Role of angiotensin II in the transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression of rat kidney in anti-glomerular basement membrane antiserum-induced glomerulonephritis

Induction of acute nephritis in the rat by injecting anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antiserum is accompanied by a transient increase in angiotensin II generation in blood circulation within the first 24 h and a subsequent elevation of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) mRNA levels in kidney cortex with a peak at days 7-8. Studies were carried out to determine whether the increased generation of angiotensin II plays a role in the elevation of TGF-beta 1 mRNA. Elevation of TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels 7 d after injection of antiserum was significantly inhibited by a successive daily administration of TCV-116, angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, at 1 mg/kg/d from days 0 to 2 or from days 0 to 6, while it was not influenced by a single administration of this dose on day 0. In addition, angiotensin II infusion or 24 h at a rate of 50 ng/min did not alter the level of TGF-beta1 mRNA which was measured 6 d after the infusion. These results suggest that the anti-GBM antiserum-induced increase in TGF-beta 1 expression in the kidney is not responsible for angiotensin II generated in the blood circulation during the early phase of acute nephritis, but iis probably mediated by angiotensin II generated locally in the kidney.

Murine fibroblasts synthesize and secrete kininogen in response to cyclic-AMP, prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor

Fibroblasts prepared from the meninges of newborn mice or from mouse embryos, as well as fibroblast L929 cells, secreted an immunoreactive material (ir-kininogen) against rabbit anti-mouse low-molecular-weight kininogen antibody in response to dibutyryl cAMP. Western blots using a bradykinin-directed monoclonal, as well as a polyclonal anti-mouse low-molecular-weight kininogen antibody, showed that ir-kininogen had a molecular weight of 80,000 and that it contained a kinin moiety. N-terminal amino acid sequence of the ir-kininogen was consistent with that of mouse L-kininogen. The ir-kininogen produced by fibroblasts released a kinin by incubating with trypsin and mouse submandibular gland kallikrein, and it was identified as bradykinin by means of high-performance liquid chromatography, indicating that mouse fibroblasts produce and secrete a kininogen. Forskolin, prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulated the production of ir-kininogen by meningeal fibroblasts, whereas neither dibutyryl cAMP nor these agents influenced kininogen production by mouse hepatocytes in primary cultures. These results demonstrated that fibroblasts are a source of kininogen in the mouse, and that it is regulated by the inflammatory mediators, prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor. Therefore locally produced kininogen is implicated in pathogenesis of inflammation.

Identification of organic cation transporter in rat renal brush-border membrane by photoaffinity labeling

As an approach to identification of the organic cation transport system in brush-border membranes, we designed a photoaffinity probe, 1-cyano-2-(4-azido[3,5-3H]benzoylethyl)-3-[2-[[(5-methyl-4-imidazo lyl ) methyl]thio]ethyl]-guanidine ([3H]AMC) based on the molecular structure of cimetidine, which is taken up by the organic cation transport system in brush-border membrane vesicles. The effect of nonradioactive 1-cyano-2-(4-azidobenzoylethyl)-3-[2-[[(5-methyl-4- imidazolyl)methyl]thio]ethyl]guanidine (AMC) on tetraethylammonium uptake was investigated in rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles. We examined the photolysis of AMC in which the azido group was converted to an active nitrene group using UV light at a wavelength of 254 nm and established a half-life of 7 s. This half-life duration did not significantly impair brush-border membrane vesicles during the exposure to light for photo-labeling. Photoaffinity labeling of brush-border membrane vesicles from the rat renal cortex with [3H]AMC resulted in the covalent incorporation of radioactivity into membrane polypeptides; an apparent 36 kDa polypeptide was predominantly labeled. Photolabeling specificity was shown by a reduction in the labeling of the 36 kDa polypeptide in the presence of organic cations, cimetidine, tetraethylammonium and N-methylnicotinamide whereas the organic anion, fur osemide, had no effect on labeling patterns. These data demonstrate that AMC, as well as organic cations, cimetidine, tetraethylammonium and N-methylnicotinamide, interact with a common 36 kDa membrane polypeptide, which may be the transport system or one of its brush-border membrane components.

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system in anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-induced glomerulonephritis

Activity of the renin-angiotensin system in the nephrotic syndrome was investigated in rats with acute nephritis induced by anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody. Injection of anti-GBM antibody resulted in a transient 2-fold elevation of both plasma renin and angiotensinogen with a peak at 12 h. Angiotensinogen mRNA levels in the liver also rapidly and transiently increased 4-fold at 3 h. The manifestation of acute nephritis, indicated by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia and an increase in serum creatinine, following injection of anti-GBM antibody, was inhibited by a single administration of the selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist TCV-116 (1 mg/kg, p.o.) 2 h before an injection with the antibody, but not by successive administration of this drug for 1 week from 3 d after the injection of antibody. These results suggested that the enhanced generation of angiotensin II by elevated levels of both renin and its substrate in the early phase of anti-GBM nephritis promotes the evolution of acute nephritis via angiotensin II type 1 receptor.

[Efficacy of beraprost sodium on Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with systemic sclerosis]

Raynaud's phenomenon is an important clinical manifestation in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). No effective therapy, however, has been established for this phenomenon. Beraprost sodium, a stable prostacycline (PGI2) analogue, has been reported to improve hemorrheological impairment in patients with rheumatic diseases. In this study, we, therefore, examined the efficacy of beraprost sodium on Raynaud's phenomenon in 30 patients with SSc. Sixty micrograms per day of beraprost sodium was found to be effective in 14 patients (47%) in the period of 15.0 +/- 12.5 weeks. Raynaud's phenomenon in patients who responded to beraprost sodium was characterized by infrequent nail fold thrombosis and narrower hand areas affected by Raynaud's phenomenon, with mild secondary symptoms such as pain. These results indicate that beraprost sodium is effective for mild forms of Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with SSc.

Angiotensinogen synthesis in the liver is independent of physiological estrogen levels

We determined the physiological importance of endogenous estrogen in the regulation of angiotensinogen synthesis in the liver. The plasma levels of angiotensinogen and hepatic levels of angiotensinogen mRNA were studied in the rat in comparison to those of T-kininogen, a plasma protein whose synthesis in the liver is primarily estrogen-dependent. Plasma levels of T-kininogen and hepatic levels of T-kininogen mRNA were 3- and 2-fold higher in adult females, respectively, than in adult males, whereas there were no sex differences in levels of either plasma angiotensinogen or hepatic angiotensinogen mRNA. Ovariectomy in female rats abolished the sex differences in the levels of plasma T-kininogen and hepatic T-kininogen mRNA, but it did not affect those of plasma angiotensinogen and hepatic angiotensinogen mRNA. These results suggest that, in contrast to T-kininogen, angiotensinogen synthesis in the liver is unlikely to be controlled by endogenous levels of estrogen.

Transport of oral cephalosporins by the H+/dipeptide cotransporter and distribution of the transport activity in isolated rabbit intestinal epithelial cells

Transport of cephalosporins was studied using isolated rabbit intestinal epithelial cells. Cephradine uptake by the cells was concentrative and was inhibited by the addition of glycylsarcosine. The accumulated cephradine was effluxed from the cells by the addition of a protonophore, carbonyl cyanide 4-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP). Amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchanger, reduced the steady-state uptake of cephradine, suggesting that the exchanger contributes to the maintenance of an inward H+ gradient as a driving force. Cephradine uptake by ATP-depleted intestinal cells was actively driven by the inward H+ gradient and was inhibited by FCCP and glycylsarcosine. The distribution of cephradine transport activity along the small intestine and villus-crypt axis was also examined in the isolated cells, and the transport activity was higher in the upper parts of the intestinal segments and in villus cells. These results indicate that the uptake of oral cephalosporins by intestinal epithelial cells in concentrative and reversible and that the H+/dipeptide cotransporter and the Na+/H+ exchanger play an important role for the active uptake of these drugs. The activity of the H+/dipeptide cotransporter should be higher in upper segments and in villus cells of the small intestine.

Rainbow trout ventricular natriuretic peptide: isolation, sequencing, and determination of biological activity

Ventricular natriuretic peptide (VNP) is a new type of cardiac natriuretic peptide initially isolated from the eel ventricle. VNP has been isolated from cardiac ventricles of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and found to consist of 35 amino acid residues carrying a C-terminal tail sequence with 14 amino acid residues. Thus, the long C-terminal sequence characteristic of VNP was also conserved in the trout VNP. A VNP with 4 amino acid residues truncated from the C-terminus was also isolated from trout ventricles and sequenced. Sequence identity of trout VNP to eel VNP was 77%; while it was 56% to eel A-type natriuretic peptide (ANP). Trout VNP caused characteristic biphasic vasopressor/depressor effects in the trout similar to those produced by rat and eel ANP. Trout VNP and human ANP were almost equipotent in their vasopressor and depressor activity in trout. Unlike eel VNP, therefore, homologous VNP did not exhibit greater activity in the trout. In the rat, however, trout VNP was more potent than eel peptide and was almost equipotent to human ANP for both vasodepressor and natriuretic effects. The high potency of trout VNP appears to be due in part to its longer-lasting effect compared to human ANP.