According to WHO, hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, causing premature deaths globally. Therefore, this problem should be addressed urgently.

Literature shows various molecules as biomarkers for hypertension (HTN), but most of them are produced because of hypertension and related disorders. Therefore, we are looking for those molecules that can identify healthy individuals susceptible to have high blood pressure in future.

We are using both animal and cell models to detect such biomolecules by applying techniques such as confocal microscopy, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) and their normal counter parts (WKY) rats were used as animal model, whereas human foetal astrocytes (HFAs) both reactive (A1) and non-reactive (A2) as cell model.

Our confocal microscopic studies using anti-GFAP antibodies indicate that A1 HFAs resembles the astrocytes from SHR as both have very similar elevated profile of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an index of astrogliosis. We are using HFAs to examine the biomolecules which may function as predictive biomarkers for hypertension.

Calcium channel blockers, such as Amlodipine (Norvasc) Diltiazem (Cardizem) are commonly used as antihypertensive drugs. Similarly, numerous studies point to a significant role of calcium dependent proteins in hypertension.

By employing LC-MS/MS we observed that reactive (A1) astrocytes, contain more calcium-activated proteins such as calpain, calpastatin, cathepsin and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) as compared to normal (A2) HFAs, suggesting their possible link to the future onset of hypertension (HTN). We also used ELISA technique and found that beside Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and astrocytes Soluble receptor of advanced glycation end-product (sRAGE) are also elevated in the reactive astrocytes and may also be considered as potential candidates for predictive biomarkers of HTN. 

Dr Kaneez Fatima Shad

Professor of Neuroscience and translational clinical researcher, Sydney Australia. Visiting professor, professor, researcher and academic of major Australian and other International Universities such as

• University of Technology Sydney, Australia

• Australian Catholic University, Australia

• University of Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Darussalam

• PCMD, University of Karachi, Pakistan

• United Arab Emirate University, UAE

• University of Newcastle, Australia

• Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain

Accomplishments

• Teaching: I have more than thirty-five years of experience in teaching Neurosciences in various universities in Australia, USA, UAE, Bahrain, Brunei, and Pakistan.

• Grants: generated over 2.3 million USD in grants from different private and government agencies of six countries.

• Stroke meter: a rapid diagnostic test for stroke and other vascular disorders such as schizophrenia.

• Publications: Sixty-two articles in refereed journals, edited nine books, wrote eight book chapters. 

• Mentored thirty-four postgraduate students.

• Invited as keynote or plenary speaker at over 80 international conferences.