TASK-3 channel deletion in mice recapitulates low-renin essential hypertension

Idiopathic primary hyperaldosteronism (IHA) and low-renin essential hypertension (LREH) are common forms of hypertension, characterized by an elevated aldosterone-renin ratio and hypersensitivity to angiotensin II. They are suggested to be 2 states within a disease spectrum that progresses from LREH to IHA as the control of aldosterone production by the renin-angiotensin system is weakened. The mechanism(s) that drives this progression remains unknown. Deletion of Twik-related acid-sensitive K(+) channels (TASK) subunits, TASK-1 and TASK-3, in mice (T1T3KO) produces a model of human IHA. Here, we determine the effect of deleting only TASK-3 (T3KO) on the control of aldosterone production and blood pressure. We find that T3KO mice recapitulate key characteristics of human LREH, salt-sensitive hypertension, mild overproduction of aldosterone, decreased plasma-renin concentration with elevated aldosterone:renin ratio, hypersensitivity to endogenous and exogenous angiotensin II, and failure to suppress aldosterone production with dietary sodium loading. The relative differences in levels of aldosterone output and aldosterone:renin ratio and in autonomy of aldosterone production between T1T3KO and T3KO mice are reminiscent of differences in human hypertensive patients with LREH and IHA. Our studies establish a model of LREH and suggest that loss of TASK channel activity may be one mechanism that advances the syndrome of low renin hypertension.