title: Downregulation of Renal G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase Type 4 Expression via Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction Lowers Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.
abstract: G protein-coupled receptor kinase type 4 (GRK4) plays a vital role in the long-term control of blood pressure (BP) and sodium excretion by regulating renal G protein-coupled receptor phosphorylation, including dopamine type 1 receptor (D1R). Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) is a promising method for gene delivery. Whether this method can deliver GRK4 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and lower BP is not known.
  
  
  
  BP, 24-hour sodium excretion, and urine volume were measured after UTMD-targeted GRK4 siRNA delivery to the kidney in spontaneously hypertensive rats. The expression levels of GRK4 and D1R were determined by immunoblotting. The phosphorylation of D1R was investigated using immunoprecipitation. The present study revealed that UTMD-mediated renal GRK4 siRNA delivery efficiently reduced GRK4 expression and lowered BP in spontaneously hypertensive rats, accompanied by increased sodium excretion. The increased sodium excretion might be accounted for by the UTMD regulation of D1R phosphorylation and function in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Further analysis showed that, although UTMD had no effect on D1R expression, it reduced D1R phosphorylation in spontaneously hypertensive rats kidneys and consequently increased D1R-mediated natriuresis and diuresis.
  
  
  
  Taken together, these study results indicate that UTMD-targeted GRK4 siRNA delivery to the kidney effectively reduces D1R phosphorylation by inhibiting renal GRK4 expression, improving D1R-mediated natriuresis and diuresis, and lowering BP, which may provide a promising novel strategy for gene therapy for hypertension.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China.
authors: Hefei
authors: H
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors: Xiaolong
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China.
authors: Shuo
authors: S
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China.
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China.
authors: Caiyu
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China.
authors: Jialiang
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Radiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Haipeng
authors: H
authors: Tong
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Nutrition, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China yangjianac@163.com chunyuzeng01@sina.com.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China Chongqing Institute of Cardiology & Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing, China yangjianac@163.com chunyuzeng01@sina.com.
authors: Chunyu
authors: C
authors: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D054771:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D007668:Kidney; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D012964:Sodium; D054771:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4; C517854:Grk4 protein, rat
keywords: G protein–coupled receptor kinase type 4; blood pressure; kidney; ultrasound‐targeted microbubble destruction