al., 2013; Kim and Byzova, 2014).

In Vivo Evidence in Animal Models of Hypertension

The involvement of ROS in the etiology of hypertension has been demonstrated in several animal models of hypertension: spontaneously hypertensive rat (Kerr et al., 1999), the angiotensin II-infused rat (Haugen et al., 2000), renovascular hypertension (Lerman et al., 2001), the deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt model (Wu et al., 2001), and obesity-related hypertension (Dobrian et al., 2001). These studies associate oxidative stress with the mechanisms of hypertension, including vascular and organ damage. A further confirmation of ROS involvement in hypertension derives from the finding that in animal models of hypertension the increased ROS production causes endothelial dysfunction that is reversed by SOD (Laursen et al., 1997; Bauersachs et al., 1999; Somers et al., 2000).

In Vivo Evidence in Humans

In smooth muscle cells from arteries of hypertensive patients the treatment with Angiotensin II induces ROS production, as demonstrated by the increase of several parameters that are related to ROS (Touyz and Schiffrin, 2001; Ahmad et al., 2017). Furthermore, in hypertensive patients a strong association exists between blood pressure and the elevated oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde, F2-isoprostanes, GSSG, and the DNA oxidation marker 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) (Rodrigo et al., 2007; Ahmad et al., 2017).

The Antioxidant Therapy in Hypertension

Given the above discussed involvement of oxidative and nitrosative stress in the etiology of hypertension, the antioxidant therapy seems to be a useful strategy to restore the impaired balance between oxidants and antioxidants in hypertensive conditions. Indeed, the treatment with antioxidants has been successfully used in animal models of hypertension. The oral treatment with Lazaroid, a ROS scavenger, in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) improved NO viability and reduced blood pressure (Vaziri et al., 2000). Similarly, treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibited ROS production and improved NOS activity and accordingly reduced blood pressure (Ahmad et al., 2017). The same results were found also in SHR treated with the xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol (Mazzali et al., 2001). Moreover, successful results were also obtained by targeting antioxidant peptides to the vasculature to increase the antioxidant effect, reduce vascular resistances and lower BP. For instance, the antioxidant peptide gp91ds affects the assembly of NAD(P)H oxidase and consequently reduces superoxide production (Greig et al., 2010). This peptide was engineered to target vasculature and chronically administered to a preclinical model of endothelial dysfunction and more severe hypertension, the stroke-prone SHR. The treatment significantly improved nitric oxide bioavailability and attenuated the time-dependent and progressive increase in systolic blood pressure (Greig et al., 2010).

Opposite to preclinical models, however, antioxidant strategies for the treatment of hypertension in clinic did not reach the expected success. Indeed, literature is quite discordant on the effect of antioxidant therapy in hypertension as demonstrated by data from clinical trials (Kizhakekuttu and Widlansky, 2010). This could be due to the complexity of this condition. Indeed, while we call hypertensives all patients with blood pressure values above a given threshold (Mancia et al., 2013; Whelton et al., 2017) indeed within this generic definition a much diversified range of phenotypes are included, ranging from the young lean to the obese, to the postmenopausal women or the elderly hypertensives. For each of this phenotype, indeed, it is expected to recognize different etiology, depending on several risk factors (genetics, family history), lifestyles (smoking, diet, sedentary lifestyle), concomitant conditions (chronic kidney disease, diabetes). In each of these phenotypes, the role of oxidants might be different, and therefore diluted within clinical trials that do not select the appropriate patient. Moreover, it is to be considered that the effectiveness of antioxidants can be lowered by the cross-talk with other substances. For instance, it has been shown that Vitamin C alone reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) vs. placebo (Ward et al., 2005) through the down-regulation of NADPH oxidase and up-regulation of eNOS (Briones and Touyz, 2010; Juraschek et al., 2012). However, the same vitamin, in combination with Polyphenols, increases BP, while in combination with other antioxidants (Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc) modestly reduces systolic BP and does not modify diastolic BP (Ardalan and Rafieian-Kopaei, 2014). Furthermore, ineffective dosing regimens and inadequate selection of subjects recruited in the studies could also have affected the effectiveness of the treatment. Table 1 summarize the main common natural antioxidants (e.g., vitamins and mitochondrial related antioxidants), other potential antioxidants (e.g., vitamin D), and anti-hypertensive drugs that also exert antioxidant effects.

TABLE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1. Known and potential antioxidants.

Among natural antioxidants, here we focused on Vitamin D, whose levels has been recently associated with hypertension, since it has great potentiality to be used for therapeutic treatments. Among the other antioxidants listed in Table 1, we discuss the ability of some anti-hypertensive drugs to reduce oxidative stress. This latter property of anti-hypertensive drugs enforces the proof of concept about the key role of oxidative stress in the development and progression of hypertensive states and the benefit of antioxidants as therapeutic strategy.

Vitamin D

Among antioxidants, Vitamin D is recently emerging as anti-hypertensive effector through the activation of antioxidant mechanisms. In human, most vitamin D (~80%) is naturally synthesized in the skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol in response to ultraviolet (UV) B radiation but it can also derive from dietary sources. Vitamin D is metabolized in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) that is converted by 1α-hydroxylase into 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the biologically active agonist for the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) (Figure 3; Chen et al., 2015). Serum levels of Vitamin D are regulated by calcium homeostasis and parathyroid hormone (PTH) level since low calcium and high PTH levels induce Vitamin D synthesis by increasing 1α-hydroxylase activity (Chen et al., 2015).

FIGURE 3
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 3. Vitamin D synthesis and effects. Most vitamin D is naturally synthesized in the skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol in response to ultraviolet radiation. 7-dehydrocholesterol is converted to Pre-Vitamin D3 that through the circulation reach the liver where it is metabolized to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). This latter is then converted in the kidney by 1α-hydroxylase into 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the biologically active agonist for the Vitamin D receptor. The synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is mainly regulated by PTH and serum calcium levels. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 has a several effects since it increases serum calcium levels by inducing calcium mobilization from bone, decreases renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity and inhibits PTH production.

A large part of western population is thought to have a Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, which has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (McGreevy and Williams, 2011; Tamez et al., 2013). The reason for this deficiency can be probably due to a decreased exposure to sun as a prevention for melanoma (Holick, 2007), although nutritional aspects are also being considered and posed a the base of replacement therapy strategies.

Recently, an association between low Vitamin D serum levels and hypertension have been suggested (Ullah et al., 2010; Kota et al., 2011). Indeed, 1-alpha-hydroxylase deficient mice, which cannot synthesize Vitamin D3, develop high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (Zhou et al., 2008). Vitamin D can affect blood pressure through several mechanisms. Indeed, in both animals and humans it has been shown that vitamin D decreases renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity (Li et al., 2002; Tomaschitz et al., 2010), modulates endothelial function (Wong et al., 2010; Pittarella et al., 2015; Molinari et al., 2018) and regulates vascular oxidative stress (Argacha et al., 2011).

Clinical studies demonstrated an inverse, dose-response relationship between plasma Vitamin D3 concentration and blood pressure or renin activity in both normotensive and hypertensive patients (Nigwekar and Thadhani, 2013; Grubler et al., 2017). High levels of Vitamin D in humans, for instance, are associated with lower blood pressure (Vimaleswaran et al., 2014). All these reports suggest that Vitamin D levels are associated with BP also in humans. Based on such findings, it is likely to believe that Vitamin D supplementation could be an effective therapy for hypertension. This hypothesis was confirmed in animal models of hypertension. Indeed, Vitamin D supplementation ameliorates pathological right ventricular hypertrophy in rats with pulmonary hypertension (Tanaka et al., 2017) and reduces blood pressure levels in SHR rats (Wong et al., 2010). Accordingly, several clinical trials show the effectiveness of natural vitamin D, Vitamin D3 or its analog supplementation on BP levels in those patients with essential hypertension that is dependent on Vitamin D-deficiency (Kimura et al., 1999; Pfeifer et al., 2001; Judd et al., 2010; Goel and Lal, 2011; Bernini et al., 2013; Forman et al., 2013; Carrara et al., 2014; Mozaffari-Khosravi et al., 2015). Vitamin D supplementation therapy also in pregnancy is able to reduce the incidence of gestational hypertension/preeclampsia (Behjat Sasan et al., 2017). Moreover, Vitamin D have beneficial effects on BP also in patients affected by other pathologies, such as type 2 diabetes (de Paula et al., 2017).

However, other randomized controlled trials show that Vitamin D supplementation results ineffective as anti-hypertensive agent (Li et al., 2004; Michos and Melamed, 2008; Beveridge et al., 2015; Grubler et al., 2017; Wu and Sun, 2017). Thus, literature seems to be quite discordant on the effectiveness of Vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of the hypertensive condition. However, this discrepancy could be dependent on several variables in study population (Vitamin D-deficiency levels, gender, ethnicity, BP levels, age, parathormone levels). Indeed, a recent study show that the relationship between serum levels of Vitamin D and BP differs according to ethnicity and gender with a significant inverse association among non-hispanic whites (NHW) and females, NHW females and non-hispanic black females (Vishnu and Ahuja, 2017). Data from this study suggest a non-linear relationship between Vitamin D and hypertension with significant decline in hypertension only up to a physiological level of Vitamin D that is different depending on race/ethnicity and gender (Vishnu and Ahuja, 2017). Among the putative mechanisms involved in the association between Vitamin D deficiency and increased blood pressure levels, anti-oxidant effects of Vitamin D have been implicated. Nevertheless, it has also to consider that Vitamin D is inversely correlated with the calcium modulator paratohormone (PTH). The vascular effects of such hormone, as well as the mechanisms associated with the reduced kidney function are both possible mechanisms of increased vascular resistance and blood volume, two determinants of hypertension. Indeed, increased PTH has been demonstrated to correlates better than Vitamin D deficiency with blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, including hypertension, in a large population in Southern Italy (Pascale et al., 2018) suggesting that also PTH levels could be a discriminating parameter in the selection of patients that could be sensitive to Vitamin D supplementation. Thus, future researches on this issue should take into account these parameters and, accordingly, identify an ideal population which result more sensitive to this kind of treatment.

Anti-hypertensive Drugs With Antioxidant Properties

To date, several molecules have been discovered that are effective anti-hypertensive drugs with antioxidant properties. Indeed, some beta-blockers, apart from their ability to inhibit adrenaline/noradrenaline dependent activation of beta adrenergic receptors (Iaccarino et al., 2006; Sorriento et al., 2011; Galasso et al., 2013), are also able to reduce oxidative stress. Among them, Propanolol, Nebivilol, Carvedilol, and Celiprolol are the most studied (Yao et al., 2008). Propranolol inhibits oxidative stress and reduces tissue lipid peroxidation (Mak and Weglicki, 1988; Yao et al., 2008). Carvedilol reduces lipid peroxidation in patients with heart failure by acting as a free radical scavenger (Kukin et al., 1999; Yao et al., 2008). Celiprolol reduces superoxide anions generation in patients with essential hypertension and improves endothelial function (Mehta et al., 1994; Kobayashi et al., 2001; Yao et al., 2008). However, this antioxidant effects are not a common feature of all beta-blockers since it has been shown that Atenolol has no effect on ROS production in endothelial cells (Fratta Pasini et al., 2005).

At the molecular level, the beta-blocking effect is itself important to reduce ROS production by blocking catecholamines that are known to induce oxidative stress in the myocardium. Furthermore, some beta-blockers have also direct antioxidant effects which are different depending on the modulation of specific intracellular signaling.

Indeed, Nebivolol exerts its effects by increasing NO levels, NOS activity, and expression of eNOS, as well as by reducing ROS production and Nox expression (Wang et al., 2017). Carvedilol inhibits 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-induced intracellular Ca2+overload (Nakamura et al., 2011). Celiprolol significantly suppresses BP levels and ameliorates hypoxia-induced LV remodeling in mice, by restoring eNOS expression via stimulation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway (Kobayashi et al., 2003; Nishioka et al., 2013).

Besides these beta-blockers, also Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, shares the same anti-hypertensive and antioxidant properties. Indeed, Amlodipine is able to decrease blood pressure as well as oxidative stress as shown by a decrease of malondialdehyde and an increase of Na+ K+ ATPase and SOD levels in essential hypertensive patients (Mahajan et al., 2007). This effect is further increased by Vitamin C supplementation (Mahajan et al., 2007).

Furthermore, Enalapril, an ACE-inhibitor, reduces the expression of oxidant stress markers and antioxidant enzymes in the heart and kidney of SHR rats (Chandran et al., 2014; Yusoff et al., 2017) and of diabetic rats (de Cavanagh et al., 2001). Also in hypertensive patients, 3 months of Enalapril therapy are beneficial to prevent oxidative stress compared with Atenolol treated patients (Deoghare and Kantharia, 2013). Similarly, the antioxidant beneficial effects on vascular biology, including nitrix oxide availability, has been demonstrated for SH- containing ACE inhibitors (Captopril, Lisinopril, zofenopril) due to the free radical scavenging properties of the tiol residues contained in the drug sequence (Chopra et al., 1990; Buikema et al., 2000; Donnarumma et al., 2016).

Conclusions and Future Directions

Several diseases have been associated with oxidative stress suggesting that this latter could be a trigger for diseases and that antioxidant therapy could be an effective therapeutic treatment. However, while basic research and pre-clinical studies support this point of view, clinical studies still produce controversial results. This could probably be dependent on the pathophysiological complexity of ROS/RNS signaling in humans with comorbidities (Pagliaro and Penna, 2015, 2017; Egea et al., 2017). Here, in particular, we have discussed about the role of oxidative stress in the development and progression of hypertensive states even if the idea that antioxidant therapy is effective against this disease by inhibiting or destroying free radicals is not accepted yet. Indeed, the promising results in pre-clinical model of hypertension are not always support by data from patients. A great discrepancy exists among results from different clinical trials. Actually, limitations to the effectiveness of antioxidant therapy in the management of hypertension could be due to numerous variables. First of all, the half-life of the particular antioxidant administered affects its effectiveness in long-term treatments. Moreover, the cross-talks with other substances in some cases reduce the anti-hypertensive effects. Finally, the inadequate homogeneity of patients characteristics in study population is probably the most important limitation of clinical trials. To date, the use of anti-hypertensive drugs with antioxidants properties seems to be the most effective treatment in the management of hypertension since they are able to reduce blood pressure by affecting molecular mechanisms which are involved in the regulation of both vascular function and oxidative state. Despite the discordant results of clinical trials, Vitamin D supplementation could also be a promising therapeutic treatment for hypertension that is worthwhile to further investigate considering not only the rate of Vitamin D deficiency, but also PTH levels, as discriminating factors in the selection of patients. For the future improvement of antioxidant therapy the above proposed potential limitations should be taken into account. Moreover, further studies are needed to better clarify the sources and targets of ROS/RNS and their harmful or beneficial roles, the specific molecular mechanisms and their cross-talks, and to identify the ideal patient which could be sensitive to specific antioxidant therapies.

Author Contributions

DS, ND, BT, and GI conceived and designed the work, drafted the work and revisited it critically.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

Ahmad, K. A., Yuan Yuan, D., Nawaz, W., Ze, H., Zhuo, C. X., Talal, B., et al. (2017). Antioxidant therapy for management of oxidative stress induced hypertension. Free Radic. Res. 51, 428–438. doi: 10.1080/10715762.2017.1322205

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ardalan, M. R., and Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2014). Antioxidant supplementation in hypertension. J. Renal Inj. Prev. 3, 39–40. doi: 10.12861/jrip.2014.13

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Argacha, J. F., Egrise, D., Pochet, S., Fontaine, D., Lefort, A., Libert, F., et al. (2011). Vitamin D deficiency-induced hypertension is associated with vascular oxidative stress and altered heart gene expression. J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 58, 65–71. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e31821c832f

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Baradaran, A., Nasri, H., and Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2014). Oxidative stress and hypertension: possibility of hypertension therapy with antioxidants. J. Res. Med. Sci. 19, 358–367.

PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

Bauersachs, J., Bouloumié, A., Fraccarollo, D., Hu, K., Busse, R., and Ertl, G. (1999). Endothelial dysfunction in chronic myocardial infarction despite increased vascular endothelial nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylate cyclase expression: role of enhanced vascular superoxide production. Circulation 100, 292–298. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.100.3.292

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Behjat Sasan, S., Zandvakili, F., Soufizadeh, N., and Baybordi, E. (2017). The effects of Vitamin D supplement on prevention of recurrence of preeclampsia in pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia. Obstet. Gynecol. Int. 2017:8249264. doi: 10.1155/2017/8249264

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Bernini, G., Carrara, D., Bacca, A., Carli, V., Virdis, A., Rugani, I., et al. (2013). Effect of acute and chronic Vitamin D administration on systemic renin angiotensin system in essential hypertensives and controls. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 36, 216–220. doi: 10.1007/BF03347275

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Beveridge, L. A., Struthers, A. D., Khan, F., Jorde, R., Scragg, R., Macdonald, H. M., et al. (2015). Effect of Vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis incorporating individual patient data. JAMA Intern. Med. 175, 745–754. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.0237

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Bhattacharyya, A., Chattopadhyay, R., Mitra, S., and Crowe, S. E. (2014). Oxidative stress: an essential factor in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal mucosal diseases. Physiol. Rev. 94, 329–354. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00040.2012

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Bolisetty, S., and Jaimes, E. A. (2013). Mitochondria and reactive oxygen species: physiology and pathophysiology. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 14, 6306–6344. doi: 10.3390/ijms14036306

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Breitschopf, K., Haendeler, J., Malchow, P., Zeiher, A. M., and Dimmeler, S. (2000). Posttranslational modification of Bcl-2 facilitates its proteasome-dependent degradation: molecular characterization of the involved signaling pathway. Mol. Cell. Biol. 20, 1886–1896. doi: 10.1128/MCB.20.5.1886-1896.2000

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Briones, A. M., and Touyz, R. M. (2010). Oxidative stress and hypertension: current concepts. Curr. Hypertens. Rep. 12, 135–142. doi: 10.1007/s11906-010-0100-z

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Brown, D. I., and Griendling, K. K. (2015). Regulation of signal transduction by reactive oxygen species in the cardiovascular system. Circ. Res. 116, 531–549. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.303584

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Buikema, H., Monnink, S. H., Tio, R. A., Crijns, H. J., de Zeeuw, D., and van Gilst, W. H. (2000). Comparison of zofenopril and lisinopril to study the role of the sulfhydryl-group in improvement of endothelial dysfunction with ACE-inhibitors in experimental heart failure. Br. J. Pharmacol. 130, 1999–2007. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703498

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Carrara, D., Bernini, M., Bacca, A., Rugani, I., Duranti, E., Virdis, A., et al. (2014). Cholecalciferol administration blunts the systemic renin-angiotensin system in essential hypertensives with hypovitaminosis D. J. Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst. 15, 82–87. doi: 10.1177/1470320312471149

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chandran, G., Sirajudeen, K. N., Yusoff, N. S., Swamy, M., and Samarendra, M. S. (2014). Effect of the antihypertensive drug enalapril on oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes in kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rat. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev. 2014:608512. doi: 10.1155/2014/608512

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chen, S., Sun, Y., and Agrawal, D. K. (2015). Vitamin D deficiency and essential hypertension. J. Am. Soc. Hypertens. 9, 885–901. doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2015.08.009

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chopra, M., McMurray, J., Stewart, J., Dargie, H. J., and Smith, W. E. (1990). Free radical scavenging: a potentially beneficial action of thiol-containing angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 18, 1184–1185. doi: 10.1042/bst0181184

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chua, C. C., Hamdy, R. C., and Chua, B. H. (1998). Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor by H2O2 in rat heart endothelial cells. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 25, 891–897. doi: 10.1016/S0891-5849(98)00115-4

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Cleeter, M. W., Cooper, J. M., Darley-Usmar, V. M., Moncada, S., and Schapira, A. H. (1994). Reversible inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, by nitric oxide. Implcations for neurodegenerative diseases. FEBS Lett. 345, 50–54. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(94)00424-2

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Colavitti, R., Pani, G., Bedogni, B., Anzevino, R., Borrello, S., Waltenberger, J., et al. (2002). Reactive oxygen species as downstream mediators of angiogenic signaling by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2/KDR. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 3101–3108. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M107711200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Cracowski, J. L., Durand, T., and Bessard, G. (2002). Isoprostanes as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation in humans: physiology, pharmacology and clinical implications. Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 23, 360–366. doi: 10.1016/S0165-6147(02)02053-9

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

de Cavanagh, E. M., Inserra, F., Toblli, J., Stella, I., Fraga, C. G., and Ferder, L. (2001). Enalapril attenuates oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Hypertension 38, 1130–1136. doi: 10.1161/hy1101.092845

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

de Paula, T. P., Kramer, C. K., Viana, L. V., and Azevedo, M. J. (2017). Effects of individual micronutrients on blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Sci. Rep. 7:40751. doi: 10.1038/srep40751

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Deoghare, S., and Kantharia, N. D. (2013). Effect of atenolol and enalapril treatment on oxidative stress parameters in patients with essential hypertension. Int. J. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. 2, 252–256. doi: 10.5455/2319-2003.ijbcp20130604

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Di Meo, S., Reed, T. T., Venditti, P., and Victor, V. M. (2016). Role of ROS and RNS sources in physiological and pathological conditions. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev. 2016:1245049. doi: 10.1155/2016/1245049

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dimmeler, S., and Zeiher, A. M. (2000). Reactive oxygen species and vascular cell apoptosis in response to angiotensin II and pro-atherosclerotic factors. Regul. Pept. 90, 19–25. doi: 10.1016/S0167-0115(00)00105-1

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dobrian, A. D., Davies, M. J., Schriver, S. D., Lauterio, T. J., and Prewitt, R. L. (2001). Oxidative stress in a rat model of obesity-induced hypertension. Hypertension 37(2 Pt 2), 554–560. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.37.2.554

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Donnarumma, E., Ali, M. J., Rushing, A. M., Scarborough, A. L., Bradley, J. M., Organ, C. L., et al. (2016). Zofenopril protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by increasing nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide bioavailability. J. Am. Heart Assoc. 5:e003531. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.116.003531

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Doughan, A. K., Harrison, D. G., and Dikalov, S. I. (2008). Molecular mechanisms of angiotensin II-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction: linking mitochondrial oxidative damage and vascular endothelial dysfunction. Circ. Res. 102, 488–496. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.107.162800

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Drew, B., and Leeuwenburgh, C. (2002). Aging and the role of reactive nitrogen species. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 959, 66–81. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02084.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Egea, J., Fabregat, I., Frapart, Y. M., Ghezzi, P., Görlach, A., Kietzmann, T., et al. (2017). European contribution to the study of ROS: a summary of the findings and prospects for the future from the COST action BM1203 (EU-ROS). Redox Biol. 13, 94–162. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2017.05.007

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Forman, J. P., Scott, J. B., Ng, K., Drake, B. F., Suarez, E. G., Hayden, D. L., et al. (2013). Effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure in blacks. Hypertension 61, 779–785. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.00659

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fratta Pasini, A., Garbin, U., Nava, M. C., Stranieri, C., Davoli, A., Sawamura, T., et al. (2005). Nebivolol decreases oxidative stress in essential hypertensive patients and increases nitric oxide by reducing its oxidative inactivation. J. Hypertens. 23, 589–596. doi: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000160216.86597.ff

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Galasso, G., De Rosa, R., Ciccarelli, M., Sorriento, D., Del Giudice, C., Strisciuglio, T., et al. (2013). β2-adrenergic receptor stimulation improves endothelial progenitor cell-mediated ischemic neoangiogenesis. Circ. Res. 112, 1026–1034. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.300152

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Goel, R. K., and Lal, H. (2011). Role of Vitamin D supplementation in hypertension. Indian J. Clin. Biochem. 26, 88–90. doi: 10.1007/s12291-010-0092-0

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Greig, J. A., Shirley, R., Graham, D., Denby, L., Dominiczak, A. F., Work, L. M., et al. (2010). Vascular-targeting antioxidant therapy in a model of hypertension and stroke. J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 56, 642–650. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e3181f8f19f

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Grübler, M. R., März, W., Pilz, S., Grammer, T. B., Trummer, C., Müllner, C., et al. (2017). Vitamin-D concentrations, cardiovascular risk and events - a review of epidemiological evidence. Rev. Endocr. Metab. Disord. 18, 259–272. doi: 10.1007/s11154-017-9417-0

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Halliwell, B. (2007). Biochemistry of oxidative stress. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 35(Pt 5), 1147–1150. doi: 10.1042/BST0351147

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Harrison, D. G., and Gongora, M. C. (2009). Oxidative stress and hypertension. Med. Clin. North Am. 93, 621–635. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2009.02.015

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Harrison, D. G., Gongora, M. C., Guzik, T. J., and Widder, J. (2007). Oxidative stress and hypertension. J. Am. Soc. Hypertens. 1, 30–44. doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2006.11.006

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Haugen, E. N., Croatt, A. J., and Nath, K. A. (2000). Angiotensin II induces renal oxidant stress in vivo and heme oxygenase-1 in vivo and in vitro. Kidney Int. 58, 144–152. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2000.00150.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. N. Engl. J. Med. 357, 266–281. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra070553

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Iaccarino, G., Izzo, R., Trimarco, V., Cipolletta, E., Lanni, F., Sorriento, D., et al. (2006). β2-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and treatment-induced regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 80, 633–645. doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2006.09.006

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Judd, S. E., Raiser, S. N., Kumari, M., and Tangpricha, V. (2010). 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 reduces systolic blood pressure in hypertensive adults: a pilot feasibility study. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 121, 445–447. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.04.013

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Juraschek, S. P., Guallar, E., Appel, L. J., and Miller, E. R. III. (2012). Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 95, 1079–1088. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.027995

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kerr, S., Brosnan, M. J., McIntyre, M., Reid, J. L., Dominiczak, A. F., and Hamilton, C. A. (1999). Superoxide anion production is increased in a model of genetic hypertension: role of the endothelium. Hypertension 33, 1353–1358. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.33.6.1353

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Khan, B. V., Harrison, D. G., Olbrych, M. T., Alexander, R. W., and Medford, R. M. (1996). Nitric oxide regulates vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 gene expression and redox-sensitive transcriptional events in human vascular endothelial cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93, 9114–9119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.17.9114

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kim, Y. W., and Byzova, T. V. (2014). Oxidative stress in angiogenesis and vascular disease. Blood 123, 625–631. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-09-512749

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kim, Y. W., West, X. Z., and Byzova, T. V. (2013). Inflammation and oxidative stress in angiogenesis and vascular disease. J. Mol. Med. 91, 323–328. doi: 10.1007/s00109-013-1007-3

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kimura, Y., Kawamura, M., Owada, M., Oshima, T., Murooka, M., Fujiwara, T., et al. (1999). Effectiveness of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D supplementation on blood pressure reduction in a pseudohypoparathyroidism patient with high renin activity. Intern. Med. 38, 31–35. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.38.31

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kizhakekuttu, T. J., and Widlansky, M. E. (2010). Natural antioxidants and hypertension: promise and challenges. Cardiovasc. Ther. 28, e20–e32. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-5922.2010.00137.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kobayashi, N., Mita, S., Yoshida, K., Honda, T., Kobayashi, T., Hara, K., et al. (2003). Celiprolol activates eNOS through the PI3K-Akt pathway and inhibits VCAM-1 Via NF-κB induced by oxidative stress. Hypertension 42, 1004–1013. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000097547.35570.70

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kobayashi, N., Mori, Y., Nakano, S., Tsubokou, Y., Shirataki, H., and Matsuoka, H. (2001). Celiprolol stimulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and improves myocardial remodeling in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats. J. Hypertens. 19, 795–801. doi: 10.1097/00004872-200104000-00017

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kota, S. K., Kota, S. K., Jammula, S., Meher, L. K., Panda, S., Tripathy, P. R., et al. (2011). Renin-angiotensin system activity in vitamin D deficient, obese individuals with hypertension: an urban Indian study. Indian J. Endocrinol. Metab. 15(Suppl. 4), S395–S401. doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.86985

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kukin, M. L., Kalman, J., Charney, R. H., Levy, D. K., Buchholz-Varley, C., Ocampo, O. N., et al. (1999). Prospective, randomized comparison of effect of long-term treatment with metoprolol or carvedilol on symptoms, exercise, ejection fraction, and oxidative stress in heart failure. Circulation 99, 2645–2651. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.99.20.2645

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Laursen, J. B., Rajagopalan, S., Galis, Z., Tarpey, M., Freeman, B. A., and Harrison, D. G. (1997). Role of superoxide in angiotensin II-induced but not catecholamine-induced hypertension. Circulation 95, 588–593. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.95.3.588

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Laursen, J. B., Somers, M., Kurz, S., McCann, L., Warnholtz, A., Freeman, B. A., et al. (2001). Endothelial regulation of vasomotion in apoE-deficient mice: implications for interactions between peroxynitrite and tetrahydrobiopterin. Circulation 103, 1282–1288. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.103.9.1282

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lee, W. J., Ou, H. C., Wu, C. M., Lee, I. T., Lin, S. Y., Lin, L. Y., et al. (2009). Sesamin mitigates inflammation and oxidative stress in endothelial cells exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57, 11406–11417. doi: 10.1021/jf902876p

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lerman, L. O., Nath, K. A., Rodriguez-Porcel, M., Krier, J. D., Schwartz, R. S., Napoli, C., et al. (2001). Increased oxidative stress in experimental renovascular hypertension. Hypertension 37(2 Pt 2), 541–546. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.37.2.541

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Li, Y. C., Kong, J., Wei, M., Chen, Z. F., Liu, S. Q., and Cao, L. P. (2002). 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) is a negative endocrine regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. J. Clin. Invest. 110, 229–238. doi: 10.1172/JCI0215219

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Li, Y. C., Qiao, G., Uskokovic, M., Xiang, W., Zheng, W., and Kong, J. (2004). Vitamin D: a negative endocrine regulator of the renin-angiotensin system and blood pressure. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 89–90, 387–392. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.03.004

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mahajan, A. S., Babbar, R., Kansal, N., Agarwal, S. K., and Ray, P. C. (2007). Antihypertensive and antioxidant action of amlodipine and vitamin C in patients of essential hypertension. J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 40, 141–147. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.40.141

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mak, I. T., and Weglicki, W. B. (1988). Protection by beta-blocking agents against free radical-mediated sarcolemmal lipid peroxidation. Circ. Res. 63, 262–266. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.63.1.262

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Malinin, N. L., West, X. Z., and Byzova, T. V. (2011). Oxidation as “the stress of life” Aging 3, 906–910. doi: 10.18632/aging.100385

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mancia, G., Fagard, R., Narkiewicz, K., Redon, J., Zanchetti, A., Böhm, M., et al. (2013). 2013 ESH/ESC guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: the Task Force for the Management of Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur. Heart J. 34, 2159–2219. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/eht151

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Marui, N., Offermann, M. K., Swerlick, R., Kunsch, C., Rosen, C. A., Ahmad, M., et al. (1993). Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) gene transcription and expression are regulated through an antioxidant-sensitive mechanism in human vascular endothelial cells. J. Clin. Invest. 92, 1866–1874. doi: 10.1172/JCI116778

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mazzali, M., Hughes, J., Kim, Y. G., Jefferson, J. A., Kang, D. H., Gordon, K. L., et al. (2001). Elevated uric acid increases blood pressure in the rat by a novel crystal-independent mechanism. Hypertension 38, 1101–1106. doi: 10.1161/hy1101.092839

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

McGreevy, C., and Williams, D. (2011). New insights about vitamin D and cardiovascular disease: a narrative review. Ann. Intern. Med. 155, 820–826. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-155-12-201112200-00004

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

McIntyre, M., Bohr, D. F., and Dominiczak, A. F. (1999). Endothelial function in hypertension: the role of superoxide anion. Hypertension 34(4 Pt 1), 539–545. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.34.4.539

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mehta, J. L., Lopez, L. M., Chen, L., and Cox, O. E. (1994). Alterations in nitric oxide synthase activity, superoxide anion generation, and platelet aggregation in systemic hypertension, and effects of celiprolol. Am. J. Cardiol. 74, 901–905. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(94)90583-5

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Michos, E. D., and Melamed, M. L. (2008). Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 11, 7–12. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e3282f2f4dd

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mittler, R., Vanderauwera, S., Suzuki, N., Miller, G., Tognetti, V. B., Vandepoele, K., et al. (2011). ROS signaling: the new wave? Trends Plant Sci. 16, 300–309. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2011.03.007

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Molinari, C., Morsanuto, V., Polli, S., and Uberti, F. (2018). Cooperative effects of Q10, Vitamin D3, and L-arginine on cardiac and endothelial cells. J. Vasc. Res. 55, 47–60. doi: 10.1159/000484928

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mozaffari-Khosravi, H., Loloei, S., Mirjalili, M. R., and Barzegar, K. (2015). The effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure in patients with elevated blood pressure and vitamin D deficiency: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Blood Press Monit. 20, 83–91. doi: 10.1097/MBP.0000000000000091

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Nakamura, K., Murakami, M., Miura, D., Yunoki, K., Enko, K., Tanaka, M., et al. (2011). β-blockers and oxidative stress in patients with heart failure. Pharmaceuticals 4, 1088–1100. doi: 10.3390/ph4081088

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Nigwekar, S. U., and Thadhani, R. (2013). Vitamin D receptor activation: cardiovascular and renal implications. Kidney Int. Suppl. 3, 427–430. doi: 10.1038/kisup.2013.89

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Nishioka, S., Yoshioka, T., Nomura, A., Kato, R., Miyamura, M., Okada, Y., et al. (2013). Celiprolol reduces oxidative stress and attenuates left ventricular remodeling induced by hypoxic stress in mice. Hypertens. Res. 36, 934–939. doi: 10.1038/hr.2013.60

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ogun, A. O. (2015). Biochemistry of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species, Basic Principles and Clinical Significance of Oxidative Stress. Available online at: https://www.intechopen.com/books/basic-principles-and-clinical-significance-of-oxidative-stress/biochemistry-of-reactive-oxygen-and-nitrogen-species

Pagliaro, P., and Penna, C. (2015). Redox signalling and cardioprotection: translatability and mechanism. Br. J. Pharmacol. 172, 1974–1995. doi: 10.1111/bph.12975

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Pagliaro, P., and Penna, C. (2017). Hypertension, hypertrophy, and reperfusion injury. J. Cardiovasc. Med. 18, 131–135. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000000435

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Pascale, A. V., Finelli, R., Giannotti, R., Visco, V., Fabbricatore, D., Matula, I., et al. (2018). Vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and cardiovascular risk: the good, the bad and the ugly. J. Cardiovasc. Med. 19, 62–66. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000000614

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Patel, R. P., McAndrew, J., Sellak, H., White, C. R., Jo, H., Freeman, B. A., et al. (1999). Biological aspects of reactive nitrogen species. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1411, 385–400. doi: 10.1016/S0005-2728(99)00028-6

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Pfeifer, M., Begerow, B., Minne, H. W., Nachtigall, D., and Hansen, C. (2001). Effects of a short-term vitamin D(3) and calcium supplementation on blood pressure and parathyroid hormone levels in elderly women. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86, 1633–1637. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.4.7393

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Pittarella, P., Squarzanti, D. F., Molinari, C., Invernizzi, M., Uberti, F., and Renò, F. (2015). NO-dependent proliferation and migration induced by Vitamin D in HUVEC. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 149, 35–42. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.12.012

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Quinlan, C. L., Perevoshchikova, I. V., Hey-Mogensen, M., Orr, A. L., and Brand, M. D. (2013). Sites of reactive oxygen species generation by mitochondria oxidizing different substrates. Redox Biol. 1, 304–312. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2013.04.005

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Radi, R., Cassina, A., Hodara, R., Quijano, C., and Castro, L. (2002). Peroxynitrite reactions and formation in mitochondria. Free Radic Biol. Med. 33, 1451–1464. doi: 10.1016/S0891-5849(02)01111-5

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ramchandra, R., Barrett, C. J., and Malpas, S. C. (2005). Nitric oxide and sympathetic nerve activity in the control of blood pressure. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 32, 440–446. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2005.04208.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ristow, M., and Schmeisser, K. (2014). Mitohormesis: promoting health and lifespan by increased levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Dose Response 12, 288–341. doi: 10.2203/dose-response.13-035.Ristow

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Rodrigo, R., González, J., and Paoletto, F. (2011). The role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of hypertension. Hypertens. Res. 34, 431–440. doi: 10.1038/hr.2010.264

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Rodrigo, R., Prat, H., Passalacqua, W., Araya, J., Guichard, C., and Bächler, J. P. (2007). Relationship between oxidative stress and essential hypertension. Hypertens. Res. 30, 1159–1167. doi: 10.1291/hypres.30.1159

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ruef, J., Hu, Z. Y., Yin, L. Y., Wu, Y., Hanson, S. R., Kelly, A. B., et al. (1997). Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor in balloon-injured baboon arteries. A novel role for reactive oxygen species in atherosclerosis. Circ. Res. 81, 24–33. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.81.1.24

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Sena, L. A., and Chandel, N. S. (2012). Physiological roles of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Mol. Cell 48, 158–167. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.09.025

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Somers, M. J., Mavromatis, K., Galis, Z. S., and Harrison, D. G. (2000). Vascular superoxide production and vasomotor function in hypertension induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt. Circulation 101, 1722–1728. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.101.14.1722

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Sorriento, D., Trimarco, B., and Iaccarino, G. (2011). Adrenergic mechanism in the control of endothelial function. Transl. Med. UniSa. 1, 213–228.

PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

Tamez, H., Kalim, S., and Thadhani, R. I. (2013). Does vitamin D modulate blood pressure? Curr. Opin. Nephrol. Hypertens. 22, 204–209. doi: 10.1097/MNH.0b013e32835d919b

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Tanaka, H., Kataoka, M., Isobe, S., Yamamoto, T., Shirakawa, K., Endo, J., et al. (2017). Therapeutic impact of dietary vitamin D supplementation for preventing right ventricular remodeling and improving survival in pulmonary hypertension. PLoS ONE 12:e0180615. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180615

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Tomaschitz, A., Pilz, S., Ritz, E., Grammer, T., Drechsler, C., Boehm, B. O., et al. (2010). Independent association between 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the renin-angiotensin system: the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study. Clin. Chim. Acta 411, 1354–1360. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2010.05.037

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Touyz, R. M., and Briones, A. M. (2011). Reactive oxygen species and vascular biology: implications in human hypertension. Hypertens. Res. 34, 5–14. doi: 10.1038/hr.2010.201

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Touyz, R. M., and Schiffrin, E. L. (2001). Increased generation of superoxide by angiotensin II in smooth muscle cells from resistance arteries of hypertensive patients: role of phospholipase D-dependent NAD(P)H oxidase-sensitive pathways. J. Hypertens. 19, 1245–1254. doi: 10.1097/00004872-200107000-00009

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Touyz, R. M., and Schiffrin, E. L. (2004). Reactive oxygen species in vascular biology: implications in hypertension. Histochem. Cell Biol. 122, 339–352. doi: 10.1007/s00418-004-0696-7

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ullah, M. I., Uwaifo, G. I., Nicholas, W. C., and Koch, C. A. (2010). Does vitamin d deficiency cause hypertension? Current evidence from clinical studies and potential mechanisms. Int. J. Endocrinol. 2010:579640. doi: 10.1155/2010/579640

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ushio-Fukai, M., Tang, Y., Fukai, T., Dikalov, S. I., Ma, Y., Fujimoto, M., et al. (2002). Novel role of gp91(phox)-containing NAD(P)H oxidase in vascular endothelial growth factor-induced signaling and angiogenesis. Circ. Res. 91, 1160–1167. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000046227.65158.F8

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Vaziri, N. D., Ni, Z., Oveisi, F., and Trnavsky-Hobbs, D. L. (2000). Effect of antioxidant therapy on blood pressure and NO synthase expression in hypertensive rats. Hypertension 36, 957–964. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.36.6.957

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Vimaleswaran, K. S., Cavadino, A., Berry, D. J., LifeLines Cohort, Study, i, Jorde, R., Dieffenbach, A. K., et al. (2014). Association of vitamin D status with arterial blood pressure and hypertension risk: a mendelian randomisation study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2, 719–729. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70113-5

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Vishnu, A., and Ahuja, V. (2017). Vitamin D and blood pressure among U.S. adults: a cross-sectional examination by race/ethnicity and gender. Am. J. Prev. Med. 53, 670–679 doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.07.006

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wang, Y., Zhang, F., Liu, Y., Yin, S., Pang, X., Li, Z., et al. (2017). Nebivolol alleviates aortic remodeling through eNOS upregulation and inhibition of oxidative stress in l-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Clin. Exp. Hypertens. 39, 628–639. doi: 10.1080/10641963.2017.1306539

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ward, N. C., and Croft, K. D. (2006). Hypertension and oxidative stress. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 33, 872–876. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2006.04457.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ward, N. C., Hodgson, J. M., Croft, K. D., Burke, V., Beilin, L. J., and Puddey, I. B. (2005). The combination of vitamin C and grape-seed polyphenols increases blood pressure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J. Hypertens. 23, 427–434. doi: 10.1097/00004872-200502000-00026

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Whelton, P. K., Carey, R. M., Aronow, W. S., Casey, D. E. Jr., Collins, K. J., Dennison Himmelfarb, C., et al. (2017). 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on clinical practice guidelines. Hypertension. 12, 238. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.11.006

CrossRef Full Text

Wong, M. S., Delansorne, R., Man, R. Y., Svenningsen, P., and Vanhoutte, P. M. (2010). Chronic treatment with vitamin D lowers arterial blood pressure and reduces endothelium-dependent contractions in the aorta of the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Am. J. Physiol. Heart. Circ. Physiol. 299, H1226–H1234. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00288.2010

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text

Wu, L., and Sun, D. (2017). Effects of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J. Hum. Hypertens. 31, 547–554. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2017.12

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wu, R., Millette, E., Wu, L., and de Champlain, J. (2001). Enhanced superoxide anion formation in vascular tissues from spontaneously hypertensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats. J. Hypertens. 19, 741–748. doi: 10.1097/00004872-200104000-00011

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yao, E. H., Fukuda, N., Matsumoto, T., Katakawa, M., Yamamoto, C., Han, Y., et al. (2008). Effects of the antioxidative beta-blocker celiprolol on endothelial progenitor cells in hypertensive rats. Am. J. Hypertens. 21, 1062–1068. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2008.233

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yusoff, N. S. N., Mustapha, Z., Sharif, S. E. T., Govindasamy, C., and Sirajudeen, K. N. S. (2017). Effect of antihypertensive drug treatment on oxidative stress markers in heart of spontaneously hypertensive rat models. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. Oncol. 36, 43–53. doi: 10.1615/JEnvironPatholToxicolOncol.2017014521

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Zhou, C., Lu, F., Cao, K., Xu, D., Goltzman, D., and Miao, D. (2008). Calcium-independent and 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent regulation of the renin-angiotensin system in 1α-hydroxylase knockout mice. Kidney Int. 74, 170–179. doi: 10.1038/ki.2008.101

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: hypertension, oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, antioxidants, ROS

Citation: Sorriento D, De Luca N, Trimarco B and Iaccarino G (2018) The Antioxidant Therapy: New Insights in the Treatment of Hypertension. Front. Physiol. 9:258. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00258

Received: 08 January 2018; Accepted: 06 March 2018;
Published: 21 March 2018.

Edited by:

Pasquale Pagliaro, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy

Reviewed by:

Ioanna Andreadou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Claudio Molinari, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Italy

Copyright © 2018 Sorriento, De Luca, Trimarco and Iaccarino. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Guido Iaccarino, Z2lhY2Nhcmlub0B1bmlzYS5pdA==

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.