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Hypothalamic Ion Channels in Hypertension

  • Hypertension and the Brain (R Wainford, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Hypertension is a prevalent and major health problem, involving a complex integration of different organ systems, including the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS and the hypothalamus in particular are intricately involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. In fact, evidence supports altered hypothalamic neuronal activity as a major factor contributing to increased sympathetic drive and increased blood pressure. Several mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to hypothalamic-driven sympathetic activity, including altered ion channel function. Ion channels are critical regulators of neuronal excitability and synaptic function in the brain and, thus, important for blood pressure homeostasis regulation. These include sodium channels, voltage-gated calcium channels, and potassium channels being some of them already identified in hypothalamic neurons. This brief review summarizes the hypothalamic ion channels that may be involved in hypertension, highlighting recent findings that suggest that hypothalamic ion channel modulation can affect the central control of blood pressure and, therefore, suggesting future development of interventional strategies designed to treat hypertension.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Fisiologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal

    Vera Geraldes, Sérgio Laranjo & Isabel Rocha

  2. Centro Cardiovascular da Universidade de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal

    Isabel Rocha

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  1. Vera Geraldes
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  2. Sérgio Laranjo
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  3. Isabel Rocha
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Correspondence to Isabel Rocha.

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Dr. Rocha reports a grant from Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [2010–2013–FCT/PTDC/SAU-OSM/109081/2008]. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hypertension and the Brain

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Geraldes, V., Laranjo, S. & Rocha, I. Hypothalamic Ion Channels in Hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep 20, 14 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-018-0814-x

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