ATP1A1 and hypertensive disorder: Given the association of ATP1A1 with hypertension in a rat model and in a Sardinian cohort, and the following facts: that ATP1A1 is the sole Na,K-ATPase α-subunit isoform in vascular endothelial cells [7] and renal tubular epithelial cells involved in Na-reabsorption [5,6], that increased sodium levels is implicated in endothelial stiffness [17,18], and that sodium is a known risk factor for arterial stiffness [19] and hypertension [5], it becomes apparent that the ATP1A1 gene is a logical candidate hypertension gene.