Increased TRPC3 expression in vascular endothelium of patients with malignant hypertension.

An increased expression of transient receptor potential canonical type 3 (TRPC3) cation channels has been proposed as one of the factors contributing to the pathogenesis of hypertension. To test that hypothesis we compared the expression of TRPC3 and TRPC6 as an endogenous control in human vascular endothelium of preglomerular arterioles in kidney biopsies from six patients with malignant hypertension and from four patients with diarrhea-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Patients with malignant hypertension showed significantly higher systolic blood pressure and more prominent expression of TRPC3 in vascular endothelium of preglomerular arterioles compared to patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The expression of TRPC6 was not different between the two groups. The study supports the hypothesis that the increased expression of TRPC3 is associated with malignant hypertension in humans.