Regulation of renin release by connexin 43 in As 4.1 cell line.
Gap junction channels facilitate chemical and electrical communication between adjacent cells. Gap junction protein, connexin (Cx), is expressed in the endothelial cells of vessels, glomerulus, and renin-secreting cells of the kidney. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Cx in renin release using Cx-overexpressing As 4.1 cells. The adenovirus-induced Cx overexpression was conducted by using recombinant adenovirus containing the cDNA encoding Cx37, Cx40, Cx43 (Ad-Cx), and beta-galactosidase (Ad-beta-gal). In 40-overexpressing cells, basal renin release increased in a time-dependent manner but it was significantly lower than that in Ad-beta-gal-treated cells. In Cx37- and Cx43-overexpressing cells, basal renin release was increased in a time-dependent manner, which was not different from control cells. 18-beta glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a gap junction blocker, stimulated renin release dose-dependently and increased intracellular Ca(2+) in both Cx43-overexpressing cells and control cells. However, no significant differences were observed. An increase in renin release by 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)-octyl ester, a putative antagonist of Ca(2+) release from intracellular sequestration sites, was also similar between two groups. These results suggest that Cx43 may unlikely alter the regulation of renin release and intracellular Ca(2+) by gap junction blocker in As 4.1 cells.
Han
Jeong Hee
JH
Department of Physiology, Diabetic Research Center, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Kyung-Ah
KA
Shah
Amin
A
Park
Byung Hyun
BH
Park
Woo Hyun
WH
Kim
Suhn Hee
SH
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005470:Fluorometry; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
D002118:Calcium; D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid; D012083:Renin; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein