Effects of uroguanylin, an intestinal natriuretic peptide, on tubuloglomerular feedback

Uroguanylin modulates (Na++K+)ATPase in a proximal tubule cell line: Interactions among the cGMP/protein kinase G, cAMP/protein kinase A, and mTOR pathways

BACKGROUND

The natriuretic effect of uroguanylin (UGN) involves reduction of proximal tubule (PT) sodium reabsorption. However, the target sodium transporters as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes remain poorly understood.

METHODS

To address the effects of UGN on PT (Na(+)+K(+))ATPase and the signal transduction pathways involved in this effect, we used LLC-PK1 cells. The effects of UGN were determined through ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis and immunoblotting assays during different experimental conditions.

RESULTS

We observed that UGN triggers cGMP/PKG and cAMP/PKA pathways in a sequential way. The activation of PKA leads to the inhibition of mTORC2 activity, PKB phosphorylation at S473, PKB activity and, consequently, a decrease in the mTORC1/S6K pathway. The final effects are decreased expression of the α1 subunit of (Na(+)+K(+))ATPase and inhibition of enzyme activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the molecular mechanism of action of UGN on sodium reabsorption in PT cells is more complex than previously thought. We propose that PKG-dependent activation of PKA leads to the inhibition of the mTORC2/PKB/mTORC1/S6K pathway, an important signaling pathway involved in the maintenance of the PT sodium pump expression and activity.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The current results expand our understanding of the signal transduction pathways involved in the overall effect of UGN on renal sodium excretion.

Mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of uroguanylin on NHE3 transport activity in renal proximal tubule

We previously demonstrated that uroguanylin (UGN) significantly inhibits Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE)3-mediated bicarbonate reabsorption. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of UGN on NHE3 in rat renal proximal tubules and in a proximal tubule cell line (LLC-PK(1)). The in vivo studies were performed by the stationary microperfusion technique, in which we measured H(+) secretion in rat renal proximal segments, through a H(+)-sensitive microelectrode. UGN (1 μM) significantly inhibited the net of proximal bicarbonate reabsorption. The inhibitory effect of UGN was completely abolished by either the protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor KT5823 or by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89. The effects of UGN in vitro were found to be similar to those obtained by microperfusion. Indeed, we observed that incubation of LLC-PK(1) cells with UGN induced an increase in the intracellular levels of cAMP and cGMP, as well as activation of both PKA and PKG. Furthermore, we found that UGN can increase the levels of NHE3 phosphorylation at the PKA consensus sites 552 and 605 in LLC-PK(1) cells. Finally, treatment of LLC-PK(1) cells with UGN reduced the amount of NHE3 at the cell surface. Overall, our data suggest that the inhibitory effect of UGN on NHE3 transport activity in proximal tubule is mediated by activation of both cGMP/PKG and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways which in turn leads to NHE3 phosphorylation and reduced NHE3 surface expression. Moreover, this study sheds light on mechanisms by which guanylin peptides are intricately involved in the maintenance of salt and water homeostasis.

Mechanism of 1-deamino-arginine vasotocin induced natriuresis in rats

1-Deamino-arginine vasotocin (1dAVT) induced diuresis and a considerable increase in urinary sodium excretion in female Wistar rats. Sodium fractional excretion rose up to 19.3 ± 1.1%. An increase in urine flow rate after 1dAVT (0.5 nmol/kg body-weight [bw]) injection was accompanied by a significant rise of the solute-free water reabsorption. The 1dAVT-induced natriuresis was as high as natriuresis produced by injection of a maximal dose of furosemide (10mg/kg bw). V(1)-receptor antagonists (ОРС-21268, [β-mercapto-β,β-cyclopentamethylenepropionyl(1),O-Me-Tyr(2),Arg(8)]-vasopressin) blocked the increase in urinary sodium excretion after the 1dAVT injection. The 1dAVT-induced natriuresis was strongly correlated with an increase in the urinary cGMP and prostaglandin E(2) excretion. The natriuretic effect of 1dAVT did not depend on the formation of nitric oxide (NO) or atrial natriuretic peptide of which concentration in the rat blood serum remained stable. The above results indicate that the 1dAVT has unique effects on rat kidney compared to all other known diuretics - it induces extremely high natriuresis and stimulates solute-free water reabsorption. Mechanism of the natriuretic effect of 1dAVT includes decrease in tubular sodium reabsorption due to activation of V(1)-like receptors and formation of cGMP and PGЕ(2).

Hypertension, kidney, and transgenics: a fresh perspective

In this review, we outline the application and contribution of transgenic technology to establishing the genetic basis of blood pressure regulation and its dysfunction. Apart from a small number of examples where high blood pressure is the result of single gene mutation, essential hypertension is the sum of interactions between multiple environmental and genetic factors. Candidate genes can be identified by a variety of means including linkage analysis, quantitative trait locus analysis, association studies, and genome-wide scans. To test the validity of candidate genes, it is valuable to model hypertension in laboratory animals. Animal models generated through selective breeding strategies are often complex, and the underlying mechanism of hypertension is not clear. A complementary strategy has been the use of transgenic technology. Here one gene can be selectively, tissue specifically, or developmentally overexpressed, knocked down, or knocked out. Although resulting phenotypes may still be complicated, the underlying genetic perturbation is a starting point for identifying interactions that lead to hypertension. We recognize that the development and maintenance of hypertension may involve many systems including the vascular, cardiac, and central nervous systems. However, given the central role of the kidney in normal and abnormal blood pressure regulation, we intend to limit our review to models with a broadly renal perspective.

Role of interstitial ATP and adenosine in the regulation of renal hemodynamics and microvascular function

The role of adenosine in the regulation of renal hemodynamics and function has been studied extensively; however, another purine agent, ATP, is also gaining recognition for its paracrine role in the kidney. Adenosine and ATP bind to specific membrane-bound P1 and P2 purinoceptors, respectively, and initiate a variety of biological effects on renal microvascular tone, mesangial cell function, and renal epithelial transport. The purpose of this review is to summarize the potential roles of interstitial ATP and adenosine as regulators of renal hemodynamics and microcirculation. In vitro blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation was used to assess the roles of ATP and adenosine in the regulation of renal microvascular tone. This approach mimics the adventitial exposure of renal microvascular smooth muscle to ATP and adenosine synthesized locally and released into the interstitial fluid. ATP selectively vasoconstricts afferent but not efferent arterioles via P2X and P2Y receptors, whereas, adenosine vasoconstricts both vascular segments via activation of adenosine A(1) receptors. Furthermore, selective P2X and P2Y receptor stimulation increases intracellular calcium concentration in vascular smooth muscle cells that are freshly isolated from the preglomerular microvasculature. These data support the hypothesis that interstitial ATP plays a critical role in the control of renal microvascular function through mechanisms that are independent of adenosine receptors. We have recently developed a renal microdialysis method to determine the dynamics of ATP and adenosine levels in the renal cortical interstitium. In this review, we also summarize current knowledge pertaining to the alterations in renal interstitial ATP and adenosine in some pathophysiological conditions.