The Interactions of the Immune System and the Brain in Hypertension

AbstractPurpose of ReviewHypertension still represents a huge health problem, causing death and disability and rising at epidemic levels worldwide. The availability of a vast array of antihypertensive therapeutic strategies still fails to adequately treat significant fractions of refractory patients. The possible explanation to this disappointing evidence should be ascribed to the fact that myriad of mechanisms contribute to onset and maintenance of hypertension. Although we have been able to develop strategies aimed at counteracting the single mechanisms identified as master regulators of blood pressure, we still lack strategies capable to approach at the complex interactions established among the different pathophysiological mechanisms.Recent FindingsOne of the most intriguing pathophysiological interactions in hypertension emerged in the very last years is the one established between the autonomic nervous system and immunity.SummaryHere we briefly review the most important contributions revealing neural modulation of immunity in hypertension and how this novel concept is integrated in the already known multitude of regulations exerted by the autonomic nervous system in typical organs involved in blood pressure regulation.

Source: Current Hypertension Reports - February 24, 2018 Category: Primary Care Source Type: research