Journal article
Role of WNK Kinases in Blood Pressure Control
Current hypertension reviews, Vol.4(3), pp.161-166
01/01/2008
DOI: 10.2174/157340208785132617
Abstract
With-No-Lysine [K] (WNK) kinases are a group of serine/threonine protein kinases with an unusual location of the catalytic lysine. There are four mammalian WNK kinases, WNK1-4, each encoded by a separate gene. In addition, WNK1 has two alternatively spliced isoforms: a ubiquitously expressed full-length long isoform (L-WNK1) with kinase activity and a kidney-specific isoform (KS-WNK1) lacking kinase activity. Mutations of WNK1 and WNK4 genes cause a genetic hypertension syndrome, pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2 (PHA2). Recent studies show that WNK1, 3 and 4 are expressed in the aldosterone-sensitive distal tubules of kidney and contribute to sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+)homeostasis by regulating tubular Na+ and K+ transporters in complex manners. Mice with heterozygous disruption of WNK1 gene have hypotension but without apparent renal Na+ wasting. L-WNK1 is also expressed in heart and blood vessel. Thus, function of WNK1 in cardiovascular system may also contribute to blood pressure regulation. Transgenic or knockin mice carrying a disease-causing WNK4 gene exhibit typical phenotypes of PHA2 by increasing renal Na+ reabsorption. The review summarizes recent studies on the mechanism of WNK kinases regulation of Na+ homeostasis and cardiovascular function and the role in blood pressure control.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Role of WNK Kinases in Blood Pressure Control
- Creators
- Sung-Sen Yang - National Defense Medical CenterShih-Hua Lin - National Defense Medical CenterChou-Long Huang - Southwestern Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Current hypertension reviews, Vol.4(3), pp.161-166
- Publisher
- Bentham Science Publ Ltd
- DOI
- 10.2174/157340208785132617
- ISSN
- 1573-4021
- eISSN
- 1875-6506
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- DK-59530 / NIH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA NSC 96-2314-B-016-052-MY2 / National Science Council, Taiwan, ROC; Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan 0440019N / American Heart Association TSGH-C97-79 / Tri-Service General Hospital
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2008
- Academic Unit
- Nephrology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984359809502771
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