The development of Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and kidney injury. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a key mitochondrial protein, plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. However, it remains unknown whether deletion of SIRT3 in the proximal tubules will alter the pressor and renal responses to Ang II in sex-different manners. In the present study, adult male, and female wild-type (WT) and mutant mice with proximal tubule-specific knockout of SIRT3, PT-
Sirt3
-/-
, were infused with or without a slow pressor dose of Ang II via an osmotic minipump (0.5 mg/kg/day, i.p.), supplemented with a 2% NaCI diet or losartan, 20 mg/kg/day, for 2 weeks. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial blood (MAP) pressure were determined using the tail-cuff method, whereas 24 hr. urinary sodium and potassium excretion were determined using a metabolic cage. Serum and urine creatinine were measured using colorimetric assays, whereas glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury was evaluated by Masson’s Trichrome staining. Basal SBP levels were lower in PT-
Sirt3
-/-
than in WT mice (SBP-WT: 112 ± 2 vs. SBP-PT-
Sirt3
-/-
: 93 ± 2 mmHg,
P
<0,01). The magnitude of Ang II-induced hypertension was similar between WT and PT-
Sirt3
-/-
mice with or without losartan treatment. Serum creatinine levels and urinary creatinine excretion were higher in PT-
Sirt3
-/-
mice than in WT mice (
P
<0.05), but without significant sex differences in response to Ang II infusion or losartan treatment. Differences were found only in female WT and PT-
Sirt3
-/-
mice with lower 24 hr. urine and urinary creatinine excretion in response to Ang II infusion or losartan. Losartan significantly increased 24 hr. urinary potassium and chloride excretion in Ang II-infused male and female PT-
Sirt3
-/-
mice (
P
<0.01). Finally, Ang II-infused PT-
Sirt3
-/-
mice showed significant renal cortical tubulointerstitial fibrotic responses (
P
<0.05), but not glomerular fibrotic responses. We conclude that basal blood pressure is lower in male and female PT-
Sirt3
-/-
mice and that Ang II induces similar hypertensive and renal fibrotic responses in male and female PT-
Sirt3
-/-
mice without significant sex differences.
MicroRNA-195 Regulates Metabolism in Failing Myocardium Via Alterations in Sirtuin 3 Expression and Mitochondrial Protein Acetylation