Modulation of inflammatory and adrenergic pathways in hypertension: effects of β-blockers on cytokine release in Jurkat T cells

Research aimed to examine the effects of β-blockers on cytokine release in Jurkat cells under basal conditions and during oxidative stress. Oxidative stress was induced in Jurkat cells through the application of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Subsequently, β-blockers were administered to the incubation medium for 24 h, encompassing both intact and oxidatively stressed cell conditions. For β-blocker toxicity screening, the viability of Jurkat cells was determined using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test. The IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α content were measured in the supernatant of Jurkat cells incubated under different conditions. The study results show that propranolol, metoprolol, carvedilol, but not nebivolol, revealed toxic effects on the intact Jurkat cells (p_c-p = 0.0001; p_c-m > 0.0001; p_c-c = 0.0003; p_c-n = 0.0525). Under oxidative stress conditions, the viability of Jurkat cells decreased significantly (p_c-H2O2 = 0.0001). Propranolol and metoprolol did not affect ((p_c-p = 0.0001; p_c-m > 0.0001), while nebivolol and carvedilol improved the viability of Jurkat cells incubated under oxidative stress conditions (p_c-n = 0.002; p_c-c = 0.0002). Oxidative stress significantly increased the cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17) expression levels (p_c-H2O2 < 0.0001; p_c-H2O2 < 0.0001; p_c-H2O2 < 0.0001) in Jurkat cells. Propranolol, carvedilol, nebivolol, and metoprolol did not significantly affect the expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-17 in intact Jurkat cells, but decreased IL-6, TNF-α, and did not change IL-17 expression levels in Jurkat cells incubated under oxidative stress conditions. This study demonstrates that β-blockers can influence redox-sensitive cytokine pathways in Jurkat T lymphocytes when they are under oxidative stress. All the agents tested inhibited the production of IL-6 and TNF-α, but nebivolol and carvedilol showed the strongest protective and anti-inflammatory effects. These effects likely result from their combined properties, including antioxidant effects, nitric oxide modulation, and the regulation of NF-κB/MAPK pathways. In contrast, propranolol and metoprolol exhibited more limited activity. These findings suggest that third-generation β-blockers may offer both cardiovascular and immunomodulatory benefits, although further validation in primary immune cells and <i>in vivo</i> models is still required.