The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in resistant hypertension treated with renal denervation

Background Renal denervation (RDN) reduces sympathetic tone and may alter the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance. The autonomic nervous system is partly a regulator of innate immunity via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) which inhibits inflammation via the vagus nerve. Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) influences a neuro-immunological pathway in the spleen which may contribute to hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate if modulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity affects CAP in terms of cytokine release as well as levels of PlGF.