title: Sex-specific immune modulation of primary hypertension.
abstract: It is well known that the onset of essential hypertension occurs earlier in men than women. Numerous studies have shown sex differences in the vasculature, kidney and sympathetic nervous system contribute to this sex difference in the development of hypertension. The immune system also contributes to the development of hypertension; however, sex differences in immune system modulation of blood pressure (BP) and the development of hypertension has only recently begun to be explored. Here we review findings on the effect of one's sex on the immune system and specifically how these effects impact BP and the development of primary hypertension. We also propose a hypothesis for why mechanisms underlying inflammation-induced hypertension are sex-specific. These studies underscore the value of and need for studying both sexes in the basic science exploration of the pathophysiology of hypertension as well as other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Suite 232 Bldg D., Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 20057, United States.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Suite 232 Bldg D., Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 20057, United States.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, 1503 N. Campbell Rd, Bldg 201, Room 4103, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States. Electronic address: mhay@arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D000075222:Essential Hypertension; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C064658:RAG-1 protein
keywords: Hypertension; Inflammation; Kidney; Sex differences; Subfornical organ; T-cells