title: Targeted disruption of soluble epoxide hydrolase reveals a role in blood pressure regulation.
abstract: Renal microsomal cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase-dependent metabolism of arachidonic acid generates a series of regioisomeric epoxyeicosatrienoic acids that can be further metabolized by soluble epoxide hydrolase to the corresponding dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids. Evidence exists that these metabolites affect renal function and, in particular, blood pressure regulation. To examine this possibility, blood pressure and renal arachidonic acid metabolism were examined in mice with a targeted disruption of the soluble epoxide hydrolase gene. Systolic blood pressure of male soluble epoxide hydrolase-null mice was lower compared with wild-type mice in both the absence and presence of dietary salt loading. Both female soluble epoxide hydrolase-null and wild-type female mice also had significantly lower systolic blood pressure than male wild-type mice. Renal formation of epoxyeicosatrienoic and dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids was markedly lower for soluble epoxide hydrolase-null versus wild-type mice of both sexes. Although disruption of soluble epoxide hydrolase in female mice had minimal effects on blood pressure, deletion of this gene feminized male mice by lowering systolic blood pressure and altering arachidonic acid metabolism. These data provide the first direct evidence for a role for soluble epoxide hydrolase in blood pressure regulation and identify this enzyme as a novel and attractive target for therapeutic intervention in hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Metabolism, Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sinal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tohkin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bend
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases