[PTH, PTHrP, and CGRP in hypertension research]

Parathyroid hormone (PTH), a key hormone regulating plasma Ca level, is elevated in some essential hypertension, and conversly, hyperparathyroidism is associated with elevated blood pressure. However, such an effect would be paradoxical because PTH is a potent vasodilator. Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), which could act in a autocrine and paracrine manner in vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, would be a more potent vasodilator and could be produced in hypertensive vascular tissue. Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), 37-amino acid neuropeptide results from alternative processing from calcitonin gene, is vasodilating peptide, and is localized in the central and peripheral nervous system involved in cardiovascular regulation. In some essential hypertensive patients, CGRP is reported to be at a low level.