Targeting macrophage function in hypertension

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The immune system is thought to promote hypertension through inflammation of blood vessels, through the action of immune cells called macrophages. This project discovered that macrophages may promote the growth of nerves around blood vessels, causing them to contract more powerfully and contribute to hypertension. Additionally, drugs that target a protein caused the angiotensin type 2 receptor can reduce the release of molecules from macrophages that promote inflammation and may be a new approach to treating inflammation associated with hypertension.