title: Hypercholesterolemia in rats induces podocyte stress and decreases renal cortical nitric oxide synthesis via an angiotensin II type 1 receptor-sensitive mechanism.
abstract: Podocyte stress precedes proteinuria in hypercholesterolemic rats. Molsidomine, a nitric oxide (NO) donor, prevented podocyte stress and proteinuria in long-term hypercholesterolemia, suggesting that podocyte stress was due to NO deficiency. Podocytes express the angiotensin II type 1 receptor, which influences their function. Because NO counteracts angiotensin II, it was hypothesized that in a setting of impaired renal NO availability, angiotensin II receptor inhibition could prevent podocyte stress. For determining the effect of NO deficiency on podocyte stress, one group of female rats were fed 2% cholesterol and another group the arginine analogue N-omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 40 mg/kg food) for 2 wk. Another group of rats that were fed 2% cholesterol also received the NO donor molsidomine (120 mg/L water) for 2 wk before and during cholesterol feeding. For determining the influence of angiotensin II in the setting of decreased renal NO availability, rats that were treated with cholesterol or L-NNA received the angiotensin II type 1 antagonist losartan (200 mg/L water) for 2 wk before and during cholesterol or L-NNA administration. Desmin staining and electron microscopy were used to monitor podocyte activation. Glomerular caveolin was quantified by immunohistochemistry. Renal cortical NO synthesis, NO synthase isoforms, and caveolin-1 protein mass were also measured. Both short-term cholesterol and L-NNA induced podocyte stress as evidenced by enhanced desmin staining and electron-dense fused foot processes. Podocyte stress was prevented by molsidomine in short-term hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, losartan prevented podocyte stress in rats that were treated with cholesterol or with L-NNA. Finally, hypercholesterolemia decreased renal cortical NO synthase activity and increased caveolin-1 protein mass and glomerular caveolin staining, and these changes were also prevented by losartan. It is suggested that podocyte stress in these models of early injury results from angiotensin II, unopposed by the action of endogenous NO. This underscores the strategic role of angiotensin II blockers in early kidney disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Feron
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldschmeding
authors.forename: Louk H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Radermakers
authors.forename: Nosratola D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Vaziri
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Balligand
authors.forename: Hein A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Koomans
authors.forename: Jaap A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Joles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000166:cytology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002784:Cholesterol