Fig. 1.

Paradigm illustrating how isolevuglandins (IsoLGs) activate dendritic cells (DCs) leading to hypertension. During hypertension, there is increased oxidative stress in the kidney (1) and the vasculature (2) leading to formation of isolevuglandin-protein adducts. Dendritic cells take up the altered proteins (3). Increased oxidative stress can also lead to formation of isolevuglandin-protein adducts directly inside dendritic cells (4). The altered proteins are processed and presented in MHC to T cells by dendritic cells (5). The dendritic cells increase expression of costimulatory molecules and produce cytokines which activate T cells (6). The activated T cells proliferate and produce cytokines leading to hypertension (7).