title: The Na-K-Cl cotransport in essential hypertension: cellular functions and genetic environment interactions.
abstract: The present paper examines factors involved in the expression of the Na-K-Cl cotransport system present in erythrocytes and in vascular cells. This transport system is modulated by vasoactive peptides such as atrial natriuretic factor and bradykinin in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. The Vmax of the Na-K-Cl in human red cells displays large interindividual differences which can be mainly accounted for by genetic factors. Elevation of the Km for Na of the outward Na cotransport is found in red cells of some Caucasian hypertensives and in Black normotensives born of hypertensive parents whose blood pressure increases with salt loading. Reduction of Na intake from 200 to 10 mEq/day does not influence the activity of the cotransport in normotensive individuals but decreases the Km for Na of hypertensive subjects to values similar to those of the normotensives. These findings indicate that the Na-K-Cl cotransport is an important probe of genetic and environmental factors in the hypertensive process.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine-Hypertension Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Canessa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D004777:Environment; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002712:Chlorides; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium