RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ERYTHROCYTE Na/K-ATPase ACTIVITY, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVE DIABETIC PATIENTS

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease frequently associated, at molecular level, with an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and antioxidant defence systems in the body. ROS production can damage arterial walls including an impairment of the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation or endothelial dysfunction. Na/K-ATPase is an antioxidant plasma membrane-associated protein complex whose activity has been found to be altered in various cell types under diabetic conditions. The aim of the present study was to test if there are relationships between the activity of erythrocyte Na/K-ATPase and high blood pressure in the context of diabetes mellitus.