Accumulating evidence supports a role of adaptive immunity and particularly T cells in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Formation of memory T cells, which requires the costimulatory molecule CD70 on antigen-presenting cells, is a cardinal feature of adaptive immunity.

To test the hypothesis that CD70 and immunologic memory contribute to the blood pressure elevation and renal dysfunction mediated by repeated hypertensive challenges.

We imposed repeated hypertensive challenges using either N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)/high salt or repeated angiotensin II stimulation in mice. During these challenges effector memory T cells (T_EM) accumulated in the kidney and bone marrow. In the L-NAME/high-salt model, memory T cells of the kidney were predominant sources of interferon-γ and interleukin-17A, known to contribute to hypertension. L-NAME/high salt increased macrophage and dendritic cell surface expression of CD70 by 3- to 5-fold. Mice lacking CD70 did not accumulate T_EM cells and did not develop hypertension to either high salt or the second angiotensin II challenge and were protected against renal damage. Bone marrow–residing T_EM cells proliferated and redistributed to the kidney in response to repeated salt feeding. Adoptively transferred T_EM cells from hypertensive mice homed to the bone marrow and spleen and expanded on salt feeding of the recipient mice.

Our findings illustrate a previously undefined role of CD70 and long-lived T_EM cells in the development of blood pressure elevation and end-organ damage that occur on delayed exposure to mild hypertensive stimuli. Interventions to prevent repeated hypertensive surges could attenuate formation of hypertension-specific T_EM cells.