G-protein-mediated signalling in salt-dependent hypertension

Arterial hypertension is a common health problem which represents a major risk factor for a variety of diseases like myocardial infarction or stroke. An environmental factor that still attracts a lot of interest in this context is the dietary intake of salt (sodium chloride). Multiple evidence indicates that an increased salt intake increases the risk for hypertension. The precise mechanisms linking high salt intake to high blood pressure are still unclear. This review summarises data on G-protein-coupled receptors and their downstream signalling pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells implicated in the pathophysiology of salt-dependent hypertension.