CCL2 as a microvascular "tone breaker": inflammatory signaling and the failure of kidney autoregulation in salt-sensitive hypertension.

Hypertension-associated kidney injury is strongly shaped by the ability of the kidney to buffer systemic pressure at the afferent arteriole. Feng et al. identify C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 as a direct regulator of kidney microvascular smooth muscle contractility in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Loss of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 preserves Notch3-Mylk (myosin light-chain kinase) signaling, maintains myogenic tone, protects autoregulation, and prevents kidney injury. These findings position the C-C motif chemokine ligand 2/C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 axis as a mechanistic bridge between inflammatory signaling and hypertensive nephropathy.