We conclude that CLCNKB-T481S is associated with essential hypertension in males within the Ghanaian population; however, further studies are needed to understand its sex and ethnic segregation as well as to identify cellular factors that account for the divergent functional expression of ClC-Kb-T481S plus barttin in Xenopus oocytes and mammalian cells.
In conclusion, the mutation ClC-Kb(T481S) of the renal epithelial Cl- channel ClC-Kb strongly activates ClC-Kb chloride channel function in vitro and may predispose to the development of essential hypertension in vivo.