Reduced mRNA and Protein Content of Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (RhoGEF) in Bartter’s and Gitelman’s Syndromes: Relevance for the Pathophysiology of Hypertension

Abstract

Reduced p115RhoGEF may explain the downregulation of RhoA/ROK pathway in BS/GS. This is the first report of upstream regulators of RhoA level in BS/GS, a human clinical condition characterized by reduced vascular tone regulation. Because BS/GS represent the mirror image of derangements involved in hypertension, the reduced RhoGEF expression in BS/GS underlines a major impact of RhoA/ROK pathway on blood pressure regulation and confirms BS/GS as a good human model for exploring mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension and remodeling.