Against this background, we and others have recently hypothesized that the Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) in small intestines and the proximal tubule of the kidney plays a key role in maintaining physiological blood pressure homeostasis and the development of Ang II-induced hypertension, and may serve a potential new therapeutic target in treating hypertension. This evidence concerns the gene SLC9A3 and hypertensive disorder.