A new immune disease: systemic hypertension

Abstract

Systemic hypertension is the most common medical comorbidity affecting the adult population globally, with multiple associated outcomes including cerebrovascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, vascular calcification, chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome and mortality. Despite advancements in the therapeutic field approximately one in every five adult patients with hypertension is classified as having treatment-resistant hypertension, indicating the need for studies to provide better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and the need for more therapeutic targets. Recent pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the role of the innate and adaptive immune system including various cell types and cytokines in the pathophysiology of hypertension. Moreover, pre-clinical studies have indicated the potential beneficial effects of immunosuppressant medications in the control of hypertension. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether such pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic alternatives are applicable to human subjects, while this area of research is undoubtedly a rapidly growing field.

Keywords: autoimmune disease; hypertension; immune system; immunosuppression; therapeutics.

Figure 1:

The role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of hypertension. AngII: Angiotensin 2; MMPs: matrix metalloproteinases; NHE3: sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 3; NO: nitric oxide; TReg: T regulatory cells.