Fig. 2
From: HIV, immune activation and salt-sensitive hypertension (HISH): a research proposal
HIV and Salt-sensitive hypertension working Hypothesis. We hypothesize that HIV infection and treatment can lead to increased accumulation of sodium in tissues. This can activate the immune system leading to hypertension. Sodium enters antigen presenting cells and is exchanged for calcium through the sodium hydrogen exchanger 1. Calcium activates protein kinase C (PKC), which then activates NADPH oxidase by phosphorylating its subunit p47phox. This leads to increased production of superoxide with subsequent formation of immunogenic isolevuglandin (IsoLG)-protein adducts. IsoLGs activate DCs which in turn promote T cell proliferation and production of cytokines that contribute to salt-sensitive hypertension [4]