Dopaminergic Mechanisms in Renal Hypertension
Summary
Renal dopamine synthesis and local dopamine receptor activation constitute a critical autocrine and paracrine network that governs sodium homoeostasis, vascular tone and inflammatory status within the kidney. Dopamine produced by proximal tubule cells binds to D1-like receptors (D1R, D5R) to inhibit tubular sodium transporters, thereby promoting natriuresis and attenuating volume-dependent blood pressure elevation. Concurrently, D2-like receptors modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades by inhibiting pro-oxidant enzymes and upregulating endogenous antioxidants. Disruption of any receptor subtype, impaired receptor trafficking or altered dopamine availability shifts the pressure–natriuresis relationship, favouring sodium retention, renal vasoconstriction and eventual hypertension. Emerging evidence also highlights crosstalk between renal dopamine receptors and other hormonal systems, including the renin–angiotensin axis, with implications for targeted therapies that restore receptor function or mitigate oxidative injury in hypertensive nephropathy.
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Dopaminergic Mechanisms in Renal Hypertension publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in dopaminergic mechanisms in renal hypertension across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Natriuresis: Excretion of sodium in the urine, a key mechanism for blood pressure control.
Proximal tubule cells: Renal epithelial cells in the first segment of the nephron responsible for reabsorbing most filtered sodium.
D1-like and D2-like receptors: Subclasses of dopamine receptors in the kidney that respectively promote and modulate sodium excretion.
Oxidative stress: Imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defences contributing to tissue injury and hypertension.
Pressure–natriuresis curve: Relationship between arterial pressure and sodium excretion that is altered in hypertensive states.
References
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Peripheral Dopamine. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Intrarenal Dopaminergic System Is Dysregulated in SS-Resp18mutant Rats. Biomedicines (2023).
- The Role of the Renal Dopaminergic System and Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension. Biomedicines (2021).
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