The role of immune cells infiltrating the kidney in the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension.

This work summarizes recent evidence that suggests that renal infiltration with immune cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension. The presence of immunocompetent cells is a conspicuous finding in conditions associated with hypertension induced or maintained by a high salt intake. Studies in models of salt-sensitive hypertension following angiotensin II infusion and nitric oxide synthesis inhibition indicate that a reduction in the tubulointerstitial infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages during the induction period results in protection from the subsequent development of salt-sensitive hypertension.

Reduction of renal immune cell infiltration results in blood pressure control in genetically hypertensive rats.

Immunocompetent cells infiltrate the kidney in several models of experimental hypertension. We have previously shown that reduction of this infiltrate results in prevention of salt-sensitive hypertension induced by short-term angiotensin II infusion and nitric oxide inhibition (Quiroz Y, Pons H, Gordon KI, Rincón J, Chávez M, Parra G, Herrera-Acosta J, Gómez-Garre D, Largo R, Egido J, Johnson RJ, and Rodríguez-Iturbe B. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 281: F38-F47, 2001; Rodríguez-Iturbe B, Pons H, Quiroz Y, Gordon K, Rincón J, Chávez M, Parra G, Herrera-Acosta J, Gómez-Garre D, Largo R, Egido J, and Johnson RJ.