title: Through a glass darkly: salt transport by the distal tubule.
abstract: The distal convoluted tubule (DCT) plays a central role in blood pressure and potassium homeostasis, as evidenced by diseases that occur when its function is modified. The paper by van der Lubbe and colleagues makes clear that angiotensin II itself increases the activity and abundance of the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC), independent of changes in circulating aldosterone. This Commentary provides additional perspective on that work.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. ellisond@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ellison
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000502:physiology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007686:Kidney Tubules, Distal / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D049992:Sodium Chloride Symporters / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D049992:Sodium Chloride Symporters; D000804:Angiotensin II; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000450:Aldosterone; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases