[HTML][HTML] A salt-sensing kinase in T lymphocytes, SGK1, drives hypertension and hypertensive end-organ damage

AE Norlander, MA Saleh, AK Pandey, HA Itani, J Wu… - JCI insight, 2017 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
JCI insight, 2017ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
We previously showed that angiotensin II (Ang II) increases T cell production of IL-17A, and
that mice deficient in IL-17A have blunted hypertension and attenuated renal and vascular
dysfunction. It was recently shown that salt enhances IL-17A production from CD4+ T cells
via a serum-and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1–dependent (SGK1-dependent) pathway.
Thus, we tested the hypothesis that SGK1 signaling in T cells promotes hypertension and
contributes to end-organ damage. We show that loss of T cell SGK1 results in a blunted …
Abstract
We previously showed that angiotensin II (Ang II) increases T cell production of IL-17A, and that mice deficient in IL-17A have blunted hypertension and attenuated renal and vascular dysfunction. It was recently shown that salt enhances IL-17A production from CD4+ T cells via a serum-and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1–dependent (SGK1-dependent) pathway. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that SGK1 signaling in T cells promotes hypertension and contributes to end-organ damage. We show that loss of T cell SGK1 results in a blunted hypertensive response to Ang II infusion by 25 mmHg. Importantly, renal and vascular inflammation is abrogated in these mice compared with control mice. Furthermore, mice lacking T cell SGK1 are protected from Ang II–induced endothelial dysfunction and renal injury. Loss of T cell SGK1 also blunts blood pressure and vascular inflammation in response to deoxycorticosterone acetate–salt (DOCA-salt) hypertension. Finally, we demonstrate that the Na+-K+-2Cl–cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) is upregulated in Th17 cells and is necessary for the salt-induced increase in SGK1 and the IL-23 receptor. These studies demonstrate that T cell SGK1 and NKCC1 may be novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of hypertension and identify a potentially new mechanism by which salt contributes to hypertension.
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