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We have recently demonstrated that intrarenal dopamine plays an important role in preventing the development of systemic hypertension. Similarly, renal cytochrome P-450 (CYP)-epoxygenase-derived arachidonic acid metabolites, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), also are antihypertensive through inhibiting sodium reabsorption and vasodilation. The potential interaction between renal dopamine and epoxygenase systems was investigated. Catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT)-/- mice with increased intrarenal dopamine levels and proximal tubule deletion of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (ptAADC-/-) mice with renal dopamine deficiency were treated with a low-salt diet or high-salt diet for 2 wk. Wild-type or Cyp2c44-/- mice were treated with gludopa, which selectively increased renal dopamine levels. In low salt-treated mice, urinary EET levels were related to renal dopamine levels, being highest in COMT-/- mice and lowest in ptAADC-/- mice. In high salt-treated mice, total EET and individual EET levels in both the kidney and urine were also highest in COMT-/- mice and lowest in ptAADC-/- mice. Selective increases in renal dopamine in response to gludopa administration led to marked increases in both total and all individual EET levels in the kidney without any changes in blood levels, qRT-PCR and immunoblotting indicated that gludopa increased renal Cyp2c44 mRNA and protein levels. Gludopa induced marked increases in urine volume and urinary sodium excretion in wild-type mice. In contrast, gludopa did not induce significant increases in urine volume or urinary sodium excretion in Cyp2c44-/- mice. These studies demonstrate that renal EET levels are maintained by intrarenal dopamine, and Cyp2c44- derived EETs play an important role in intrarenal dopamine-induced natriuresis and diuresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well-recognized that excessive angiotensin II (ANG II) can mediate progressive renal injury. Previous studies by us and others have indicated that dopamine may modulate actions of ANG II in the kidney. The current studies investigated whether altering intrarenal dopamine levels affected ANG II-mediated renal fibrosis. We utilized a model of increased intrarenal dopamine, catechol-O-methyl-transferase knockout (COMT KO) mice, which have increased kidney dopamine levels due to deletion of a major intrarenal dopaminemetabolizing enzyme. In wild-type mice, chronic ANG II infusion increased renal expression of both of the major dopamine-metabolizing enzymes, COMT and monoamine oxidase. After 8 wk of ANG II infusion, there were no significant differences in blood pressure between wild-type and COMT KO mice. Compared with wild-type, COMT KO mice had decreased albuminuria and tubulointerstitial injury. In response to ANG II infusion, there was decreased expression of both glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury markers (fibronectin, connective tissue growth factor, fibroblast-specific protein- 1, collagen I, podocyte vascular endothelial growth factor) in COMT KO mice. We recently reported that ANG II-mediated tubulointerstitial fibrosis is mediated by src-dependent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. In aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase knockout (AADC KO) mice, a model of intrarenal dopamine deficiency due to selective proximal tubule AADC deletion, which inhibits intrarenal dopamine synthesis, ANG II infusion further increased expression of p-src and pTyr845-EGFR. In contrast, their expression was markedly attenuated in COMT KO mice. These results demonstrate a role for intrarenal dopamine to buffer the detrimental effects of ANG II upon the kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yao B, Xu J, Harris RC, Zhang M-Z. Renal localization and regulation of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 294: F433-F439, 2008. First published December 5, 2007; doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00436.2007.—Tissue prostaglandin levels are determined by both biosynthesis and catabolism. The current studies report the expression and localization of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a key enzyme in prostaglandin catabolism in the kidneys. We also investigated potential interactions between 15-PGDH and cyclooxygenase (COX), a key enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis. Both 15-PGDH mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in kidney cortex than in papilla, which is opposite to the expression pattern of COX-2. In situ hybridization indicated that 15-PGDH mRNA was mainly localized to the tubular epithelial cells in kidney cortex and outer medulla but not in the glomerulus or papilla. Dual immunofluorescent staining indicated that 15-PGDH was expressed in the proximal tubule, cortical, and outer medullary thick ascending limb and collecting duct but not in the macula densa or papilla. 15-PGDH levels were significantly lower in a macula densa cell line (MMDD1) than in a proximal tubule cell line. Although a high-salt diet decreased COX-2 expression in macula densa, it increased macula densa 15-PGDH expression in both mouse and rat kidneys. In MMDDI cells, a COX-2 inhibitor increased 15-PGDH, whereas a COX-1 inhibitor had no effect. Furthermore, intense 15-PGDH immunofluorescent staining was found in both macula densa and glomerulus in COX-2 knockout mice. The intrare- nal distribution of 15-PGDH and its interactions with COX-2 suggest that differential regulation of COX-2 and 15-PGDH may play an important role in determining levels of prostaglandins involved in regulation of salt, volume, and blood pressure homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT)] acts through multiple G protein-coupled 5-HT receptors, and its activity is also regulated by the 5-HT transporter. The current studies report the expression and localization of the 5-HT receptors and transporter in the kidney. In addition, the enzymatic pathway mediating 5-HT synthesis is present in renal cortex, especially in the proximal tubules and glomerular epithelial cells and mesangial cells. Expression of the 5-HT receptors and 5-HT transporter was detected by RT-PCR in cell lines of these cell types. In cultured proximal tubule cells and podocytes, 5-HT activated ERK1/2 and increased the expression of connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor-β, two key mediators of extra-cellular matrix accumulation. Immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR studies also indicated that 5-HT stimulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in podocytes in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, these results indicate the presence of an integrated intrarenal serotonergic system and suggest a possible role for 5-HT as a mediator of renal fibrosis in the kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal cortical cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is restricted to the macula densa and adjacent cortical thick ascending limbs (MD/cTALH). Renal cortical COX-2 increases in response to diabetes and renal ablation, both of which are characterized by hyperfiltration and reduced NaCI delivery to the MD due to increased proximal NaCI reabsorption. High-protein intake also induces hyperfiltration and decreases NaCI delivery to the MD due to increased NaCI reabsorption proximally. We investigated whether high protein induces cortical COX-2 and whether cortical COX-2 contributes to high protein-induced hyperfiltration and increased intrarenal renin biosynthesis. Cortical COX-2 increased after protein loading but decreased after protein restriction. COX-2 inhibition attenuated high protein-induced hyperfiltration but had no effect on high protein-induced intrarenal renin elevation. Therefore, induction of cortical COX-2 contributed to high protein-induced hyperfiltration but not intrarenal renin elevation. In the kidney cortex, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is also localized to the MD, and interactions between intrarenal nNOS and COX-2 systems have been proposed. Cortical COX-2 elevation seen in salt restriction was blocked by nNOS inhibiton. Cortical nNOS expression also increased after protein loading, and inhibition of nNOS activity completely reversed high protein-induced cortical COX-2 elevation and hyperfiltration. These results indicate that NO is a mediator of high protein-induced cortical COX-2 elevation and suggest that both intrarenal nNOS and COX-2 systems appear to regulate afferent arteriolar tone and subsequent hyperfiltration seen in high-protein intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammalian kidney, dopamine produced in the proximal tubule (PT) acts as an autocrine/paracrine natriuretic hormone that inhibits salt and fluid reabsorption in the PT. In high-salt-treated animals, PT dopamine activity increases and inhibits reabsorption, leading to increased salt and fluid delivery to the macula densa (MD) and subsequent natriuresis and diuresis. Regulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the MD represents another Intrinsic system mediating renal salt and water homeostasis. Renal cortical COX-2 is inversely related to salt intake, and decreased extracellular NaCl stimulates COX-2 expression in cultured MD/cortical thick ascending limb cells. The current study investigated interactions between renal dopamine and cortical COX-2 systems. In rats fed a control diet, the dopamine precursor L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) or the DA1 receptor agonist SKF-81297 suppressed cortical COX-2 expression. High salt suppressed conical COX-2 expression, which was attenuated by inhibition of dopamine production with benserazide or the DA1 receptor antagonist, SCH-23390. In contrast, L-DOPA or the dopamine-metabolizing enzyme inhibitor entacapone suppressed low-salt-induced conical COX-2 expression. Inhibition of PT reabsorption with the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide suppressed cortical COX-2 expression. In contrast, treatment with distally acting diuretics led to elevation of cortical COX-2. These results indicate that dopamine modulates renal cortical COX-2 expression by modifying PT reabsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]