Figure 1.

Immune activation in hypertension is characterized by activation of dendritic cells (DC) and subsequent activation of T-cells. T-cells then migrate to the vascular tree and the kidney causing inflammation and hypertension. High salt can participate in the activation of immature DCs to activated DCs whereas myeloid derived suppressor cells can inhibit DC and T cell activation. Products of the microbiome and inflammasome both act on innate immune cells and T-cells directly to augment peripheral organ inflammation and exacerbate hypertension. Processes discussed herein are represented by red arrows.