title: Activation of the Renal PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in a DOCA-Salt Model of Hypertension.
abstract: The present study investigated the changes that occurred in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the kidney as a result of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. Rats were implanted with DOCA strips (200 mg/kg) 1 week after unilateral nephrectomy and were then supplied with 0.9% saline to drink. Four weeks after DOCA implantation, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by use of the tail-cuff method. The expression levels of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and mTOR, as well as the protein expression levels of ED-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2, were then examined in the kidney by semiquantitative immunoblotting. DOCA-salt hypertensive rats were found to have significantly increased SBP as well as an increased kidney weight-to-body weight ratio. Moreover, the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR was increased in the kidney of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats compared with the control, as was the protein expression of ED-1, COX-2, TGF-β1, and α-SMA. The expression levels of caspase-3 and Bax were increased significantly, whereas Bcl-2 expression was decreased. In conclusion, the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR was increased in the kidney of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors: Seong Kwon
authors: SK
authors: Ma
authors: Joon Seok
authors: JS
authors: Choi
authors: Soo Yeon
authors: SY
authors: Joo
authors: Ha Yeon
authors: HY
authors: Kim
authors: Chang Seong
authors: CS
authors: Kim
authors: Eun Hui
authors: EH
authors: Bae
authors: Jong Un
authors: JU
authors: Lee
authors: Soo Wan
authors: SW
authors: Kim
keywords: Deoxycorticosterone; Hypertension; Kidney