Building on this understanding of its benefits, the currently known specific mechanisms linking exercise therapy to hypertension prevention and treatment include: promoting the release of nitric oxide (NO), reducing endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration to improve vascular function; inhibiting sympathetic nerve activity and regulating the renin-angiotensin system; reducing body weight and improving metabolism; and alleviating inflammatory responses (78, 84). This evidence concerns the gene REN and Hypertension.