Biomarkers in Hypertension and Hypertension-related Disorders.

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a major risk factor for several secondary diseases, especially cardiovascular and renal conditions. SAH has a high prevalence worldwide, and its precise and early recognition is important to prevent the development of secondary outcomes. In this field, the study of biomarkers represents an important approach to diagnosing and predicting the disease and its associated conditions. The use of biomarkers in hypertension and hypertension-related disorders, such as ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and chronic kidney disease, are discussed in this review. Establishing a potential pool of biomarkers may contribute to a non-invasive and improved approach for their diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, therapy management and pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention to improve patients' quality of life and prevent unfavorable outcomes.

Neurobiology of glycine transporters: From molecules to behavior.

Glycine transporters (GlyTs) are Na+/Cl--dependent neurotransmitter transporters, responsible for l-glycine uptake into the central nervous system. GlyTs are members of the solute carrier family 6 (SLC6) and comprise glycine transporter type 1 (SLC6A9; GlyT1) and glycine transporter type 2 (SLC6A5; Glyt2). GlyT1 and GlyT2 are expressed on both astrocytes and neurons, but their expression pattern in brain tissue is foremost related to neurotransmission. GlyT2 is markedly expressed in brainstem, spinal cord and cerebellum, where it is responsible for glycine uptake into glycinergic and GABAergic terminals. GlyT1 is abundant in neocortex, thalamus and hippocampus, where it is expressed in astrocytes, and involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission. Consequently, inhibition of GlyT1 transporters can modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission through NMDA receptors, suggesting an alternative therapeutic strategy. In this review, we focus on recent progress in the understanding of GlyTs role in brain function and in various diseases, such as epilepsy, hyperekplexia, neuropathic pain, drug addiction, schizophrenia and stroke, as well as in neurodegenerative disorders.