Table 1.
Type of Mediator | Description | Potential Application as a Target in Hypertension |
---|---|---|
Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) | T cell subtype characterized by the ability to suppress inflammatory signaling; proposed to be protective, where deficiency of Tregs leads to autoimmune disease |
- Increasing the presence or functionality of Tregs may reduce oxidative stress, increase NO bioavailability, block immune cell accumulation, and protect against hypertension |
Th17 cells | T cell subtype that produces IL-17; pro-inflammatory and exacerbate tissue damage and disease |
- Blunting Th17 signaling may alleviate inflammation and target organ tissue damage associated with hypertension |
Dendritic cells (DCs):
|
Bone marrow-derived antigen presenting cells (APCs) that play a key role in modulating the inflammatory response by distinguishing between self- and non-self antigens; induce the activation of T-lymphocytes |
- Circulating precursor DCs as biomarkers to predict the development of cardiovascular disease - Development of isoketal scavengers to attenuate immunogenicity of DCs and hypertension |
Immunosenescent CD8+ cells | T cells characterized by shortened telomeres, loss of CD28, gain of CD57 expression, and increased production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines |
- Biomarker and potential therapeutic target in hypertensive patients |
Chemokines and cytokines
|
Activated and recruited immune cells produce these inflammatory mediators, which determine the local inflammatory response |
- Implicated in development and maintenance of hypertension - Blockade of these inflammatory pathways may decrease infiltration of immune cells, inflammation and blood pressure |
Toll-like receptors (TLRs: TLR1-13) |
- Family of receptors that trigger pro-inflammatory signals in response to microbial structures or DAMPs released by injured tissues. - Potential molecular link between innate and adaptive immune responses in cardiovascular disease |
- Targeting TLRs may modulate the inflammatory cascade at an earlier point to help control disease more effectively |
NLRP3 inflammasomes | - Pattern recognition receptors responsible for maturation of pro- inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β and IL-18 in response to PAMPs and DAMPs; - Controllers of the initiation of the innate immune response |
- Inflammasome inhibition has been shown to prevent blood pressure elevation, lower plasma renin activity, and reduce sodium retention - CIAS1 gene encoding for NLRP3 linked to essential hypertension susceptibility |