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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2020 Jun 25;231(1):e13487. doi: 10.1111/apha.13487

Figure 2. Role of the Adaptive Immune System in Hypertension.

Figure 2.

CD8+, CD4+, T helper cells, and B lymphocytes drive hypertension through mediators such as NADPH oxidase, production of ROS, cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-17), and IgG production. These mediators worsen hypertension through endothelial dysfunction, sodium retention and impaired natriuresis in the kidney, as well as through further immune activation, including induction of M2 macrophage differentiation. T regulatory cells have a crucial role in modulating and decreasing the adaptive immune system response and help reduce hypertension.