Previous reports showed that the blockade of brain microglia or the targeted depletion of activated microglia in the PVN attenuated Ang II-induced hypertension, decreased PVN cytokines and reduced cardiac hypertrophy, strongly demonstrating the important role of Ang II in microglial activation and the release of PICs in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The gene discussed is AGT; the disease is hypertensive disorder.