Renal Tubular Sodium Transporters and Genetic Basis of Hypertension

Renal regulation of total body sodium (Na) plays an important role in volume-dependent blood pressure control through different molecular mechanisms. Gain of renal tubular Na transporter function in different segments is primarily responsible for essential and monogenic forms of hypertension. In this review, we summarize the physiological regulation of the major renal tubular Na transporters and recent findings of molecular pathogenesis regarding the genetic basis of hypertension with an activated or enhanced expression of Na-hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3), Na/potassium (K) ATPase, renal-specific Na-K-2chloride (Cl) cotransporter isoform 2 (NKCC2), Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC) and epithelial Na channel (ENaC) in the renal tubules.