Role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of hypertension

Abstract

The increased production of reactive oxygen species has been involved in several chronic diseases, including hypertension. Oxidative stress is, in turn, cause and consequence of this hypertension. The enzyme NADPH oxidase is the major source of reactive species of cardiovascular, renal and neural oxygen. Oxidative stress is associated with endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, hypertrophy, apoptosis, cell migration, fibrosis and angiogenesis; important processes involved in vascular remodeling of hypertension. Despite the large amount of data that involve oxidative stress as a causative factor of experimental hypertension, results in humans are less conclusive. The aim of this review is to describe the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of hypertension. A better understanding of these mechanisms will allow a more comprehensive behavior to this common disease.