title: Role of epithelial sodium channels and their regulators in hypertension.
abstract: The kidney has a central role in the regulation of blood pressure, in large part through its role in the regulated reabsorption of filtered Na(+). Epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaCs) are expressed in the most distal segments of the nephron and are a target of volume regulatory hormones. A variety of factors regulate ENaC activity, including several aldosterone-induced proteins that are present within an ENaC regulatory complex. Proteases also regulate ENaC by cleaving the channel and releasing intrinsic inhibitory tracts. Polymorphisms or mutations within channel subunits or regulatory pathways that enhance channel activity may contribute to an increase in blood pressure in individuals with essential hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Rama
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soundararajan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Rebecca P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hughey
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kleyman
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009399:Nephrons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium