Chemokine receptors in vascular biology: a review of current evidence, implications, and therapeutic targets for hypertension.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death worldwide, including in the United States. Risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, and hypertension contribute significantly to their development. Emerging evidence highlights a central role for chemokines-small signaling molecules that guide immune cell migration to sites of infection, inflammation, or tissue damage-in the initiation and progression of hypertension. This positions chemokines and their receptors as promising pharmacological targets for blood pressure regulation and vascular protection. In this review, we explore the therapeutic potential of targeting chemokines and their receptors and summarize the main strategies reported in the literature for managing hypertension through these pathways. For this purpose, an analysis of drugs that act on the most relevant receptors at the preclinical and clinical levels was performed. After this analysis, their mechanisms of action, selectivity, and possible adverse effects were discussed. In conclusion, we reinforce that the modulation of chemokines and their receptors represents a promising approach in the control of CVDs, especially hypertension, although further clinical studies are needed to validate the efficacy and safety of this strategy, considering possible impacts on other essential immune responses.