Sodium-calcium interactions and salt-sensitive hypertension.
In humans with essential hypertension, salt-induced increases in blood pressure have been reported to correlate directly with salt-induced increases in intracellular free calcium [( Ca2+]i) in circulating mononuclear cells. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that salt-induced increases in [Ca2+]i mediate the phenomenon of salt sensitivity. Circumstantial evidence suggests that salt-induced increases in intracellular sodium or in plasma levels of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D might mediate salt-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and blood pressure. However, in humans with salt-sensitive hypertension, it remains to be determined: (1) whether salt-induced increases in white blood cell [Ca2+]i reflect corresponding increases in vascular smooth muscle [Ca2+]i; (2) whether salt-induced increases in [Ca2+]i are a cause or consequence of salt-induced increases in blood pressure; and (3) whether salt-induced increases in 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D or intracellular sodium precede salt-induced increases in [Ca2+]i.
Kurtz
T W
TW
Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0134.
Morris
R C
RC
D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012964:Sodium; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium