title: The putative role of mitochondrial dysfunction in hypertension.
abstract: Hypertension is a condition associated with oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and increased vascular resistance, representing probably both a cause and a consequence of elevated levels of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species. Mitochondria are important sites of ROS production, and a mitochondrial dysfunction, preceding endothelial dysfunction, might favor the development of hypertension. ROS production may also be induced by RNS, which inhibit the respiratory chain and may be generated through the action of a mitochondrial NO synthase. Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins are involved in both experimental and human hypertension. Finally, an excessive production of ROS may damage mitochondrial DNA, with resultant impairment in the synthesis of some components of the respiratory chain and further ROS production, a vicious cycle that may be implicated in hypertensive states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology, Hepatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puddu
authors.forename: Giovanni Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Puddu
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cravero
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Pascalis
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muscari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004579:Electron Transport; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1