Objective To screen for mRNAs associated with blood stasis syndrome and to explore the genetic mechanisms of blood stasis syndrome in hypertension. Methods This study involved groups of patients with hypertension and blood stasis, including those with Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, cold retention and heat retention; as well as hypertensive patients without blood stasis and healthy individuals. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were co-cultured with the sera of these healthy individuals and patients with blood stasis syndrome. Total RNA was extracted from these cells and assessed by a high-throughput sequencing method (Solexa) and digital gene expression. Differentially expressed genes among these six groups were compared using whole genome sequences, and mRNAs associated with blood stasis syndrome identified. Differences in gene use and gene ontology function were analyzed. Genes enriched significantly and their pathways were determined, as were network interactions, and encoded proteins. Gene identities were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reactions. Results Compared with cells cultured in sera of the blood stasis groups, those culture in sera of healthy individuals and of the non-blood stasis group showed 11 and 301 differences, respectively in stasis-related genes. Genes identified as differing between the blood stasis and healthy groups included activating transcription factor 4, activating transcription factor 3, DNA-damage inducible transcription factor 3, Tribbles homolog 3, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β, and Jun proto-oncogene (JUN). Pathway and protein interaction network analyses showed that these genes were associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress. Cells cultured in sera of patients with blood stasis and Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, heat retention, and cold retention were compared with cells cultured in sera of patients with the other types blood stasis syndrome. The comparison showed differences in expression of 28,28,34, and 32 specific genes, respectively. Conclusion The pathogenesis of blood stasis syndrome in hypertension is related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and involves the differential expression of the activating transcription factor 4, activating transcription factor 3, DNA-damage inducible transcription factor 3, Tribbles homolog 3, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β, and JUN genes.
