EVEN HYPERTENSION IS CYTOKINE INDUCED

e-MED:

"Due to investigations into the pathophysiology of hypertension, both in animals and humans, growing evidence suggests that hypertension may have an immunological basis. Studies have revealed that hypertension is associated with renal infiltration of immune cells and that pharmacologic immunosuppression (such as with the drug mycophenolate mofetil) or pathologic immunosuppression (such as occurs with HIV) results in reduced blood pressure in animals and humans. Evidence suggests that T lymphocytes and T-cell derived cytokines (eg, interleukin 17, tumor necrosis factor alpha) play an important role in hypertension. One hypotehesis is that prehypertension results in oxidation and altered mechanical forces that lead to the formation of neoantigens, which are then presented to T cells, leading to T-cell activation and infiltration of critical organs (eg, kidney, vasculature). This results in persistent or severe hypertension and end organ damage. promote T-lymphocyte activation and infiltration and contribute to the pathophysiology of hypertension."