Endothelin, the kidney, and hypertension.

The kidneys play a central role in the long-term regulation of blood pressure and in the pathogenesis of hypertension. A common defect that has been found in all forms of hypertension examined to date is a hypertensive shift in the pressure-natriuresis relationship. A major objective of this brief review is to highlight some of the recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms whereby the renal endothelin system, via endothelin type A- and endothelin type B-receptor activation, modulates renal pressure-natriuresis and blood pressure regulation under normal physiologic conditions and in certain forms of hypertension.