High blood pressure is a major health problem for people with obesity, and scientists have discovered an interesting reason why. A protein called TRPM7 in a special part of the neck called the carotid body seems to play a key role. When people are overweight, a hormone called leptin causes this protein to become more active, which raises blood pressure. Researchers found that by using special DNA molecules to turn off this protein in obese mice, they could lower blood pressure without medication. This discovery could lead to a completely new type of treatment for high blood pressure caused by obesity.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether turning off a specific protein in the neck could reduce high blood pressure in obese mice
- Who participated: Obese mice created by feeding them a high-fat diet, compared with normal-weight mice. The study also used rat brain cells in laboratory experiments
- Key finding: When researchers used special DNA molecules to silence the TRPM7 protein in the carotid body, obese mice showed lower blood pressure, especially during daytime hours
- What it means for you: This suggests a potential new treatment approach for high blood pressure related to obesity, but this is very early research in animals. It may take many years before this could be tested in humans, and it’s not yet clear if it would work the same way in people
The Research Details
This was a laboratory research study using mice and rat cells to understand how obesity causes high blood pressure. The researchers first studied how a hormone called leptin (which is high in obese people) affects a protein called TRPM7 in rat brain cells. They discovered that leptin changes the chemical structure of DNA in a way that turns on the TRPM7 gene. Then they tested whether they could reverse this process in obese mice by injecting special DNA molecules designed to turn the TRPM7 gene back off. They measured blood pressure and nerve activity in the mice to see if this approach worked.
This research approach is important because it targets the root cause of obesity-related high blood pressure rather than just treating the symptom. By understanding the exact molecular mechanism (how leptin turns on the TRPM7 gene), the researchers could design a very specific treatment. This type of targeted approach could potentially have fewer side effects than general blood pressure medications.
This is early-stage research published as a preprint, meaning it hasn’t yet gone through the full peer-review process that published journal articles go through. The study was conducted in mice and rat cells, not humans, so results may not directly apply to people. The researchers did build on their previous work and used multiple approaches to test their hypothesis, which strengthens the findings. However, much more research would be needed before this could be tested in humans.
What the Results Show
Obese mice had higher levels of the TRPM7 protein in their carotid bodies (a sensory organ in the neck) compared to normal-weight mice. The DNA controlling this protein showed specific chemical changes that turned the gene on. When researchers injected special DNA molecules designed to reverse these chemical changes, the TRPM7 protein levels decreased in the obese mice. Most importantly, these mice showed lower blood pressure after the treatment, with the biggest improvements happening during the daytime when mice are normally sleeping. The activity of the nerve that senses blood pressure also decreased, suggesting the treatment worked through the expected biological pathway.
The study confirmed that a signaling pathway called JAK-STAT3 was responsible for turning on the TRPM7 gene in response to leptin. This finding is important because it identifies a specific target that could be blocked with future treatments. The researchers also noted that the blood pressure reduction was more pronounced during certain times of day, suggesting the effect may be related to the body’s natural daily rhythms.
This research builds directly on the team’s previous discoveries showing that leptin causes high blood pressure in obese mice by increasing TRPM7 expression. This new study goes further by showing that the effect can actually be reversed by changing the DNA chemistry. This is a significant advance because it moves from understanding the problem to demonstrating a potential solution. The findings align with growing evidence that epigenetic changes (chemical modifications to DNA that don’t change the genetic code itself) play an important role in obesity-related diseases.
This study was conducted only in mice, and mouse biology doesn’t always translate directly to humans. The sample size of mice wasn’t specified in the abstract. The treatment was given by injection, which may not be practical for long-term human use. The study measured blood pressure for a limited time period, so it’s unclear if the benefits would last long-term. It’s also unknown whether this approach would work in people with high blood pressure from other causes, or in people with different genetic backgrounds. Finally, potential side effects of the treatment weren’t discussed.
The Bottom Line
This research is too early to make any recommendations for people. It’s basic laboratory research that may eventually lead to new treatments, but many steps of testing would be needed first. People with obesity and high blood pressure should continue following their doctor’s advice about current medications and lifestyle changes. Do not attempt to use this information to change your treatment without consulting your healthcare provider.
This research is most relevant to people with obesity-related high blood pressure and their doctors, as well as pharmaceutical companies developing new treatments. Researchers studying obesity, high blood pressure, and epigenetics should also find this work interesting. This should NOT be used by anyone to make changes to their current treatment without medical supervision.
This is very early research. If this approach proves safe and effective in further animal studies, it could take 5-10 years or more before human trials could begin. Even if human trials start, it would take several more years to determine if this treatment is safe and effective in people. Current blood pressure medications remain the appropriate treatment for now.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Users could track daily blood pressure readings at the same time each day (morning and evening) to monitor patterns and share with their healthcare provider. This would help establish a baseline and track response to current treatments.
- While waiting for potential future treatments, users should focus on evidence-based approaches: tracking weight, monitoring sodium intake, recording physical activity, and taking prescribed medications consistently. The app could help users log these behaviors and see correlations with blood pressure readings.
- Establish a consistent daily blood pressure monitoring routine (same time, same arm, same position). Track this data over weeks and months to identify patterns. Share trends with your doctor at regular appointments. Also monitor weight, activity level, and diet as these directly impact blood pressure.
This research is preliminary and has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal. It was conducted in mice and has not been tested in humans. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to make changes to your medical treatment. If you have high blood pressure or obesity, please consult with your healthcare provider about appropriate treatment options. Do not stop or change any blood pressure medications without medical supervision. This research may eventually lead to new treatments, but many years of additional research and testing would be required before any new therapy could be available to patients.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.