ALTERATIONS OF MEMBRANE-TRANSPORT OF MONO VALENT IONS IN PRIMARY HYPERTENSION - WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT AFTER 20 YEARS

In this mini-review we briefly view the historical background of the d iscovery of the wide-spread abnormalities of monovalent ion transport across plasma membrane in primary hypertension, which took place in th e middle of seventies. We analyze data on the identification of ion tr ansport systems involved in these abnormalities and summarize evidence s for the involvement of altered Na/H exchange and Na, K, 2Cl cotransp ort in pathogenesis of essential hypertension obtained during the past two decades. The last section is focused on molecular biological appr oaches to understand the origin of ion transport abnormalities in prim ary hypertension and to design new pharmacological tools for therapeut ic correction of this decease.