Epigenetic modulation of the renal β-adrenergic–WNK4 pathway in salt-sensitive hypertension

By studying the effects of salt intake in mice and rats, ShengYu Mu et al. unravel the mechanisms by which dietary salt contributes to hypertension. Salt's prohypertensive effect required the activity of the glucocorticoid receptor in the kidney, which together with sympathetic nervous system activation led to decreased expression of the protein kinase WNK4, a key regulator of sodium channels that regulate blood pressure, via epigenetic regulation.