Hypertension Increases Susceptibility to Lead-Induced Microglial Polarization via ANT1-Mediated Mitochondrial DNA/cGAS/STING Signaling.

ABSTRACT: Hypertensive individuals are concurrently at risk of heavy metal exposure, particularly lead (Pb). However, it remains unclear whether individuals with hypertension are more sensitive to the neurotoxicity induced by Pb exposure. Here, we established a hypertension model of mice with Pb exposure for 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks to detect the temporal and spatial changes in microglial polarization. Pb-exposed and hypertensive mice exhibited a notably higher proportion of M1 as early as 4 and 8 weeks, but a lower proportion of M2 as early as 4 and 12 weeks. Notably, hypertension exacerbated Pb-induced microglial polarization, which reached a plateau at 12 weeks. Elevated inducible nitric oxide synthase and reduced arginase-1 protein expressions were observed in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus

SUBMITTER: Zhao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12703018 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature