Researchers identify driver of nervous system overactivity in hypertension
MD Anderson Research Highlight June 18, 2025
The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that controls the sympathetic nervous system ¨C which regulates the fight or flight response ¨C by increasing heart rate and tightening blood vessels. When this system is overactive, it leads to high blood pressure (hypertension), increasing the risk of cardiovascular and brain diseases. Normally, the calcineurin protein in the hypothalamus regulates this process by calming down specific brain signals. However, in lab models of hypertension, researchers led by , identified another protein, RCAN1, that sticks to calcineurin and blocks it from working properly, leading to overactivity. The researchers injected a small piece of protein to stop RCAN1, which lowered sympathetic nerve activity and reduced blood pressure. These findings suggest the promising potential of targeting the RCAN1-calcineurin interaction as a therapeutic strategy for patients with hypertension. Learn more in .
We've identified that reduced brain calcineurin activity is a potential cause of idiopathic hypertension. Targeting this mechanism could have tremendous benefits for patients who suffer from high blood pressure.