biostudies-literaturePijacka WBritish Heart FoundationNCCIH NIH HHSBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council1151-1159https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5750397biostudies-literatureUnknown22(10)In view of the high proportion of individuals with resistance to antihypertensive medication and/or poor compliance or tolerance of this medication, new drugs to treat hypertension are urgently needed. Here we show that peripheral chemoreceptors generate aberrant signaling that contributes to high blood pressure in hypertension. We discovered that purinergic receptor P2X3 (P2rx3, also known as P2x3) mRNA expression is upregulated substantially in chemoreceptive petrosal sensory neurons in rats with hypertension. These neurons generate both tonic drive and hyperreflexia in hypertensive (but not normotensive) rats, and both phenomena are normalized by the blockade of P2X3 receptors. Antagonism of P2X3 receptors also reduces arterial pressure and basal sympathetic activity and normalizes caroNature medicinePurinergic receptors in the carotid body as a new drug target for controlling hypertension.PMC5750397BB/L014181/1RG/12/6/29670R01 AT008632FS/11/1/28400Hart ECMcBryde FDPaton JFFord APMachado BHRatcliffe LEda Silva MPAbdala APPijacka WMoraes DJNightingale AKfalsePurinergic receptors in the carotid body as a new drug target for controlling hypertension.In view of the high proportion of individuals with resistance to antihypertensive medication and/or poor compliance or tolerance of this medication, new drugs to treat hypertension are urgently needed. Here we show that peripheral chemoreceptors generate aberrant signaling that contributes to high blood pressure in hypertension. We discovered that purinergic receptor P2X3 (P2rx3, also known as P2x3) mRNA expression is upregulated substantially in chemoreceptive petrosal sensory neurons in rats with hypertension. These neurons generate both tonic drive and hyperreflexia in hypertensive (but not normotensive) rats, and both phenomena are normalized by the blockade of P2X3 receptors. Antagonism of P2X3 receptors also reduces arterial pressure and basal sympathetic activity and normalizes caro2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Oct2025-04-05T12:33:15.831Z2019-03-27T03:06:10ZS-EPMC57503972759532310.1038/nm.4173