FIG. 1.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses act synergistically in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Innate and adaptive immune responses potentiate blood pressure elevation and the ensuing end-organ injury by driving reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in cardiovascular control organs, including the vasculature, the kidney, and the nervous system. Conversely, superoxide generated within these cardiovascular control organs can promote activation of circulating immune cells that exaggerates hypertensive responses following an initial injury signal.