Hypertension caused by transgenic overexpression of Rac1.

Reactive oxygen species, including superoxide, are important mediators of the pathophysiology of hypertension. In the vasculature, superoxide antagonizes nitric oxide (NO*), resulting in increased vascular tone. The GTP binding protein Rac regulates a wide variety of cellular functions, including the activation of NADPH oxidase, the major source of O2*-in the blood vessel wall.