CCL2‐CCR2 Signalling in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Elicits Sympathetic‐Mediated Blood Pressure Elevations Through Monocyte and Lymphocyte Recruitment

Abstract

Chemokine C‐C motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is a chemotactic cytokine, which is elevated in the plasma of hypertensive patients. In experimental models of hypertension, CCL2 levels are increased by 3‐fold in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). However, the underlying neural and molecular mechanisms leading to the development of hypertension still remain unknown. Here, we show for the first time that in Sprague‐Dawley rats activation of receptors for CCL2 (i.e. CCR2) in the PVN elicited biphasic blood pressure (BP) responses and changes in renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), consisting of early reductions followed by long‐lasting increas..