Regulation of the Na-K-Cl co-transporter by the AMP-activated protein kinase

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The failure of the kidney to excrete enough salt is a major driving force behind high blood pressure, kidney failure and heart disease. At present, it is not known, in any detail, how the kidney is able to recognise that it is not excreting enough salt and how it changes the amount it excretes. This is important if, for example, someone eats a salty meal. Unless the kidney recognises that there is an excess of salt and adjusts itself to excrete it, then salt accumulates leading to high blood pressure, kidney and cardiac problems. In this study, we have identified a new mechanism that the kidney uses to detect salt and to excrete it. This could be a major advance in our understanding of high blood pressure and other common diseases.