Original Article

Role of GRK4 in the Regulation of Arterial AT1 Receptor in HypertensionNovelty and Significance

Ken Chen, Chunjiang Fu, Caiyu Chen, Li Liu, Hongmei Ren, Yu Han, Jian Yang, Duofen He, Lin Zhou, Zhiwei Yang, Lianfeng Zhang, Pedro A. Jose, Chunyu Zeng
https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.113.01766
Hypertension. 2014;63:289-296
Originally published January 8, 2014

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Abstract

G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) gene variants, via impairment of renal dopamine receptor and enhancement of renin–angiotensin system functions, cause sodium retention and increase blood pressure. Whether GRK4 and the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) interact in the aorta is not known. We report that GRK4 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells of the aorta. Heterologous expression of the GRK4γ variant 142V in A10 cells increased AT1R protein expression and AT1R-mediated increase in intracellular calcium concentration. The increase in AT1R expression was related to an increase in AT1R mRNA expression via the NF-κB pathway. As compared with control, cells expressing GRK4γ 142V had greater NF-κB activity with more NF-κB bound to the AT1R promoter. The increased AT1R expression in cells expressing GRK4γ 142V was also associated with decreased AT1R degradation, which may be ascribed to lower AT1R phosphorylation. There was a direct interaction between GRK4γ and AT1R that was decreased by GRK4γ 142V. The regulation of AT1R expression by GRK4γ 142V in A10 cells was confirmed in GRK4γ 142V transgenic mice; AT1R expression was higher in the aorta of GRK4γ 142V transgenic mice than control GRK4γ wild-type mice. Angiotensin II–mediated vasoconstriction of the aorta was also higher in GRK4γ 142V than in wild-type transgenic mice. This study provides a mechanism by which GRK4, via regulation of arterial AT1R expression and function, participates in the pathogenesis of conduit vessel abnormalities in hypertension.

Introduction

Essential hypertension, which affects 25% of the middle-aged adult population, constitutes a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart and kidney failure.1,2 The kidney, vasculature, and nervous system govern the long-term control of blood pressure by regulating sodium homeostasis, peripheral resistance, and central arterial stiffness3–5; they, in turn, are influenced by numerous hormones and neural and humoral factors. Hypertension may be caused not only by increased activity of prohypertensive systems but also by defects in antihypertensive systems that serve as counter- regulatory mechanisms.4,6–8 Most hormones and humoral factors regulate blood pressure via their receptors, including G-protein–coupled receptors. G-protein–coupled receptors constitute the largest family of cell surface receptors6–8; abnormal G-protein–coupled receptor kinase (GRK) function has the potential to affect receptor-regulated biological responses in many physiological and pathological conditions, including hypertension.4,5,7

The GRK family plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure.9 GRK4 is distinguished from other members of the GRK family by its constitutive activity10,11 and limited tissue expression.6,7 The GRK4 variants 65 L, 142V, and 486V are associated with essential hypertension in ethnically distinct populations.8,11,12 Overexpression of human (h) GRK4γ 142V or hGRK4γ 486V in mice produces hypertension.8,13 The hypertension of spontaneously hypertensive rats may also be explained, in part, by increased renal GRK4 expression.14 Our previous study found that increased renal GRK4 expression causes the attenuated renal D1 dopamine receptor–mediated natriuresis and diuresis that play a role in the pathogenesis of the hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.14

Increased activity of the renin–angiotensin system is important in the pathogenesis of hypertension.5,15 GRK4 interacts not only with the dopaminergic but also with the renin–angiotensin system to regulate blood pressure.8 Increased renal expressions of both GRK4 and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) contribute to the increased blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats because selective renal silencing of both GRK4 and AT1R increases sodium excretion and decreases blood pressure to a greater extent than silencing of either GRK4 or AT1R.16

Conduit and resistance arterial vessels are important in the regulation of blood pressure and myocardial function.17 Increased aortic stiffness, a risk factor in cardiovascular disease, may be related to increased activity of the renin–angiotensin system.3,18 Whether GRK4 and the AT1R interact in the aorta and other arteries in regulating vascular smooth muscle function is not known. Our present study found expression of GRK4 in the tunica media of arteries; vascular smooth muscle cells, transduced with the GRK4γ variant 142V, increased AT1R expression and function. The regulation of AT1R by GRK4 is of physiological significance because AT1R expression and angiotensin II (Ang II)–mediated vasoconstriction in the aorta were greater in hGRK4γ 142V than in hGRK4γ wild-type (WT) transgenic mice. Infusion of the AT1R antagonist, candesartan, lowered blood pressure to a greater and longer extent in hGRK4γ 142V than in hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice. Our present study provides a mechanism by which GRK4, via regulation of arterial AT1R expression and function, participates in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

Methods

Transgenic Mice

hGRK4γ WT and hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice were generated as previously described11,13 in the online-only Data Supplement. As previously reported,11,12,19 the genetic variation is GCC to GTC (amino acid 142V, rs1024323; Figure S1 in the online-only Data Supplement).

This study was approved by the Third Military Medical University Animal Use and Care Committee. All experiments conformed to the guidelines of the ethical use of animals, and all efforts were made to minimize animal suffering and to reduce the number of animals used.

Cell Culture and GRK4 Transduction

Embryonic thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells (passage 10–20) from normotensive Berlin-Druckrey IX (A10; CRL 1476, ATCC) were homogenized in ice-cold lysis buffer (5 mL/g tissue), sonicated, kept on ice for 1 hour, and centrifuged at 16 000g for 30 minutes. All samples were stored at −70°C until use.

The lentivirus-based pLenti6.3-hGRK4γ-IRES2-EGFP plasmid (Invitrogen Life Technologies Corporation, Shanghai, China; Figure S2A) was transiently transduced into 293TN cells. The A10 cells (1.5×106/mL) were cultured in 2-mL DMEM medium containing 2% fetal calf serum, 8 μg/mL polybrene and virus (multiplicity of infection=100). The medium was replaced 48 hours after transduction, and then 5 μg/mL blasticidin was added and incubated for another 48 hours. The transduced cells were identified by green fluorescent protein expression (Figure S2B).

Small Interfering RNA

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) against GRK4 mRNA and its control scrambled RNA were synthesized and purified with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography as 25-mer phosphorothioate-modified oligodeoxynucleotides (GRK4 siRNA sequence: #1 5′-AUCUAAAGAGGUGCAUUGAAUUCUUdTdT-3′, #2 5′-AAGGACCUCAAUGAAUAUGAAGAUAdTdT-3′; scrambled RNA sequence: 5′-TGACGATAAGAACAATAACdTdT-3′), from nucleotides 412 to 436 and 1752 to 1776 of the rat GRK4 cDNA.

The effects of 50 nmol/L siRNA were compared with scrambled RNA (control). Briefly, cells were grown in 6-well plates until 60% confluence, and 50 nmol/L siRNA or control RNA was mixed with 6 μL of Oligofectamine in Optimem medium (Invitrogen Life Technologies) and incubated for 24 hours, then switched to growth medium and incubated for another 24 hours. The cells were collected and processed for reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for GRK4 to determine the efficiency of siRNA-induced GRK4 gene silencing (Figure S3).

Immunoblotting

After subjecting the cell lysates to centrifugation at 12 000g for 15 minutes, the supernatants of A10 cells were collected and their protein concentrations were measured using a bicinchoninic acid protein assay kit (Hyclone Pierce, Logan, UT). Immunoblotting was performed as previously reported,20,21 except that the transblots were probed with the rabbit anti-GRK4 antibody (1:400) and rabbit anti-AT1R antibody (1:500; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA). The amount of protein transferred onto the membranes was verified by immunoblotting for β-actin.

Confocal Microscopy of Double-Stained Transduced A10 Cells and Artery

The aortae from Sprague-Dawley rats, cleared of blood with ice-cold oxygenated saline and kept in Histochoice (Amresco, Solon, OH) for 1 to 2 days at 4°C, were sectioned (4 μm), embedded in paraffin, and mounted on slides. Reactions with antibodies were performed as described previously22–26 in the online-only Data Supplement.

Transduced A10 cells, grown on coverslips, were fixed and permeabilized with 100% methanol (30 minutes). Reactions with antibodies were performed as described previously27 in the online-only Data Supplement.

Immunoprecipitation

Equal amounts of cell lysates (300 μg protein/mL supernatant) were incubated with affinity-purified anti-GRK4 receptor antibody (3 μL/mL; GRK4/AT1R coimmunoprecipitation) or polyclonal anti-phosphoserine antibody (Zymed Laboratory, San Francisco, CA; AT1R phosphorylation; 1 μg/mL) for 1 hour and protein-G agarose at 4°C for 12 hours. The immunoprecipitates were subjected to immunoblotting with the AT1R antibody. To determine the specificity of the bands found on the immunoblots, IgG (negative control) and AT1R antibody (positive control) were used as the immunoprecipitants, instead of the GRK4 antibody.

RT-PCR of GRK4 and AT1R

A total of 2 μg of total RNA extracted from hGRK4γ WT–transduced cells or hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells was used to synthesize cDNA and served as a template for amplification of AT1R, GRK4, and β-actin, which served as the house-keeping gene control. The AT1R and GRK4 mRNA expressions were normalized by β-actin mRNA.

The GRK4 bands, cut from the gels, were extracted by DNA gel extraction kit (Omega). After purification, the DNA was sequenced and aligned by DNAMAN software (Lynnon Biosoft)

Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay

Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) was performed with the Light-shift Chemiluminescent EMSA Kit (Pierce Chemical Co, Rockford, IL) according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.28,29 A synthetic DNA double-stranded oligonucleotide probe (5′-biotin-AGTTGAGGGGACTTTCCCAGGC-5′) containing the sequence of the rat AT1R gene promoter between nucleotides −350 bp and −363 bp (5′-AAGGGAGTTCCCTA-3′) was labeled with biotin and incubated with the nuclear extracts.

Intracellular Calcium Measurement

Intracellular calcium was measured, as previously described with some modifications30,31 in the online-only Data Supplement. The free Ca2+ concentration [Ca]2+free was calculated from the equation32: [Ca]2+free=Kd[(R−Rmin)/(Rmax−R)](F380max/F380min); The Kd is the dissociation constant of Fura-2 to calcium. R is the ratio of each 340 nm/380 nm. Minimum and maximum are the fluorescence values of cells treated by Triton X-100 (saturating Ca2+ concentration) or by EGTA (ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid; zero Ca2+ concentration).

Artery Ring Study

Thoracic aortae were obtained from the hGRK4γ WT and hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice. Each artery was cut into a ring of 2- to 3-mm long for the experiments, which was used to measure the vascular reactivity to Ang II (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), in the presence or absence of the endothelium, as described in the online-only Data Supplement.

An intact functional endothelium in all preparations was assessed by determining a vasodilatory response to acetylcholine (Ach; 10–6 mol/L; Sigma). If Ach (10–6 mol/L) induced the relaxation of artery rings preconstricted with norepinephrine (10–6 mol/L) by >75%, the arterial endothelium can be considered intact.33

Statistical Analysis

The data are expressed as mean±SEM. Comparison within groups was made by repeated measures ANOVA (or paired t test when only 2 groups were compared), and comparison among groups (or t test when only 2 groups were compared) was made by factorial ANOVA with Holm–Sidak test. A value of P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Expression of GRK4 in Artery

We first determined whether GRK4 is expressed in the aorta by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and RT-PCR. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed GRK4 staining in the tunica media and adventitia of aortae from Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6J mice (Figure 1A). GRK4 expression was also found with immunoblotting; specific GRK4 (54, 60, and 65 kDa) bands were found in A10 cells, which were attenuated, especially the 60-kDa band, after transduction with the specific GRK4 siRNA (Figure 1B). The specificity of this GRK4 antibody was reported in our published study.14 RT-PCR showed the expected 125-bp GRK4 band, based on the primers, which was not observed when RNA was omitted in the RT period (Figure 1C). The gel containing the 125-bp band was cut, sequenced, and aligned by DNAMAN software (Lynnon Biosoft; Figure S4).

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) expression in aorta. A, Immunofluorescence staining of GRK4 in aorta from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and C57BL/6J mice. The aorta was washed, fixed, and immunostained for GRK4 and α-smooth muscle (SM)-actin, as described in the Methods. Colocalization appears as yellow after merging the images of α-SM-actin (red) and GRK4 (green). These studies were repeated ≥3×. B, GRK4 protein expression in A10 cells. Protein (100 μg) from A10 cells was subjected to immunoblotting with anti-GRK4 antibody (1:400). The band was attenuated after transfection with the specific GRK4 small interfering RNA (siRNA) into A10 cells (GRK4 siRNA sequence: #1: 5′-AUCUAAAGAGGUGCAUUGAAUUCUUdTdT-3′; #2: 5′-AAGGACCUCAAUGAAUAUGAAGAUAdTdT-3′) compared with the band of A10 cells without siRNA transfection (scrambled RNA sequence: 5′-TGACGATAAGAACAATAACdTdT-3′). The 54-, 60-, and 65-kDa bands were found in the aorta and A10 cells, as well as in testis which was used as positive control. These bands are specific GRK4 proteins, as previously published, using the same GRK4 antibody.14 C, GRK4 mRNA expression in aorta from SD rat and A10 cells. GRK4 RT-PCR products from testis (lane 1, positive control), aorta (lane 2), and A10 cells (lane 3) were analyzed in 10% polyacrylamide gel stained with ethidium bromide. An amplification product of the predicted size (125 bp) is seen in RT-PCR reaction using RNA (1 μg). No amplification is seen in the absence of RNA (lane 4). D, GRK4 expression and function in the adventitia of the aorta. GRK4 expressions were checked in the fibroblasts and adipocytes by immunoblotting (a) and RT-PCR (b), samples from testis of SD rats were taken as positive control. Removal of the adventitia did not affect the angiotensin II (Ang II; 10−8−10−4 mol/L)–mediated vasoconstriction (c; n=4, P=NS).

To confirm the GRK4 expression in the adventitia, we checked the GRK4 expression in fibroblasts and adipocytes by immunoblotting and RT-PCR. We found that both fibroblasts and adipocytes expressed GRK4 (Figure 1Da and 1Db). Removal of the adventitia did not affect the Ang II–mediated vasoconstriction, indicating that the GRK4 in the adventitia did not participate in the Ang II–mediated vasoconstriction (Figure 1Dc). The physiological significance of GRK4 in the adventitia remains to be determined.

We measured the GRK4 expression in large and small vessels, including the thoracic aorta, superior mesenteric artery, carotid arteries, and renal artery, and found there was no difference for the GRK4 expression in those vessels (Figure S5).

Regulation by GRK4 of AT1R Expression and Function in A10 Cells

AT1R antibody specificity was determined by immunoblotting, the 43-kDa band was absent in the aorta from AT1R−/− mice and no longer visible in A10 and renal proximal tubule cells (positive control) when the antibody was preadsorbed with the immunizing peptide (Figure 2A).

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

Expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in hGRK4γ wild-type (WT)–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. A, Specificity of AT1R antibody. Protein (100 μg) from A10 cells, renal proximal tubule (RPT) cells from Wistar-Kyoto rats, and aortae from AT1R−/− mice were subjected to immunoblotting with anti-AT1R antibody (1:500) with or without preincubation with the AT1R antibody immunizing peptide (Santa Cruz, 1:10 wt/wt incubation for 12 hours). These studies were repeated ≥3×. B and C, AT1R protein (B; n=7) and mRNA (C; n=6) expressions in hGRK4γ WT–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. Results are expressed as the ratio of AT1R receptor and β-actin (*P<0.05 vs WT). D, AT1R protein degradation in hGRK4γ WT–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. The cells were incubated with cycloheximide (10–5 mol/L) for the indicated times. Results are expressed as percentage change of control in each group (n=8; *P<0.05 vs WT). E, AT1R phosphorylation in hGRK4γ WT–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. The A10 cell lysate protein was immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphoserine antibody and immunoblotted with anti-AT1R antibody (n=3; *P<0.05 vs WT). GRK4 indicates G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 4.

To determine the effect of hGRK4 on AT1R expression, we used A10 cells transduced with hGRK4γ 142V. We found that the GRK4 expression was not different between hGRK4γ 142V and control (GRK4γ WT) cells (Figure S6). However, AT1R protein and mRNA expressions were higher in hGRK4γ 142V than in GRK4γ WT cells (Figure 2B and 2C); AT1R protein degradation was lower in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells than in GRK4γ WT–transduced cells (Figure 2D), indicating that the regulation of AT1R expression by hGRK4γ occurred at both post-translational and transcriptional levels. In addition, AT1R phosphorylation was lower in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells than in hGRK4 WT–transduced cells (Figure 2E), indicating that the decreased AT1R protein degradation may be ascribed to decreased AT1R phosphorylation. The increased AT1R expression is physiologically relevant because the intracellular calcium concentration after stimulation with Ang II (10–7 mol/L) was higher in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells than in hGRK4γ WT–transduced cells (Figure 3).

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Intracellular calcium concentration in hGRK4γ wild-type (WT)–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. Representative tracing of the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II; 10−7 mol/L) on intracellular free calcium in hGRK4γ WT–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. Ang II was added 15 s after the start of the experiment, shown as the arrow in the figure (n=8). GRK4 indicates G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 4.

To investigate whether Ang II was involved in the regulation of GRK4 on AT1R expression, we measured the concentration of Ang II in the A10 cell culture supernatant and cell lysate; Ang II concentrations were not different between hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells and hGRK4γ WT–transduced cells (culture supernatant: 113.87±13.07 versus 108.73±12.76; cell lysate: 237.3±23.7 versus 217±20; n=5; P=NS). The angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (10–4 mol/L, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), also had no effect on the AT1R expression in both cell types (Figure S7).

As a regulator of AT1R promoter activity, we measured nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) binding to the AT1R promoter and found it higher in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells than in hGRK4γ WT–transduced cells (Figure 4A). Blockade of NF-κB with an NF-κB inhibitor, BAY11-7082, inhibited the increase in AT1R expression in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells (Figure 4B), indicating that NF-κB was involved in the positive regulation of AT1R expression by hGRK4γ 142V.

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

Role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) on angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression in GRK4γ wild-type (WT)–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. A, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) of nuclear protein from A10 cells. Binding activity of AT1R gene promoter (−350 bp and−363 bp), containing an NF-κB site, was examined in nuclear proteins from hGRK4γ WT–transduced (lane 2) and hGRK4γ 142V (lane 3)–transduced A10 cells by EMSA. No nuclear extracts (lane 1) or 50× unlabeled probe (lane 4) was added to the reaction mixture and served as negative controls. B, Effect of NF-κB on GRK4-mediated regulation of AT1R protein expression in A10 cells. hGRK4γ WT–transduced or hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells were treated with or without the NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082 (20 μmol/L) for 24 hours. Results are expressed as the ratio of AT1R and β-actin (n=5, *P<0.05 vs vehicle).

As aforementioned, the decreased AT1R degradation could be ascribed to the decrease in AT1R phosphorylation in GRK4γ 142V–transduced cells. An additional study found a colocalization (Figure 5A) and coimmunoprecipitation (Figure 5B) between GRK4 and AT1R; the coimmunoprecipitation of GRK4 and AT1R was less in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells than in hGRK4γ WT–transduced cells (Figure 5B), which could be a factor in the decreased phosphorylation of AT1R in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced cells.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

Colocalization and coimmunoprecipitation of G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in hGRK4γ wild-type (WT)–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. A, Colocalization of GRK4 and AT1R in hGRK4γ WT–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. The cells were washed, fixed, and immunostained for GRK4 and AT1R, as described in the Methods. Colocalization appears as purple after merging the images of AMCA-tagged GRK4 (blue) and rhodamine-tagged AT1R (red). B, Coimmunoprecipitation of GRK4 and AT1R in hGRK4γ WT–transduced and hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. The cells were immunoprecipitated with GRK4 antibodies and immunoblotted with AT1R antibodies (*P<0.05 vs control; n=4; ANOVA; Holm–Sidak test). One immunoblot (43 kDa) is depicted in the inset. PC indicates positive control; WT, hGRK4γ WT–transduced A10 cells; 142V, hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells; and NC, negative control. For the positive control, AT1R antibody was used and for the negative control, IgG was used instead of GRK4 antibody as the immunoprecipitants.

AT1R Expression and Function in hGRK4γ 142V Transgenic Mice

To further investigate the physiological role of the GRK4-regulated AT1R expression, we studied AT1R expression and function in hGRK4γ WT and hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice. Consistent with previous reports,6,8,11,13 anesthetized hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice had higher systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures (systolic blood pressure=123.37±8.19, diastolic blood pressure=96.37±4.78 mm Hg, mean blood pressure=104.54±3.99; n=11) than anesthetized hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice (systolic blood pressure=98.38±5.42, diastolic blood pressure=83.00±4.54 mm Hg, mean blood pressure=88.21±3.63; n=11; P<0.001). Although GRK4 expression was not different between hGRK4γ WT 142V and hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice (Figure S5), AT1R expression in aorta was higher in hGRK4γ 142V than in hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice (Figure 6A). We also studied the vasoconstrictor effect of Ang II on the aorta from hGRK4γ 142V and hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice. The vasoconstriction caused by Ang II was greater in hGRK4γ 142V than in hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice in the presence or absence of the endothelium. The AT1R blocker, candesartan (10−6 mol/L), blocked the vasoconstrictor effect of Ang II, in both transgenic mice such that there was no longer any difference between the 2 mouse strains (Figure 6B).

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

Angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression and function in hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice. A, AT1R expression in aortae from hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice. Aortic homogenates (50 µg) from hGRK4γ 142V and hGRK4γ wild-type (WT) transgenic mice were subjected to immunoblotting with anti-AT1R antibody (1:400). Results are expressed as the ratio of AT1R to β-actin densities (n=5, *P<0.05 vs control, t test). B, Aortic rings with (a) or without (b) endothelium (E−) from hGRK4γ WT and hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice were exposed to varying concentrations of angiotensin II (Ang II; 10−8−10−4 mol/L). To determine the specificity of the Ang II effect on the AT1R, candesartan (angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]; 10−6 mol/L) was added 15 minutes before the Ang II treatment. The results are expressed as percentage change from baseline (*P<0.05 vs 142V control; #P<0.05 vs corresponding group with ARB treatment; n=12). GRK4 indicates G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 4.

Consistent with a previous report,34 the intravenous infusion of Ang II (1 μg/kg per minute at rate of 10 μL/h) caused a greater increase in systolic blood pressure in hGRK4γ 142V than in hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice, whereas the intravenous infusion of candesartan (0.139 μg/kg per minute at a rate of 10 μL/h) caused a greater decrease in blood pressure in hGRK4γ 142V than in hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice (Figure S8).

Discussion

GRK4, as with the other members of the GRK family, is predominantly localized at the plasma membrane, as a result of palmitoylation of its C-terminal cysteine residues.35 GRK4 differs from the other GRKs in tissue distribution; GRKs 2, 3, 5, and 6 are ubiquitously expressed, whereas GRK4 is abundantly expressed in the testis, myometrium, and kidney.7,8,11 We now show for the first time the expression of GRK4 in the aorta, determined by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry (tunica media), and RT-PCR, implying that GRK4 could be involved in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle function.

There is increasing evidence that GRK4 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension.6–8,11,13,14,16,34 The GRK4 locus (4p16.3) is linked to and GRK4 gene variants are associated with human essential hypertension.4,6,8,11,12,36–38 In Ghanaians, the 2-locus model of angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D and GRK4 65 L predicts the hypertensive phenotype 70.5% of the time.37 GRK4 variants, including 65 L, 142V, and 486V, by themselves, or interaction with other variants of other genes are associated with hypertension in American whites,39 Australian whites,12 Italians,36 and northern Han Chinese.40 We have reported that hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice on 98% C57BL/6J background are hypertensive relative to nontransgenic littermates and hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice.6,8,11,13,34 To further investigate the role of GRK4 variants on the hypertension, we generated hGRK4γ 142V and GRK4γ WT transgenic mice on C57BL/6J and SJL/J background. C57BL/6 mice are salt- sensitive, whereas SJL/J mice are salt-resistant.41 We now report that hGRK4γ 142V mice on mixed C57BL/6J and SJL/J background have increased blood pressure.

We have reported that hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice have increased blood pressure and impaired ability to excrete a sodium load.11 The impaired sodium excretion is mainly because of a dysfunction of the D1 dopamine receptor4,6–8,11,14,42 Dopamine, produced by the renal proximal tubule, is important in the regulation of sodium excretion and blood pressure.4,6–8,11,14,42 Although the renal dopaminergic system keeps the blood pressure from increasing after a moderate sodium load,4,6–8,11,14,42 the renin–angiotensin system, including the AT1R, is crucial in sodium retention and maintenance of blood pressure, especially under conditions of sodium deficit.5,8,15 Both GRK4 and AT1R exist in vascular smooth muscle cells, but whether GRK4-mediated regulation of blood pressure involves the AT1R in vascular smooth muscle cells is not known. Our present study found that compared with hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice, hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice have higher arterial AT1R expression and Ang II–mediated aortic vasoconstriction. Ang II–mediated increase in intracellular calcium is also increased to a greater extent in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced than in hGRK4γ WT–transduced A10 aortic cells. The stimulatory effect of hGRK4γ 142V on AT1R receptor expression and function is physiologically relevant because the intravenous infusion of Ang II increased, whereas the intravenous of infusion of an AT1R antagonist, candesartan, decreased blood pressure to a greater degree and longer extent in hGRK4γ 142V than in hGRK4γ WT transgenic mice. In the current study, the transgenic mice are on 50% C57BL/6 Jackson and 50% SJL Jackson mouse background. GRK4 and AT1R protein expression are greater in C57BL/6 Jackson than in SJL Jackson mice.41 hGRK4γ 142V transgenic mice on C57BL/6 background are also hypertensive that is caused, in part, by decreased renal D1 receptor function11,13,34 and increased renal AT1R expression.34 The increase in blood pressure in hGRK4γ 142V in C57BL/6 and SJL Jackson mice is not mitigated by the 50% SJL Jackson genetic background and is thus independent of the presence of the salt-resistant phenotype.

As a kinase, GRK4 phosphorylates ligand-unoccupied and ligand-occupied G-protein–coupled receptors as their primary substrates, such as the D1 dopamine receptor.6–11 Increased GRK4 activity augments D1 receptor phosphorylation in kidney.6–8,10,11,14 However, our present study found that increased GRK4 activity decreases AT1R phosphorylation, which seems counterintuitive, at first glance. Our experiments uncover a possible mechanism; there is a linkage between GRK4 and AT1R in vascular smooth muscle cells, and it is interesting to find that the GRK4/AT1R linkage is decreased in A10 cells transduced with hGRK4γ 142V, which may therefore cause decrease in AT1R phosphorylation in the hGRK4γ 142V A10–transduced cells. The decreased phosphorylation of AT1R in hGRK4γ 142V A10–transduced cells may be involved in the GRK4γ 142V–mediated upregulation of AT1R expression because in the present study, we found that a decreased AT1R degradation accompanies the decreased AT1R phosphorylation in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. The pathway leading to the lower binding of hGRK4γ 142V with AT1R receptor is not known, which needs to be elucidated in the future.

The regulation of hGRK4γ on AT1R expression is complicated, as in our present study, we found that in addition to hGRK4γ 142V–mediated decrease in AT1R degradation, AT1R transcription is also increased, as evidenced by increased AT1R mRNA in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. The activity of NF-κB, a regulator of AT1R promoter activity, is increased, accompanied by an increase in its binding to the AT1R promoter in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells. In the presence of an NF-κB inhibitor, the increase in AT1R expression in hGRK4γ 142V–transduced A10 cells is abolished, confirming the important role of NF-κB in this process.

Conclusions and Perspectives

Our previous study found that increased renal GRK4 expression causes the attenuated renal D1 dopamine receptor–mediated natriuresis and diuresis and increased renal AT1R-mediated sodium excretion that play a role in the pathogenesis of the hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.14,16 The present study reinforces the role of GRK4 in hypertension and shows that a constitutively increased activity of GRK4 increases arterial AT1R receptor expression and function, which may be involved in the abnormalities of conduit vessels in essential hypertension. The results imply that the inhibition of GRK4 expression or activity, based on the chemical or biological medicine, may be an effective therapeutic approach for essential hypertension.

Sources of Funding

These studies were supported, in part, by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (30925018, 31130029, 81070559, 81270337, 81100500, 81100190), National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB531104, 2012CB517801), and National Institutes of Health, United States (R37HL023081, and P01HL074940).

Disclosures

Dr Jose, who is the Scientific Director of Hypogen, Inc, owns US Patent Number 6,660,474 for G protein–related kinase mutants in essential hypertension. The other authors report no conflicts.

Footnotes

  • Received June 16, 2013.
  • Revision received July 2, 2013.
  • Accepted October 14, 2013.

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Novelty and Significance

What Is New?

  • The gene variant of G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4), GRK4γ 142V, is associated with hypertension. Our previous study found that increased renal GRK4 activity attenuated renal D1 dopamine receptor and increased renal angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) functions. In these studies, we report for the first time that GRK4 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells of the aorta and GRK4γ 142V decreased AT1R degradation, via decreased phosphorylation and increased AT1R expression, via NF-κΒ. In A10 cells, expression of GRK4γ 142V augmented the angiotensin II–mediated increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels. In transgenic mice on novel C57Bl/6J and SJL/J background, angiotensin II–induced vasoconstriction was increased in the aorta from GRK4γ 142V transgenic mice, compared with GRK4γ wild-type transgenic mice. Finally, the hypertension in GRK4γ 142V transgenic mice was related to an increase in angiotensin II–mediated vasoconstriction.

What Is Relevant?

  • The present study reinforces the role of GRK4 in hypertension and shows that a constitutively increased activity of GRK4 increases arterial AT1R receptor expression and function, which may be involved in the abnormalities of conduit vessels in essential hypertension. The results imply that the inhibition of GRK4 expression or activity, based on the chemical or biological medicine, may be an effective therapeutic approach for essential hypertension.

Summary

The present study reinforces the role of GRK4 in hypertension and shows that a constitutively increased activity of GRK4 increases arterial AT1R receptor expression and function, which may be involved in the abnormalities of conduit vessels in essential hypertension.

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  • Role of GRK4 in the Regulation of Arterial AT1 Receptor in HypertensionNovelty and Significance
    Ken Chen, Chunjiang Fu, Caiyu Chen, Li Liu, Hongmei Ren, Yu Han, Jian Yang, Duofen He, Lin Zhou, Zhiwei Yang, Lianfeng Zhang, Pedro A. Jose and Chunyu Zeng
    Hypertension. 2014;63:289-296, originally published January 8, 2014
    https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.113.01766
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