title: Renin expression in COX-2-knockout mice on normal or low-salt diets.
abstract: Experiments were performed in mice to investigate whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in epithelial cells near the tubulovascular contact point (macula densa and TAL cells) may regulate renin gene expression in juxtaglomerular granular cells. Renin activity, afferent arteriolar granularity, and renin mRNA were determined in wild-type mice and in COX-2-knockout mice on control and low-NaCl diets. Renin activity in microdissected glomeruli assessed as angiotensin I formation in the presence of excess substrate and afferent arteriolar granularity determined by direct visualization and immunostaining were significantly reduced in COX-2 -/- compared with wild-type animals. Similarly, renal cortical mRNA levels were lower in COX-2 -/- than in wild-type mice. Maintaining mice on a low-salt diet for 14 days induced an increase in renin mRNA, afferent arteriolar granularity, and renin activity in wild-type mice. In contrast, renin mRNA and renin granularity did not significantly increase in low-salt-treated COX-2 -/- mice, whereas the increase in juxtaglomerular renin enzyme activity was markedly attenuated, but not fully blocked. In additional experiments we found that COX-2 mRNA was increased in angiotensin type 1A receptor-knockout mice compared with wild-type mice. We conclude that COX-2 in the tubulovascular contact region is a critical determinant of renin synthesis in granular cells under resting conditions and that it participates in the stimulation of renin expression caused by a low-NaCl intake.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Y G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D007606:Juxtaglomerular Apparatus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D012083:Renin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D012083:Renin