The specific objectives were to investigate the following: 1) the alteration of TLR4 expression in hypertension and the contribution of Ang II to this alteration; 2) the role of TLR4 in hypertension occurrence, as well as in the associated vascular function alterations; and 3) the involvement of the TLR4-activated ROS production in the vascular dysfunction associated to this pathology. This evidence concerns the gene AGT and hypertensive disorder.