Serum-mediated intracellular calcium changes in normotensive and hypertensive red blood cells: role of parathyroid hypertensive factor.

To study cellular calcium metabolism in hypertension, we investigated the effects of human serum, and of the circulating pressor substance, parathyroid hypertensive factor (PHF), on the cytosolic free calcium (Cai-f) content of erythrocytes from normotensive and essential hypertensive subjects. In their own serum, basal Cai-f was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive and essential hypertensive subjects. In their own serum, basal Cai-f was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects (mean +/- SEM; 39.4 +/- 4.0 vs. 23.4 +/- 2.7 nM; p < 0.05). Without serum, Cai-f was lower and not significantly different (23.0 +/- 3.1 vs. 18.2 +/- 2.7 nM; p = not significant). Addition of serum to serum-free erythrocytes increased Cai-f, and reestablished the Cai-f gradient in hypertensive cells (31.4 +/- 0.8 vs 23.0 +/- 2.3 nM; p < 0.05). PHF levels were directly related to basal Cai-f (r = -0.648; p < 0.05) and to the serum-induced rise in Cai-f (r = 0.600; p < 0.05). Furthermore, semipurified PHF, but not similarly prepared normotensive serum, increased Cai-f in normal human erythrocytes (PHF: +83.9 +/- 37.3% vs. +14.5 +/- 27.5%; p < 0.05). We conclude that circulating factors in general, and PHF in particular, may account for the increased basal Cai-f of hypertension, and thus at least partially contribute to te pathophysiology of the hypertensive process.