Roles of renal cytochrome P450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolites in hypertension.

Cytochrome P450 represents the third metabolic pathway of arachidonic acid giving rise to several biologically active compounds, such as 19-HETE, 20-HETE and EETs and their corresponding DHETs. The kidney is the rich source of these metabolites which have some important biologic actions within the kidney. These metabolites have a wide and contrasting spectrum of biological and renal effects, from vasodilation to vasoconstriction and from inhibition to stimulation of Na-K-ATPase, their relative production rates may influence not only renal hemodynamics but also pro- and anti-hypertensive mechanisms of hypertension. There is increasing evidence that the abnormality of these metabolites in animal models of hypertension. However, sufficient evidence of the physiological and pathophysiological roles of hypertension in man is still lacking.