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Summary 1. Nephropathy and elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) have been observed in (pro)renin receptor transgenic (TG) rats. In the present study, we hypothesized that PAC and/or mineralocorticoid receptor contribute to the nephropathy of TG rats. To test this hypothesis, the effects of a high-sodium (8% NaCl) diet and heminephrectomy on PAC were examined. 2. Feeding of the high-sodium diet for 12 weeks similarly decreased PAC in TG and wild-type (WT) rats. Heminephrectomy further reduced PAC in TG rats fed a high-sodium diet, but had no effect on PAC in WT rats fed a high-sodium diet. 3. Next, the effects of eplerenone (125 mg/kg per day) and dietary salt restriction (0.36% NaCl diet) on proteinuria and renal morphology were examined in rats fed a high-sodium diet or subjected to heminephrectomy. Both eplerenone and dietary sodium restriction significantly reduced the arterial pressure of TG rats, but had no effect in WT rats. In TG rats, treatment with eplerenone significantly decreased urinary protein excretion, but dietary sodium restriction did not. 4. Nephrin and podocin mRNA levels, as determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, were significantly lower in TG rats than in WT rats. In TG rats, eplerenone treatment significantly increased nephrin mRNA levels, but not podocin mRNA levels. Dietary salt restriction significantly increased mRNA levels of both nephrin and podocin. Although zonula occludens (ZO)-1 mRNA levels were similar in both WT and TG rats, eplerenone treatment significantly decreased ZO-1 mRNA levels in TG rats. 5. The results of the present study suggest that the improvement in proteinuria following eplerenone treatment is independent of its effects on sodium balance and may be mediated by effects on the expression of slit diaphragm proteins.

Background A direct renin inhibitor (DRI) had a benefit in decreasing albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients having already been treated with angiotensin (Ang) II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), suggesting that aliskiren may have another effect other than blockade of the traditional renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Recently, prorenin bound to (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) was found and shown to evoke two pathways; the generation of Ang peptides and the receptor-dependent activation of extracellular signal-related protein kinase (ERK). Because (P)RR is present in the podocytes, a central component of the glomerular filtration barrier, we hypothesized that aliskiren influences the (P)RR-induced two pathways in human podocytes. Methods Human podocytes were treated with 2 nmol/l prorenin in the presence and absence of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) imidaprilat, an ARB candesartan, a DRI aliskiren, or the siRNA knocking down the (P)RR mRNA and the intracellular AngII levels and the phosphorylation of ERK were determined. Results The expression of (P)RR mRNA of human podocytes was unaffected by the treatment with RAS inhibitors, but decreased by 69% with the siRNA treatment. The basal levels of intracellular AngII and the prorenin-induced increase in intracellular AngII were significantly reduced by aliskiren and siRNA treatment, compared with imidaprilat and candesartan. The prorenin-induced ERK activation was reduced to control level by the siRNA treatment, but it was unaffected by imidaprilat, candesartan, or aliskiren. Conclusions Aliskiren is the most potent inhibitor of intracellular AngII levels of human podocytes among RAS inhibitors, although it is incapable of inhibiting the (P)RR-dependent ERK phosphorylation.

Background/Aims: This study was conducted to determine the effect of telmisartan on the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a novel blood pressure (BP)-independent marker for arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients. Methods: One hundred consecutive hypertensive patients were randomly assigned either to a group treated with calcium channel blocker (CCB)-based therapy or a group treated with telmisartan-based therapy. Clinical and biological parameters were then measured before and 12 months after the start of this study. Results: CAVI, the logarithm of urinary albumin excretion, and BP were reduced significantly after telmisartan-based therapy. The decreases in 24-hour diastolic BP and daytime systolic BP associated with telmisartan-based therapy were significantly greater than those associated with CCB-based therapy. Both therapies significantly and similarly decreased the clinical BP, 24-hour systolic BP, daytime diastolic BP and serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No significant differences in the metabolic parameters were observed between the two therapies. Conclusion: Telmisartan-based therapy had beneficial effects on arterial stiffness assessed by CAVI, albuminuria, 24-hour BP and metabolism compared with CCB-based therapy. Since these markers are known to influence the future risk of cardiovascular events, telmisartan could be a useful drug for hypertensive patients.

To examine the involvement of (pro)renin receptor in the accelerated organ damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male SHRsp, the rats fed a high-salt diet were divided into 5 groups: a group treated with the vehicle, a group treated with 15 mg/kg/day of imidapril (ACEi), a group treated with 60 mg/kg/day of imidapril (High ACEi), a group treated with handle region peptide (HRP), and a group treated with both ACEi and HRP (ACEi+HRP). After 8 weeks, the arterial pressure was similar in the vehicle and HRP groups and decreased in the ACEi-treated groups. The renal angiotensin II content decreased similarly in the groups treated with ACEi and/or HRP. Urinary protein excretion also decreased in the ACEi, High ACEi, and HRP groups and significantly further decreased in the ACEi+HRP group. The heart weight of the ACEi+HRP group was significantly lower than that of any other groups, although the cardiac angiotensin II levels decreased similarly in the groups treated with ACEi and/or HRP. Thus, (pro)renin receptor contributes to the accelerated pathogenesis in the heart and kidneys of diabetic SHRsp.

Numerous in vitro and in vivo animal studies using the (pro)renin receptor (P)RR blocker handle region peptide have suggested an important role of (P)RR in the pathogenesis of end-stage organ damage in patients with diabetes and hypertension. In addition, a limited number of clinical studies have suggested an association between (P)RR gene polymorphisms and blood pressure levels and between (P)RR mRNA levels and angiotensin-converting enzyme mRNA levels in human arteries. However, recent studies have shown that the (P)RR is divided into its soluble form and a residual hydrophobic part, which includes ATPase 6 associated protein 2, within cells. Therefore, the (P)RR may have a more complex function than previously thought. In addition, the physiological roles of the (P)RR remain undetermined, because the construction of (P)RR null mice has not been successful. As a next step for research in this area, a method for determining the soluble (P)RR levels in plasma and urine and the construction of tissue-specific (P)RR-knockout mice are needed to elucidate the roles of the (P)RR in physiology and pathophysiology.

Background/Aims: A significant role of (pro)renin receptor in the pathogenesis of end-organ damage has been suggested only in animal studies. This study was conducted to examine the mRNA expression of (pro)renin receptor in human artery. Methods: In 141 kidney failure patients, the mRNA was harvested from arterial fragments obtained during surgery constructing an arteriovenous access for hemodialysis therapy, and expression levels of (pro)renin receptor and other components of the renin-angiotensin system were determined. Results: Arterial (pro)renin receptor expression was similar in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, although plasma prorenin levels were significantly higher in the diabetic patients than in the non-diabetic patients. The arterial (pro)renin receptor mRNA levels of the hypertensive patients, who had not been treated with either angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers, were significantly lower than those of the patients who had been treated with either drug. Multiple regression analyses showed a significant association with a large coefficient between the arterial mRNA level of the (pro)renin receptor and the arterial mRNA level of ACE; this significant association disappeared in patients who had been treated with either drug. Conclusion: (Pro)renin receptor may contribute to the generation of arterial angiotensin II in kidney failure patients.

Background Patients with kidney failure treated with hemodialysis have a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases caused by accelerated arteriosclerosis. However, accurate evaluation of the extent of arteriosclerosis is difficult. This study sought to compare the strength of predictions of arterial fibrosis by using a new parameter, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), versus pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with kidney failure treated with hemodialysis. Study Design Diagnostic test study. Setting & Participants 103 patients with kidney failure undergoing surgical construction of an arteriovenous access for hemodialysis therapy. Index Test CAVI and PWV. Reference Test Arterial fibrosis, evaluated by using Masson trichrome stain on part of the brachial artery obtained during surgery, expressed as percentage of fibrosis of the layer of vascular smooth muscle cells. Results Median percentage of arterial stiffness was 52.85%. Mean PWV and CAVI were 18.3 ± 5.6 (SD) m/s and 9.9 ± 2.6, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that arterial fibrosis was significantly associated with older age (0.247%/y; 95% confidence interval, 0.013 to 0.482) and CAVI (6.117%/unit; 95% confidence interval, 4.764 to 4.740), but not with systolic blood pressure (0.039%/mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, −0.076 to 0.153) or PWV (−0.044%/m/s; 95% confidence interval, −0.646 to 0.558). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to predict greater than median percentage of arterial stiffness was 0.892 for CAVI and 0.779 for PWV ( P = 0.006). Limitation It is unclear whether arterial fibrosis of the brachial artery evaluated by using CAVI is applicable for arteriosclerosis of other arterial districts, and clinical outcomes were not evaluated in this study. Conclusion CAVI reflects the histological arterial fibrosis of hemodialysis patients and is a useful clinical marker for evaluating arterial stiffness in these patients.

Previous studies have demonstrated that prorenin plays a significant role in the development and progression of nephropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals, a model for type 1 diabetes, through a (pro)renin receptor–dependent mechanism. However, whether this novel mechanism also contributes to the mechanism of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes has remained undetermined. In 16-week-old db/db mice, a model for type 2 diabetes, we found a significant degree of glomerulosclerosis, enhanced immunostaining for the active site of renin (representing non-proteolytically activated prorenin), and an increased immunoreactivity to activated extracellular-signal–related protein kinase 1/2 in the kidneys. These changes were blocked by the chronic subcutaneous administration (1 mg/kg/day) of a decoy peptide with the “handle region” structure, which competitively inhibits prorenin binding to a “handle region”–specific binding protein, such as the (pro)renin receptor. The kidneys of db/db mice also contained increased angiotensin (Ang) I and II levels, eliciting significant microalbuminuria. Treatment with the “handle region” peptide significantly decreased the renal content of Ang I and II and inhibited the development of microalbuminuria. Thus prorenin also contributes to the development of nephropathy in type II diabetes, probably through a (pro)renin receptor–dependent mechanism.

(Pro)renin receptor-bound prorenin not only causes the generation of angiotensin II via the nonproteolytic activation of prorenin, it also activates the receptor’s own intracellular signaling pathways independent of the generated angiotensin II. Within the kidneys, the (pro)renin receptor is not only present in the glomerular mesangium, it is also abundant in podocytes, which play an important role in the maintenance of the glomerular filtration barrier. Recent in vivo studies have demonstrated that the overexpression of the (pro)renin receptor to a degree similar to that observed in hypertensive rat kidneys leads to slowly progressive nephropathy with proteinuria. In addition, the handle region peptide, which acts as a decoy peptide and competitively inhibits the binding of prorenin to the receptor, is more beneficial than an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor with regard to alleviating proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in experimental animal models of diabetes and essential hypertension. Thus, the (pro)renin receptor may be upregulated in podocytes under hypertensive conditions and may contribute to the breakdown of the glomerular filtration barrier.

The (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) is known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus and hypertension through its function in activating the local renin-angiotensin system. Recent studies have shown that the (P)RR is an accessory protein of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase, suggesting a more fundamental and developmental function. In this study, smooth muscle cell-specific (P)RR/Atp6ap2 conditional knockout mice were generated. Smooth muscle cell-specific ablation of the (P)RR resulted in nonatherogenic sclerosis in the abdominal aorta. The deletion of the (P)RR did not affect ambulatory blood pressure levels. In cultured murine vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), ablation of the (P)RR suppressed the expression of the Vo subunit c of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase and impaired the cell recycling system, leading to autophagic cell death. In addition, loss of the (P)RR in VSMCs induced the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and interleukin-6 mRNAs. These results suggest that the (P)RR is essential for cell survival and downregulation of vascular inflammation in murine VSMCs through maintaining normal function of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) at early or mid pregnancy is a known risk factor for pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). However, the association between BP changes during the first half of pregnancy and subsequent PIH development is unknown. We used changes in maternal BP between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation to evaluate the risk of PIH. A total of 976 pregnant women with BP estimations recorded before 16 weeks and at 20 weeks of gestation participated in this study. BPs were classified by the Japanese Society of Hypertension 2009 Hypertension Treatment Guidelines (JSH 2009). There was a significant trend for future PIH in women whose JSH 2009 BP class increased between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation, and the risk of PIH was highest among women whose BP was Class IV Hypertension (systolic BP≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP≥90 mm Hg). The risk of PIH increased in women whose BPs shifted from Classes I Optimal (systolic BP120 mm Hg and diastolic BP80 mm Hg) and II Normal (systolic BP 120-129 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP 80-84 mm Hg) before 16 weeks to Class III High-Normal (systolic BP 130-139 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP 85-89 mm Hg) at 20 weeks of gestation. These shifts in BP class were significantly correlated with the risk of PIH after adjustments for variables (P-value for trend0.05). Within JSH 2009 Classes I, II and III, a shift in BP from a low to a high class between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation predicts the subsequent development of PIH.

The handle region peptide (HRP), a (pro)renin receptor (P)RR blocker, did not prevent the acute nephropathy occurring 2 weeks after clipping in renovascular hypertensive rats. This study was performed to examine the effects of HRP, its scramble peptide, or a saline vehicle on slowly progressive nephropathy occurring in the kidneys of two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats. At 2 weeks after clipping, the renal morphology in the clipped and non-clipped kidneys was similar in the three groups of rats. At 12 weeks after clipping, however, the glomerulosclerosis index (GI) and the tubulointerstitial damage (TD) of the non-clipped kidneys of the HRP-treated rats were significantly lower than those of vehicle-treated rats, although the GI and the TD were similar in the rats treated with scramble peptide and vehicle. The GI and the TD of the clipped kidneys were similar in the three groups of rats at 12 weeks after clipping. In the non-clipped kidneys at 12 weeks after clipping, activated prorenin levels, angiotensin II levels and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β mRNA levels of HRP-treated rats were significantly lower than those of vehicle-treated rats, although they were similar in the non-clipped kidneys from the rats treated with scramble peptide and vehicle. In the clipped kidneys at 12 weeks after clipping, activated prorenin levels, angiotensin II levels and TGF-β mRNA levels were similar in the three groups of rats. These results suggest that the ((P)RR)-dependent activation of prorenin contributes to the pathogenesis of slowly progressive nephropathy in the intact kidney in a rat model of renovascular hypertension.

Since renin inhibition interferes with the first and rate-limiting steps in the renin–angiotensin system, the renin step is a very attractive target for lowering blood pressure and minimizing target-organ damage. The newly developed direct renin inhibitor aliskiren has several attractive characteristics: it definitively reduces plasma renin activity among inhibitors of the renin–angiotensin system, is remarkably specific for human renin, exhibits a long half-life in plasma comparable to that of amlodipine, and has a high affinity for renal glomeruli and vasculature. Although these characteristics suggest the clinical usefulness and safety of aliskiren, several problems remain unsolved. Why does aliskiren have beneficial effects on the heart and kidneys of patients treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and/or angiotensin II type 1–receptor blockers (ARBs)? Is the blood-pressure–lowering effect of aliskiren dependent on the plasma renin activity? Does aliskiren exert a possible adverse effect via (pro)renin receptor–dependent intracellular signals? Here, we review the characteristics and usefulness of aliskiren and discuss the current issues associated with this direct renin inhibitor. Keywords:: diabetes, hypertension, kidney, plasma renin activity, (pro)renin receptor, angiotensin

This study was conducted to determine the effects of a tablet combining losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (L/HCTZ) in comparison with losartan alone in Japanese diabetic patients with hypertension. Thirty consecutive Japanese diabetic patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to group A, receiving losartan alone for the first 3 months, then L/HCTZ for the next 3 months, or group B, receiving L/HCTZ for the first 3 months, then losartan alone for the next 3 months. Clinical and biological parameters were obtained before, and 3 and 6 months after the start of this study. The decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) during treatment with L/HCTZ were significantly greater than in treatment with losartan alone. Both treatments significantly and similarly decreased urinary albumin excretion, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and augmentation index (AI). There was no significant difference in metabolic change during both the mono- and combination pharmacotherapies. The tablet combining L/HCTZ significantly reduced systolic and diastolic BP compared with the losartan monotherapy, and offered benefits similar to losartan monotherapy for albuminuria, arterial stiffness assessed by the CAVI and AI, and metabolic effects. Thus, the L/HCTZ tablet could be a useful drug for Japanese diabetic patients with hypertension.

Hypertension frequently requires combination therapy to attain efficient control to prevent cardiovascular diseases effectively. This study was conducted to determine which add-on treatment is better, namely calcium channel blockers or diuretics, in improving vascular damage. In 70 nondiabetic chronic kidney disease stage 1/2 patients who had been already treated with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker valsartan for at least 12 months, amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide was added to their existing medication. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries, urinary albumin excretion (UAE), and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) were determined before and 12 months after the start of add-on treatments. Add-on amlodipine and add-on hydrochlorothiazide significantly and similarly decreased 24-hour ambulatory BP by 18 and 19 mm Hg, respectively, PWV by 206 and 184 cm/s, respectively, and UAE, but did not change the IMT. The decreases in BP significantly contributed to the decreases in PWV and UAE and suggested that the decrease in serum cholesterol level brought about by add-on amlodipine also contributed to the decrease in UAE. These results suggest that 12 months of add-on treatment with either amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide could have beneficial effects in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease stage 1/2 patients already being treated with valsartan.

The prorenin receptor is an accessory subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase, suggesting that it has fundamental functions beyond activation of the local renin-angiotensin system. Podocytes express the prorenin receptor, but its function in these cells is unknown. Here, podocyte-specific, conditional, prorenin receptor-knockout mice died of kidney failure and severe proteinuria within 4 weeks of birth. The podocytes of these mice exhibited foot process effacement with reduced and altered localization of the slit-diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin. Furthermore, the podocytes contained numerous autophagic vacuoles, confirmed by enhanced accumulation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-positive intracellular vesicles. Ablation of the prorenin receptor selectively suppressed expression of the V(0) c-subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase in podocytes, resulting in deacidification of intracellular vesicles. In conclusion, the prorenin receptor is important for the maintenance of normal podocyte structure and function.