Linked Life Data

21228572

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/21228572

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-3
pubmed:dateCreated
2011-1-13
pubmed:abstractText
High blood pressure is the main cause of disease-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is virtually absent in populations that consume natural foods low in sodium. In other countries, however, where the individual intake of sodium is at least 10 times greater, the prevalence of arterial hypertension is about 40%. Vascular endothelium plays a central role in blood pressure regulation. In addition to the kidney, the vasculature is a major target for aldosterone where it controls nonexcitable sodium channels in the endothelium. High sodium channel expression/activity downregulates the release of nitric oxide (NO), and thus determines endothelial function. Mechanical cell stiffness is therefore the means whereby high sodium channel activity reduces NO release. We have found that small changes of plasma sodium, but only above 139 mM, and potassium above 4 mM regulate the stiffness of the submembrane actin web and thus control the shear stress-dependent activity of endothelial NO synthase, which lies directly beneath the cell membrane. Plasma sodium above 139 mM stiffens the actin web of the endothelial cell, and plasma potassium greater than 4 mM does the opposite. In conclusion, vascular endothelial cells are highly sensitive to changes in extracellular sodium and potassium but only within and above the normal range. This sensitivity may serve as a physiological feedback mechanism to regulate local blood flow. It becomes pathogenic, however, when the concentration of plasma sodium or potassium changes towards and beyond the upper limits of the normal range.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
1421-9735
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
31
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
82-5
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2011
pubmed:articleTitle
Sodium: a wolf in sheep's clothing.
pubmed:affiliation
Institute of Physiology II, Medical Faculty, University Münster, Robert-Koch-Strasse 27b, Münster, Germany. oberlei@uni-muenster.de
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't