Connexins, renin cell displacement and hypertension.

Abstract

Vascular gap junctions formed by specific connexins proteins Cx37, 40, 43 and 45 are important for proper vascular function. This review outlines that defects of the connexin 40 protein leads to hypertension because of dysfunction of renin secreting cells of the kidney. Thus defects of Cx40 but not of other vascular connexins blunt the negative feedback control of renin secretion by the blood pressure, and moreover, lead to a shift of renin expression from the juxtaglomerular vessels walls into the periglomerular interstitium. Evidence exists to indicate that those findings which were primarily obtained with mice are also relevant for humans.

• Authors: Armin Kurtz
• Journal: Current opinion in pharmacology (Curr Opin Pharmacol) Vol. 21 Pg. 1-6 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1471-4973 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25483714 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Connexins
• Renin

Topics

• Animals
• Connexins (metabolism)
• Gap Junctions
• Humans
• Hypertension (metabolism)
• Renin (metabolism)