title: [Expression of WNK4 gene regulated by aldosterone].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression and mechanism of WNK4 gene regulated by aldosterone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were treated with aldosterone and potassium water. Serum aldosterone and ion as well as urine ion were measured. The expression of WNK4 gene in kidney tissues was detected by real-time PCR. Kidney-derived HEK293 cells were cultured, transfected with pGL3-WNK4, and then stimulated by aldosterone. After 24 h of transfection, luciferase activities of the plasmid were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with those of the controls, serum aldosterone and urine K(+) of experimental rats were significantly elevated, whilst urine Na(+) was significantly decreased. And urine Cl(-) was significantly increased only in the group of high K(+). Serum K(+), Na(+) and Cl(-) showed no significant difference. Expression of WNK4 gene in kidney tissues was significantly decreased. The luciferase activity of pGL3-WNK4-484 plasmid has decreased after stimulated with aldosterone, while the activity of pGL3-WNK4-275 showed no change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aldosterone can down-regulate the expression of WNK4 through binding with regulatory element in the upstream of the gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China. tianyou@mail.cmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guangbin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; C499025:Wnk4 protein, rat; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011188:Potassium