Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Hypertension
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Hypertension. 2003;42:1183-1190
doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000101689.64849.97
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Suganami, T.
Right arrow Articles by Nakao, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Suganami, T.
Right arrow Articles by Nakao, K.

(Hypertension. 2003;42:1183.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.


Scientific Contributions

Role of Prostaglandin E Receptor EP1 Subtype in the Development of Renal Injury in Genetically Hypertensive Rats

Takayoshi Suganami; Kiyoshi Mori; Issei Tanaka; Masashi Mukoyama; Akira Sugawara; Hisashi Makino; Seiji Muro; Kensei Yahata; Shuichi Ohuchida; Takayuki Maruyama; Shuh Narumiya; Kazuwa Nakao

From the Department of Medicine and Clinical Science (T.S., K.M., I.T., M.M., A.S., H.M., S.M., K.Y., K.N.) and the Department of Pharmacology (S.N.), Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Japan; and Discovery Research Laboratories (S.O., T.M.), Minase Research Institute, Ono Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Osaka, Japan.

Correspondence to Issei Tanaka, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. E-mail isseitnk{at}cam.hi-ho.ne.jp


*    Abstract
up arrowTop
*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
One of the major causes of end-stage renal diseases is hypertensive renal disease, in which enhanced renal prostaglandin (PG) E2 production has been shown. PGE2, a major arachidonic acid metabolite produced in the kidney, acts on 4 receptor subtypes, EP1 through EP4, but the pathophysiological importance of the PGE2/EP subtypes in the development of hypertensive renal injury remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether an orally active EP1-selective antagonist (EP1A) prevents the progression of renal damage in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), a model of human malignant hypertension. Ten-week-old SHRSP, with established hypertension but with minimal renal damage, were given EP1A or vehicle for 5 weeks. After the treatment period, vehicle-treated SHRSP showed prominent proliferative lesions in arterioles, characterized by decreased {alpha}-smooth muscle actin expression in multilayered vascular smooth muscle cells. Upregulation of transforming growth factor-ß expression and tubulointerstitial fibrosis were also observed in vehicle-treated SHRSP. All these changes were dramatically attenuated in EP1A-treated SHRSP. Moreover, EP1A treatment significantly inhibited both increase in urinary protein excretion and decrease in creatinine clearance but had little effect on systemic blood pressure. These findings indicate that the PGE2/EP1 signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development of renal injury in SHRSP. This study opens a novel therapeutic potential of selective blockade of EP1 for the treatment of hypertensive renal disease.


Key Words: rats, stroke-prone SHR • prostaglandins • arachidonic acids • transforming growth factors • kidney • proteinuria


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Hypertensive renal disease is one of major causes of end-stage renal diseases, and the number of patients with this disease is still increasing despite of the development of various treatments to normalize systemic blood pressure.1 Five-year survival rate of patients undergoing hemodialysis because of hypertensive renal disease is reported to be much lower than the rates of hemodialysis patients with other causes.2 Therefore, the management of hypertensive renal disease is very important for clinical outcome. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), a substrain of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), represent a useful model of human malignant hypertension and show more serious hypertensive renal injury as compared with SHR.3 Human malignant hypertension and SHRSP share extremely similar pathological features in the kidney that are characterized by marked medial and intimal thickening, fibrosis and fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles and small arteries,4 followed by ischemic glomerular changes and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Renal fibrosis is the final common pathway to end-stage renal diseases regardless of the initial insult. In the fibrogenic process of SHRSP and of other renal injuries, transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) has been shown to play a pivotal role.5,6

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 is a predominant arachidonic acid metabolite in the kidney and plays an important role in renal physiology, including the regulation of vascular smooth muscle tonus, glomerular filtration, renin release, and tubular salt and water transport.7 PGE2 exerts its biological effects through 4 receptor subtypes, EP1 through EP4.7,8 These receptors are encoded by different genes and differ in signal transduction mechanism.2–10 When activated, EP1 increases cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, whereas EP2 and EP4 stimulate but EP3 inhibits adenylyl cyclase activity. To date, little is known about the pathophysiological role of each EP subtype in renal disorders, although overall actions of PGE2 on the whole EP subtypes have been intensively characterized.

PGE2 also participates in the control of microcirculation of the kidney.11–14 In rats, EP1, EP3, and EP4 subtypes are present in afferent arteriole and glomerulus.14,15 EP4 exerts vasodilation in the afferent arteriole, whereas the vasoconstrictive effect of PGE2 is presumed to be mediated by EP1 or EP3.14,16 EP1- and EP3-mediated signals oppose against EP2- and EP4-mediated signals not only as to smooth muscle tonus but also in other aspects. EP1 stimulation causes cell proliferation in mesangial cells and hepatocytes through phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAP kinase).9,10,17 EP4 counteracts EP1-mediated cell proliferation and ERK/MAP kinase phosphorylation.9,10

In SHR, the vasodilatory effect of PGE2 is impaired in the afferent arteriole.7 We and others have also reported defective adenylyl cyclase responses to PGE2 in homogenates of the whole kidney from SHR and in cultured mesangial cells from SHRSP.9,18,19 Furthermore, DNA synthesis and ERK/MAP kinase phosphorylation by PGE2 are larger in cultured mesangial cells from SHRSP as compared with normotensive control Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), suggesting that EP1 is the predominant PGE2 receptor subtype and function of EP4 is diminished in SHRSP.9 Not only clinical hypertensive renal disease but also SHRSP and SHR show enhanced renal PGE2 production.20–22 We therefore hypothesized that the relatively augmented EP1 function contributes to the development of hypertensive renal injury in vivo. In this study, we showed that an orally active EP1 selective antagonist (EP1A) prevents the progression of renal damage in SHRSP both histologically and functionally, suggesting that selective blockade of EP1 may be a novel therapeutic strategy to treat hypertensive renal disease.


*    Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Animals and Drug Treatment
All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with our institutional guidelines for animal research. SHRSP and WKY were obtained from Shionogi Research Laboratories. Rats were fed standard chow (CE-2 containing 0.5% NaCl; Japan Clea) and given tap water. We maintained these animals under alternating 12-hour cycles of light and dark. Ten-week-old male SHRSP and WKY were randomized to 2 groups. Groups of SHRSP (n=15) and WKY (n=5) were given a selective EP1 antagonist, ONO-8713 (ONO Pharmaceutical),23 in regular chow at 0.1% (wt/wt) as previously described.24 Other groups of SHRSP (n=15) and WKY (n=5) were given vehicle. ONO-8713 exhibits a Ki value of 0.3 nmol for both mouse and human forms of EP1 and >1000 nmol for all other types of prostanoid receptors.23–25 This compound inhibits PGE2-induced elevation of intracellular calcium with IC50 values of 0.46 and 0.14 µmol/L in mouse and human EP1-expressing cells, respectively, but shows no agonistic or antagonistic actions on other types of prostanoid receptors. Rats were euthanized under ether anesthesia before and after the 5-week treatment.

Blood Pressure and Blood and Urinary Parameter Measurements
Blood pressure was measured by a programmable sphygmomanometer (BP-98A, Softron), by means of the tail-cuff method.26,27 Measurement of blood and urinary parameters was carried out as previously described.24,26,27

Cell Culture
Cultured mesangial cells were established from glomeruli of SHRSP and WKY and used at passages 8 to 9 in RPMI 1640 medium (Nissui) with 10% fetal calf serum (Sanko Junyaku), as previously described.9

In Situ Hybridization
The localization of EP1 expression in the kidney of SHRSP and WKY was analyzed by in situ hybridization as previously described.24 Briefly, a radiolabeled cRNA probe for rat EP1 was synthesized with [35S]CTP. Control hybridization experiments with the use of the same riboprobe with excess of unlabeled cRNA gave no significant signals.24

Northern Blot Analysis
Northern blot analysis was performed as previously described.9,27 In brief, 40 µg of total RNA from the kidney cortex and 4 µg of poly(A)+ RNA from cultured mesangial cells were electrophoresed on a 1.4% agarose gel and transferred to a nylon membrane (Biodyne, Pall BioSupport). The antisense RNA probe for rat EP1 and the cDNA probes for rat TGF-ß1, fibronectin, and cyclooxygenase-2 were used.9,24 As an internal control, the filter was rehybridized with a human GAPDH cDNA probe (Clontech).

Histology and Morphometric Analysis
Histological analysis was performed as previously described.26,27 For assessment of arteriolar damage, the number of afferent arterioles exhibiting proliferative lesion was enumerated with the use of periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining and expressed as a percentage of the total number of glomeruli examined. For assessment of renal fibrosis, Masson’s trichrome staining was carried out, and the proportion of blue-stained fibrotic area in the cortex of each section was graded semiquantitatively (0: <=5%, 1: 5% to 25%, 2: 25% to 50%, 3: 50% to 75%, 4: <=75%). These examinations were performed by two investigators without knowledge of the origin of the slides, and the mean values were calculated.

Immunohistochemistry
Immunostaining was carried out with the streptavidin/biotin immunoperoxidase complex method, as previously described.26,27 Primary antibodies used in the present study are as follows: mouse monoclonal anti–{alpha}-smooth muscle actin ({alpha}SMA, DAKO), mouse monoclonal antiproliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, DAKO), rabbit polyclonal anti–TGF-ß1 (Santa Cruz), and rabbit polyclonal anti-fibronectin (DAKO) antibodies. Sections were developed with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride or 3-amino-9-ethyl carbazole and counterstained with hematoxylin.

Statistical Analysis
Data are expressed as mean±SEM. Statistical analysis was performed by means of ANOVA followed by the Scheffé test. A probability value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Characteristics of Experimental Animals
To investigate the pathophysiological role of the PGE2/EP1 subtype signals in SHRSP, 10-week-old SHRSP and normotensive control WKY were treated for 5 weeks with EP1A or vehicle. EP1A was tolerated well, and no significant differences were observed in body weight, kidney weight, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) level between EP1A-treated and vehicle-treated groups at 15 weeks of age (Table). Urine volume of SHRSP was significantly larger than that of WKY. The EP1A-treated groups tended to exhibit a decreased urine volume as compared with the vehicle-treated groups both in SHRSP and WKY, although the difference did not achieve statistical significance. By contrast, urinary sodium excretion was markedly reduced in SHRSP as compared with WKY, and EP1A treatment significantly increased urinary sodium excretion both in SHRSP and WKY. Urinary PGE2 excretion of SHRSP was 33% higher than that of WKY, but the difference was not statistically significant.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Body Weight, Kidney Weight, ALT/GPT, and Urinary Parameters in SHRSP and WKY After the 5-Week Treatment

Localization of EP1 and Regulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 in SHRSP
We next examined the localization of EP1 expression in the glomeruli of WKY and SHRSP by in situ hybridization. Strong hybridization signals for EP1 mRNA were observed mainly in the mesangial area, and there was no apparent difference between WKY (Figure 1A) and SHRSP (Figure 1B). Mesangial cyclooxygenase-2 expression showed a remarkable increase in SHRSP as compared with WKY (Figure 1C, 426±18%, P<0.01), suggesting the local overproduction of prostaglandins in the glomeruli of SHRSP.



View larger version (80K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Gene expression of EP1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in glomeruli and cultured mesangial cells. In situ hybridization for EP1 mRNA expression (arrows) in glomeruli of WKY rats (A) and SHRSP (B). C, Northern blots of cyclooxygenase-2 in cultured mesangial cells from WKY and SHRSP.

Effects of EP1A on Renal Histological Changes
Renal tissues of 10-week-old WKY (Figure 2A) and SHRSP (Figure 2B) were histologically almost indistinguishable. At 15 weeks of age, vehicle-treated SHRSP exhibited marked fibrocellular proliferative lesions in arterioles and tubulointerstitial damage (Figure 2C). EP1A treatment attenuated these histological changes (Figure 2D). Quantitative analysis revealed that EP1A treatment decreased the number of the proliferative lesions in arterioles in SHRSP by 41±13% (Figure 2E, P<0.05). There was no apparent difference in renal histology between vehicle-treated and EP1A-treated WKY at 15 weeks (not shown).



View larger version (120K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Histological analysis of SHRSP. Ten-week-old control WKY (A) and SHRSP (B) showed no apparent lesion. Pronounced proliferative lesions in arterioles (arrow) were observed in 15-week-old vehicle (Veh)-treated SHRSP (C) as compared with EP1-selective antagonist (EP1A)-treated group (D). EP1A treatment significantly inhibited increase in the number of affected arterioles per glomerulus in SHRSP (E). Periodic acid–Schiff stain, magnification x100. Values are mean±SEM. *P<0.05, n=7.

The affected arterioles, which are typical changes in malignant nephrosclerosis, were further examined by immunohistochemical study for {alpha}SMA and PCNA. Ten-week-old SHRSP (Figure 3A) and WKY (not shown) showed dense immunostaining of {alpha}SMA in arteriole walls, presumably in smooth muscle cells. In 15-week-old, vehicle-treated SHRSP, immunostaining of {alpha}SMA in the hyperplastic arteriole walls was heterogeneous and less intense (Figure 3B), suggesting that phenotypic change of vascular smooth muscle cells occurred. Some interstitial cells were also positive for {alpha}SMA. In 15-week-old EP1A-treated SHRSP, the immunostaining pattern of {alpha}SMA itself was not altered apparently as compared with that in vehicle-treated SHRSP (Figure 3C), but the area positive for {alpha}SMA immunostaining in EP1A-treated SHRSP tended to be smaller as compared with that in the vehicle-treated group. There was no apparent PCNA immunostaining in 10-week-old SHRSP (Figure 3D) and WKY (not shown), whereas PCNA-positive proliferating cells were observed in the affected arterioles, interstitial cells, and tubular epithelial cells both in 15-week-old vehicle-treated and EP1A-treated SHRSP (Figures 3E and 3F). Quantitative analysis revealed that PCNA-positive cells in arterioles of 15-week-old vehicle-treated SHRSP were 3.8 times more abundant than those in EP1A-treated SHRSP (Figure 3G, P<0.05). These findings indicate that EP1A treatment significantly decreased both the incidence and the proliferative activity of arteriole lesions.



View larger version (119K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. Immunohistochemical study for {alpha}-smooth muscle actin ({alpha}SMA, stained brown, A through C) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, red, D through F) in kidneys from 10-week-old (A, D), 15-week-old vehicle (Veh)-treated (B, E), and 15-week-old EP1A-treated (C, F) rats (magnification x200). Arrowheads indicate glomeruli. Small black arrows indicate {alpha}SMA-positive cells in the interstitium (B). Large blue arrows indicate PCNA-positive cells (E, F). In 15-week-old SHRSP, affected arterioles showed sparse and heterogeneous {alpha}SMA staining, and some {alpha}SMA-positive cells appeared in the interstitium. EP1A treatment significantly decreased the number of PCNA-positive cells per afferent arteriole in SHRSP (G). Values are mean±SEM. *P<0.05, n=7.

Effects of EP1A on Renal Fibrosis
To assess the extent of renal fibrosis, we stained the kidney sections by using Masson’s trichrome method. Almost no fibrotic area was observed in 10-week-old SHRSP (Figure 4A) and WKY (not shown). Vehicle-treated SHRSP exhibited marked interstitial and perivascular fibrosis at 15 weeks of age (Figure 4B). EP1A treatment obviously attenuated these fibrotic changes (Figure 4C). Semiquantitative analysis on renal fibrosis revealed that EP1A treatment decreased scores for fibrotic area in SHRSP (Figure 4D) by 49±6% (P<0.01). We also examined the alteration in TGF-ß1 expression by immunohistochemistry. Vehicle-treated SHRSP exhibited marked interstitial, periglomerular, and perivascular TGF-ß1 staining at 15 weeks of age (Figure 4E). In contrast, EP1A treatment markedly inhibited TGF-ß1 staining (Figure 4F). Fibronectin, a component of fibrosis that is inducible by TGF-ß1, was also increased in the area similar to TGF-ß1 in vehicle-treated SHRSP (Figure 4G), and the area of fibronectin deposition was significantly decreased in EP1A-treated SHRSP (Figure 4H).



View larger version (117K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. Renal fibrosis in SHRSP. Ten-week-old SHRSP showed no apparent fibrotic lesion (A). Renal fibrosis (blue area) was more prominent in 15-week-old vehicle (Veh)-treated SHRSP (B), as compared with the EP1A-treated group (C). Masson’s trichrome stain, magnification x100. D, Extent of fibrosis was scored by grade 0 to 4; mean score was calculated in 15-week-old SHRSP. Values are mean±SEM. *P<0.01, n=7. Immunohistochemical analyses for TGF-ß (E, F) and fibronectin (G, H) in 15-week-old SHRSP. Magnification x200. Veh-treated SHRSP (E, G) showed marked staining (brown) for TGF-ß and fibronectin in the affected afferent arterioles and interstitial cells. EP1A-treated SHRSP (F, H) showed much milder staining as compared with Veh-treated group.

To further assess the changes of TGF-ß1 expression more quantitatively, we examined the gene expression of TGF-ß1 in the cortex of the kidney by Northern blotting (Figure 5). TGF-ß1 expression was upregulated by 114±9% in 15-week-old, vehicle-treated SHRSP as compared with that in control WKY (P<0.01). EP1A treatment abolished the upregulation of TGF-ß1 in SHRSP (P<0.01). These findings suggest that EP1A ameliorated renal fibrosis, at least partly, by the inhibition of TGF-ß1 induction.



View larger version (38K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Gene expression of TGF-ß1 in kidney cortex from 15-week-old SHRSP and WKY. A, Representative Northern blots of TGF-ß1. B, Quantitative analysis of Northern blots for TGF-ß1 revealed significant upregulation of TGF-ß1 gene expression in vehicle (Veh)-treated SHRSP but not in EP1A-treated SHRSP. Values are mean±SEM. *P<0.01, n=5.

Effects of EP1A on Urinary Protein Excretion and Renal Function
To evaluate the functional alterations in SHRSP, we examined urinary protein excretion and creatinine clearance (Figure 6). Ten-week-old SHRSP, which showed minimal histological changes, already exhibited significant increase in urinary protein excretion as compared with WKY (Figure 6A, P<0.05). In vehicle-treated SHRSP, urinary protein excretion was increased by 2.2-fold after 5 weeks. In EP1A-treated SHRSP, on the other hand, proteinuria was significantly suppressed (P<0.05). At 15 weeks, creatinine clearance was significantly better in EP1A-treated SHRSP as compared with vehicle-treated SHRSP, although the difference between vehicle-treated SHRSP and WKY did not achieve statistical significance (Figure 6B). In WKY, no significant changes in these parameters were observed by EP1A treatment (Figures 6A and 6B). These findings indicate that EP1A treatment ameliorated not only the renal histological changes but also the functional alterations in SHRSP.



View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 6. Urinary protein excretion (A), creatinine clearance (B), and blood pressure (C) in SHRSP and WKY. Open and closed circles represent vehicle (Veh)-treated and EP1A-treated SHRSP, respectively. Open and closed triangles represent Veh-treated and EP1A-treated WKY, respectively. EP1A treatment significantly inhibited the increase of urinary protein excretion (A) and decrease of creatinine clearance (B) observed in Veh-treated SHRSP. EP1A showed mild and transient suppression of systemic blood pressure in SHRSP (C). Values are mean±SEM. *P<0.05 between Veh-treated and EP1A-treated SHRSP; #P<0.05 vs Veh-treated WKY;{dagger}P<0.05 vs 10-week-old SHRSP. n=5.

Effects of EP1A on Blood Pressure
Analyses so far have indicated that EP1A treatment prevents the progression of renal injury in SHRSP. To explore whether chronic EP1A treatment affects blood pressure or not, we examined systemic blood pressure by the tail-cuff method (Figure 6C). Severe hypertension was already established in 10-week-old SHRSP (systolic blood pressure, 190±4 mm Hg) as compared with 10-week-old WKY (130±4 mm Hg), and systolic blood pressure in vehicle-treated SHRSP was gradually increased up to 213±3 mm Hg at 15 weeks of age. A mild blood pressure reduction was observed after 2-week-treatment of EP1A in SHRSP, but after 5-week-treatment there was no significant difference in blood pressure between the groups in SHRSP. EP1A treatment showed no blood pressure change in WKY. These findings suggest but do not prove that the blood pressure–lowering effect of EP1A is not the main mechanism of kidney protection by EP1A.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
In the present study, we examined whether selective blockade of PGE2 receptor EP1 subtype inhibits the development of renal injury in SHRSP. Vehicle-treated SHRSP showed not only prominent histological changes including fibrocellular proliferative lesions in arterioles and tubulointerstitial damages but also functional alterations including increased proteinuria and decreased creatinine clearance as previously described,3,4 whereas these changes were all significantly ameliorated by EP1A treatment. These findings provide, for the first time, the in vivo evidence that EP1 plays an important role in the progression of renal damage in SHRSP.

An onion peel–like proliferative lesion in the afferent arteriole is the characteristic feature in renal pathology of human malignant hypertension and SHRSP. The present study indicates that EP1A treatment potently suppressed the proliferation of afferent arteriole smooth muscle cells. Indeed, the EP1-mediated signal stimulates cell proliferation, at least in mesangial cells and hepatocytes. However, whether EP1 on afferent arteriole smooth muscle cells really conveys proliferative signals remains to be determined, since vascular smooth muscle cells from arterioles no longer express EP1 after cell culture, making the in vitro analysis difficult.14 Furthermore, we could not determine whether EP1 mRNA expression in the afferent arterioles differs between WKY and SHRSP, since EP1 gene expression level in afferent arterioles was not high enough for detection by in situ hybridization. Using microdissection and RT-PCR, Purdy et al14 reported that EP1 expression can be detected in freshly isolated rat afferent arterioles. The present study also showed that perivascular and interstitial fibrosis together with upregulation of TGF-ß was attenuated by EP1A treatment. These findings are in agreement with our recent observation showing that EP1-mediated signal induces TGF-ß gene expression in cultured mesangial cells.24 Taken together, the present study elucidates that EP1A has protective effects for renal lesions in SHRSP at least by two mechanisms: suppression of smooth muscle proliferation in afferent arterioles and inhibition of TGF-ß upregulation.

Recent reports revealed that angiotensin II induces cyclooxygenase-2 expression and PGE2 production in vascular smooth muscle cells and that selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors attenuate angiotensin II–induced DNA syntheses.28,29 There is no doubt that the renin-angiotensin system is activated and angiotensin II plays a critical role in the progression of renal injury in SHRSP.30,31 The present study showed marked upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in cultured mesangial cells from SHRSP. We previously reported that EP1 exerts cell proliferation through ERK/MAP kinase phosphorylation and that the autocrine PGE2/EP1 pathway contributes to growth factor–mediated cell proliferation in cultured mesangial cells.9 Therefore, it is possible that the PGE2/EP1 signaling pathway is involved in angiotensin II–induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in SHRSP.

Renal microcirculation plays a critical role in the progression of renal dysfunction and proteinuria. EP1A treatment significantly ameliorated proteinuria and worsening of creatinine clearance in SHRSP. Recently, EP1 and EP4 have been reported to be expressed in mesangial cells and podocytes in the glomerulus.9,10,32 As these cells contribute to the regulation of renal microcirculation, functional protection in EP1A-treated SHRSP may be partly due to the effects of EP1A on mesangial cells and podocytes.

Concerning the beneficial effects of EP1A on hypertensive renal injury, the influence of EP1A on the regulation of systemic blood pressure and urinary sodium excretion must be considered. We observed only minimal and transient effects on systemic blood pressure in SHRSP after 2-week treatment. After 5-week treatment, blood pressure of EP1A-treated SHRSP exhibited no significant difference from that of vehicle-treated SHRSP. The present study is the first report as to the long-term effect of EP1A on systemic blood pressure. EP1A treatment also showed no significant effects on blood pressure of WKY. These findings are not consistent with recent reports that EP1-deficient mice have lower blood pressure compared with wild-type mice33 and that intravenous administration of an EP1/EP3 agonist increases blood pressure in mice.34 The reason for such a difference is currently unclear, but it might be due to species difference. It is noteworthy that EP1 also exists in the afferent arteriole in humans.35 In the present study, we also showed that SHRSP had much less urinary sodium excretion than WKY and that EP1A treatment significantly increased sodium excretion in SHRSP and WKY, suggesting that the EP1-mediated signal has an antinatriuretic effect. Antinatriuretic activity might be another example of involvement of PGE2/EP1 signaling in events downstream of angiotensin II. These findings are contradictory to acute natriuretic effect mediated by EP1 in the cortical collecting duct in rabbits.36 Tissue-specific knockout experiments of EP1 will elucidate distinct roles of the receptor in vessels, glomeruli, and collecting ducts. The present findings suggest that the effects of EP1A on systemic blood pressure do not play an important role in the protective effects of EP1A on renal injury in SHRSP.

In summary, we demonstrate that the long-term treatment of EP1A can ameliorate renal injury histologically and functionally in SHRSP even after the onset of hypertension and proteinuria. The present study suggests that the PGE2/EP1 pathway contributes to the development of renal injury in genetically hypertensive rats. The results also indicate that the renoprotective effects of EP1A in SHRSP are not due to systemic blood pressure reduction and might be applicable in other types of hypertensive renal injuries.

Perspectives
We previously reported that mesangial cell proliferation is exaggerated under conditions of high glucose and that this phenomenon can be explained in part by the attenuation of EP4-mediated cAMP production.10 Such imbalance between EP1- and EP4-mediated signaling is also observed in cultured mesangial cells from SHRSP, where augmentation of EP1-mediated DNA synthesis and ERK/MAP kinase phosphorylation as well as inhibition of EP4-mediated cAMP generation are observed.9 As in the case of hypertensive renal injury, local PGE2 production in the kidney is increased in diabetic nephropathy.37,38 Furthermore, treatment by EP1A ameliorates not only renal injury in genetically hypertensive rats as shown here but also diabetic nephropathy induced by streptozotocin.24 Therefore, it may be conceivable that relative overactivation of EP1 and functional impairment of EP4 are common mediators of renal injuries caused both by hypertension and diabetes. Further studies are required to prove this hypothesis.


*    Acknowledgments
 
This work was supported in part by research grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, Foundation for Total Health Promotion, Smoking Research Foundation, Research Foundation for Community Medicine "Research Meeting on Hypertension and Arteriosclerosis," the Tanabe Medical Frontier Conference, ONO Medical Research Foundation, and the Salt Science Research Foundation. We gratefully acknowledge Ms J. Nakamura and Ms A. Wada for technical assistance and Ms S. Doi and Ms A. Sonoda for secretarial assistance.

Received May 7, 2003; first decision May 27, 2003; accepted October 6, 2003.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 
1. National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group. 1995 update of the working group reports on chronic renal failure and renovascular hypertension. Arch Intern Med. 1996; 156: 1938–1947.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

2. Teraoka S, Toma H, Nihei H, Ota K, Babazono T, Ishikawa I, Shinoda A, Maeda K, Koshikawa S, Takahashi T, Sonoda T. Current status of renal replacement therapy in Japan. Am J Kidney Dis. 1995; 25: 151–164.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

3. Matsunaga M, Komuro T, Yamamoto J, Hara A, Morimoto K, Yamori Y. Renal function, plasma renin, and spontaneous diuresis in an advanced stage of hypertension in rats. Jpn Heart J. 1980; 21: 737–751.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

4. Ogata J, Fujishima M, Tamaki K, Nakatomi Y, Ishitsuka T, Omae T. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats as an experimental model of malignant hypertension: a pathological study. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histol. 1982; 394: 185–194.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

5. Border WA, Noble NA. Transforming growth factor beta in tissue fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 1994; 331: 1286–1292.[Free Full Text]

6. Hamaguchi A, Kim S, Ohta K, Yagi K, Yukimura T, Miura K, Fukuda T, Iwao H. Transforming growth factor-ß1 expression and phenotypic modulation in the kidney of hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 1995; 26: 199–207.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

7. Breyer MD, Jacobson HR, Breyer RM. Functional and molecular aspects of renal prostaglandin receptors. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1996; 7: 8–17.[Abstract]

8. Narumiya S, Sugimoto Y, Ushikubi F. Prostanoid receptors: structures, properties, and functions. Physiol Rev. 1999; 79: 1193–1226.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

9. Suganami T, Tanaka I, Mukoyama M, Kotani M, Muro S, Mori K, Goto M, Ishibashi R, Kasahara M, Yahata K, Makino H, Sugawara A, Nakao K. Altered growth response to prostaglandin E2 and its receptor signaling in mesangial cells from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens. 2001; 19: 1095–1103.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

10. Ishibashi R, Tanaka I, Kotani M, Muro S, Goto M, Sugawara A, Mukoyama M, Sugimoto Y, Ichikawa A, Narumiya S, Nakao K. Roles of prostaglandin E receptors in mesangial cells under high-glucose conditions. Kidney Int. 1999; 56: 589–600.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

11. Gerber JG, Nies AS. The hemodynamic effects of prostaglandins in the rat. Evidence for important species variation in renovascular responses. Circ Res. 1979; 44: 406–410.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

12. Inscho EW, Carmines PK, Navar LG. Prostaglandin influences on afferent arteriolar responses to vasoconstrictor agonists. Am J Physiol. 1990; 259: F157–F163.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

13. Audoly LP, Ruan X, Wagner VA, Goulet JL, Tilley SL, Koller BH, Coffman TM, Arendshorst WJ. Role of EP2 and EP3 PGE2 receptors in control of murine renal hemodynamics. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2001; 280: H327–H333.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

14. Purdy KE, Arendshorst WJ. EP1 and EP4 receptors mediate prostaglandin E2 actions in the microcirculation of rat kidney. Am J Physiol. 2000; 279: F755–F764.

15. Jensen BL, Mann B, Skott O, Kurtz A. Differential regulation of renal prostaglandin receptor mRNAs by dietary salt intake in the rat. Kidney Int. 1999; 56: 528–537.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

16. Tang L, Loutzenhiser K, Loutzenhiser R. Biphasic actions of prostaglandin E2 on the renal afferent arteriole: role of EP3 and EP4 receptors. Circ Res. 2000; 86: 663–670.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

17. Kimura M, Osumi S, Ogihara M. Prostaglandin E2 (EP1) receptor agonist-induced DNA synthesis and proliferation in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes: the involvement of TGF-{alpha}. Endocrinology. 2001; 142: 4428–4440.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

18. Ruan X, Chatziantoniou C, Arendshorst WJ. Impaired prostaglandin E2/prostaglandin I2 receptor-Gs protein interactions in isolated renal resistance arterioles of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 1999; 34: 1134–1140.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

19. Umemura S, Smyth DD, Pettinger WA. Defective renal adenylate cyclase response to prostaglandin E2 in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens. 1985; 3: 159–165.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

20. Arrazola A, Diez J. Enhanced renal PGE2 in hypertensives with increased red cell Na+-Li+ countertransport. Am J Physiol. 1991; 261: H134–H139.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

21. Kawaguchi H, Saito H, Yasuda H. Renal prostaglandins and phospholipase A2 in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens. 1987; 5: 299–304.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

22. Konieczkowski M, Dunn MJ, Stork JE, Hassid A. Glomerular synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxane in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 1983; 5: 446–452.[Free Full Text]

23. Watanabe K, Kawamori T, Nakatsugi S, Ohta T, Ohuchida S, Yamamoto H, Maruyama T, Kondo K, Narumiya S, Sugimura T, Wakabayashi K. Inhibitory effect of a prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP1 selective antagonist, ONO-8713, on development of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in mice. Cancer Lett. 2000; 156: 57–61.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

24. Makino H, Tanaka I, Mukoyama M, Sugawara A, Mori K, Muro S, Suganami T, Yahata K, Ishibashi R, Ohuchida S, Maruyama T, Narumiya S, Nakao K. Prevention of diabetic nephropathy in rats by prostaglandin E receptor EP1-selective antagonist. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2002; 13: 1757–1765.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

25. Narumiya S, FitzGerald GA. Genetic and pharmacological analysis of prostanoid receptor function. J Clin Invest. 2001; 108: 25–30.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

26. Kasahara M, Mukoyama M, Sugawara A, Makino H, Suganami T, Ogawa Y, Nakagawa M, Yahata K, Goto M, Ishibashi R, Tamura N, Tanaka I, Nakao K. Ameliorated glomerular injury in mice overexpressing brain natriuretic peptide with renal ablation. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2000; 11: 1691–1701.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

27. Suganami T, Mukoyama M, Sugawara A, Mori K, Nagae T, Kasahara M, Yahata K, Makino H, Fujinaga Y, Ogawa Y, Tanaka I, Nakao K. Overexpression of brain natriuretic peptide in mice ameliorates immune-mediated renal injury. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2001; 12: 2652–2663.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

28. Derynck R, Jarrett JA, Chen EY, Goeddel DV. The murine transforming growth factor-ß precursor. J Biol Chem. 1986; 261: 4377–4379.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

29. Ohnaka K, Numaguchi K, Yamakawa T, Inagami T. Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 by angiotensin II in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Hypertension. 2000; 35: 68–75.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

30. Young W, Mahboubi K, Haider A, Li I, Ferreri NR. Cyclooxygenase-2 is required for tumor necrosis factor-{alpha}- and angiotensin II-mediated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Circ Res. 2000; 86: 906–914.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

31. Obata J, Nakamura T, Takano H, Naito A, Kimura H, Yoshida Y, Shimizu F, Guo DF, Inagami T. Increased gene expression of components of the renin-angiotensin system in glomeruli of genetically hypertensive rats. J Hypertens. 2000; 18: 1247–1255.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

32. Kim S, Ohta K, Hamaguchi A, Omura T, Yukimura T, Miura K, Inada Y, Wada T, Ishimura Y, Chatani F, Iwao H. Contribution of renal angiotensin II type I receptor to gene expressions in hypertension-induced renal injury. Kidney Int. 1994; 46: 1346–1358.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

33. Bek M, Nusing R, Kowark P, Henger A, Mundel P, Pavenstadt H. Characterization of prostanoid receptors in podocytes. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999; 10: 2084–2093.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

34. Stock JL, Shinjo K, Burkhardt J, Roach M, Taniguchi K, Ishikawa T, Kim HS, Flannery PJ, Coffman TM, McNeish JD, Audoly LP. The prostaglandin E2 EP1 receptor mediates pain perception and regulates blood pressure. J Clin Invest. 2001; 107: 325–331.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

35. Kennedy CR, Zhang Y, Brandon S, Guan Y, Coffee K, Funk CD, Magnuson MA, Oates JA, Breyer MD, Breyer RM. Salt-sensitive hypertension and reduced fertility in mice lacking the prostaglandin EP2 receptor. Nat Med. 1999; 5: 217–220.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

36. Morath R, Klein T, Seyberth HW, Nusing RM. Immunolocalization of the four prostaglandin E2 receptor proteins EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 in human kidney. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999; 10: 1851–1860.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

37. Guan Y, Zhang Y, Breyer RM, Fowler B, Davis L, Hebert RL, Breyer MD. Prostaglandin E2 inhibits renal collecting duct Na+ absorption by activating the EP1 receptor. J Clin Invest. 1998; 102: 194–201.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

38. Schambelan M, Blake S, Sraer J, Bens M, Nivez MP, Wahbe F. Increased prostaglandin production by glomeruli isolated from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest. 1985; 75: 404–412.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
I. Rutkai, A. Feher, N. Erdei, D. Henrion, Z. Papp, I. Edes, A. Koller, G. Kaley, and Z. Bagi
Activation of prostaglandin E2 EP1 receptor increases arteriolar tone and blood pressure in mice with type 2 diabetes
Cardiovasc Res, July 1, 2009; 83(1): 148 - 154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Pharmacol. Rev.Home page
C. S. Wilcox and A. Pearlman
Chemistry and Antihypertensive Effects of Tempol and Other Nitroxides
Pharmacol. Rev., December 1, 2008; 60(4): 418 - 469.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol.Home page
E. A. Jaimes, M.-S. Zhou, D. D. Pearse, L. Puzis, and L. Raij
Upregulation of cortical COX-2 in salt-sensitive hypertension: role of angiotensin II and reactive oxygen species
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, February 1, 2008; 294(2): F385 - F392.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol.Home page
C. R. J. Kennedy, H. Xiong, S. Rahal, J. Vanderluit, R. S. Slack, Y. Zhang, Y. Guan, M. D. Breyer, and R. L. Hebert
Urine concentrating defect in prostaglandin EP1-deficient mice
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, February 1, 2007; 292(2): F868 - F875.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
S. P. Levick, D. C. Loch, S. M. Taylor, and J. S. Janicki
Arachidonic Acid Metabolism as a Potential Mediator of Cardiac Fibrosis Associated with Inflammation
J. Immunol., January 15, 2007; 178(2): 641 - 646.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.Home page
J. M. Sasser, J. C. Sullivan, J. L. Hobbs, T. Yamamoto, D. M. Pollock, P. K. Carmines, and J. S. Pollock
Endothelin A Receptor Blockade Reduces Diabetic Renal Injury via an Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., January 1, 2007; 18(1): 143 - 154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
T. G. Neilan, G. A. Doherty, G. Chen, C. Deflandre, H. McAllister, R. K. Butler, S. E. McClelland, E. Kay, L. R. Ballou, and D. J. Fitzgerald
Disruption of COX-2 modulates gene expression and the cardiac injury response to doxorubicin
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2006; 291(2): H532 - H536.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Toxicol SciHome page
A. S. Ahmad, S. Saleem, M. Ahmad, and S. Dore
Prostaglandin EP1 Receptor Contributes to Excitotoxicity and Focal Ischemic Brain Damage
Toxicol. Sci., January 1, 2006; 89(1): 265 - 270.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
J. D. Imig, X. Zhao, C. Z. Zaharis, J. J. Olearczyk, D. M. Pollock, J. W. Newman, I.-H. Kim, T. Watanabe, and B. D. Hammock
An Orally Active Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitor Lowers Blood Pressure and Provides Renal Protection in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension
Hypertension, October 1, 2005; 46(4): 975 - 981.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Suganami, T.
Right arrow Articles by Nakao, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Suganami, T.
Right arrow Articles by Nakao, K.