Abstract 38: Rbp-j Regulates the Genetic Program of the Myo-epithelioid JG Cell

Hypertension ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth M Castellanos Rivera ◽  
Ellen S. Pentz ◽  
Kenneth W. Gross ◽  
Silvia Medrano ◽  
Jing Yu ◽  
...  

RBP-J , the major downstream effector of Notch signaling, is necessary to maintain the number of juxtaglomerular (JG) cells. In addition, RBP-J regulates the plasticity of arteriolar smooth muscle cells to adopt the renin cell phenotype when homeostasis is threatened. We hypothesized that RBP-J acts as an on/off switch controlling the expression of genes that determine the renin phenotype. To determine whether RBP-J directly affects renin gene expression, we generated mice harboring a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgene with green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the renin gene carrying a mutation in its RBP-J- binding site (Mut-BAC). Mut-BAC mice had markedly reduced GFP expression to 12.9 % ±0.01 (n=3) of the control (Wt-BAC) and a diminished response to homeostatic challenges: mut-BAC mice had a reduced number of GFP positive JG areas per total number of glomeruli (Wt-BAC: 25.1 % ±3.0, n=3; Mut-BAC: 9.3 % ±1.4, n=2, p<0.02) and no GFP expression along the arterioles. To determine whether the decrease in the number of JG cells in mice lacking RBP-J (cKO) was due to a diminished endowment of renin progenitor cells, we traced the fate of cells derived from the renin lineage by generating mice ( RBP-J fl/fl ; Ren1d +/cre ; R26R +/- ) in which cells lacking RBP-J simultaneously expressed β-galactosidase (β-gal). The pattern of β-gal in cKO and control kidneys was identical, indicating that cells derived from the renin lineage did not die but instead changed their phenotype. Next we investigated the phenotype adopted by the cells derived from the renin lineage. Expression of α-smooth muscle actin and smoothelin (a marker of mature smooth muscle) was significantly decreased to 41 % ±7.0 (n=2) and 44 % ±8.8 (n=2) respectively with respect to controls (p<0.01). In addition, mutant JG cells in vivo did not express genes characteristic of the renin phenotype such as renin, calponin1, Nfat and Akr1b7 expressing instead fibroblast-specific protein 1 indicating the adoption of a fibroblast-like phenotype. Results indicate that RBP-J directly governs a genetic program that controls the dual endocrine-contractile phenotype of the JG cell, which is crucial to maintain blood pressure and fluid-electrolyte homeostasis.

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean T. Glenn ◽  
Craig A. Jones ◽  
Li Pan ◽  
Kenneth W. Gross

Renin is responsible for initiating the enzymatic cascade that results in the production of angiotensin II, the major effector molecule of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Extensive information on the regulatory region of the renin gene has been derived by transient transfection studies in vitro, particularly using the As4.1 cell line. To verify key factors within the regulatory region of renin in vivo, homologous recombination was used to introduce a green fluorescent protein (GFP) cassette into exon one of the renin gene contained within a 240 kb bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) to create a construct that has GFP expression controlled by the renin regulatory region (RenGFP BAC). Within the regulatory region of the RenGFP BAC construct we independently deleted the enhancer, as well as mutated the HOX-PBX site within the proximal promoter element. Transgenic lines were generated for each of these BAC constructs and GFP expression was analyzed throughout a spectrum of tissues positive for renin expression including the kidney, adrenal gland, gonadal artery, and submandibular gland. The results described within this manuscript support the interpretation that the renin enhancer is critical for regulating baseline expression where as the Hox/Pbx site is important for the tissue specificity of renin expression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 988-997
Author(s):  
Haizhen Duan ◽  
Xiaojun Zhang ◽  
Renjie Song ◽  
Tongying Liu ◽  
Yuanyuan Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a cardiovascular emergency caused by the formation of hematoma in the middle layer of the aortic wall. Adiponectin (APN) is an adipose tissue-specific protein that has anti-inflammation and anti-atherosclerosis functions. Pyroptosis, as an inflammatory cell death, depends on the activation of caspase1, while nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is a typical representative of the pyroptosis pathway. In this study, we aimed to find whether APN affects the AAD process. The results showed that APN overexpression (OE) inhibited the AAD development and the levels of glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice model. In addition, APN OE inhibited the productions of gasdermin D (GSDMD), NLRP3, caspase1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, and osteopontin (OPN), as well as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) downregulation in vitro and in vivo. In addition, NLRP3 was found to be a target gene of miR-133a and miR-133a OE showed similar effects to APN OE in attenuating the LPS-induced productions of GSDMD, NLRP3, caspase1, IL-1β, IL-18, and OPN, as well as α-SMA downregulation in vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs). Moreover, the beneficial effects of APN OE were abolished by miR-133a knockdown in vSMCs. In conclusion, our present results indicated that the upregulation of miR-133a by APN inhibits pyroptosis pathway, which potentially rescues AAD.


2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 1688-1694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heiner Post ◽  
Jan Kajstura ◽  
Biao Lei ◽  
William C. Sessa ◽  
Barry Byrne ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery into coronary microvessels in vivo in a large animal. Ten mongrel dogs were chronically instrumented and allowed to recover for 10 days. Dogs were reanesthetized, and the aorta was constricted by a hydraulic occluder, whereby left ventricular (LV) pressure increased by 30% and left circumflex coronary artery blood flow by 50%. Recombinant AAV (serotype 2, CMV enhancer/chicken β-actin promoter) encoding for green fluorescent protein (GFP) was injected as a bolus into the left atrium during aortic constriction at total titers of 1010or 1012infectious units. Dogs were followed for 2 ( n = 4)or4wk( n = 6). Hemodynamics or body weight did not change. In LV tissue slices, a fluorescein-labeled antibody to GFP stained endothelial and smooth muscle cells but was absent in myocytes. To quantify transduction, slices were then stained with antibodies against α-smooth muscle actin or von Willebrand factor. Approximately 4% of arterioles and 2% of microvessels stained positive for anti-GFP independent from viral titer or duration. By regression analyses, the percent of vessels transfected was proportional to the increase in LV systolic pressure during occlusion. AAV is a potential vector for gene transfer into the coronary microcirculation in large animals, including perhaps humans.


Author(s):  
Jian Ruan ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Donghua Hu ◽  
Xianghu Qu ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
...  

Objective: Myh11 encodes a myosin heavy chain protein that is specifically expressed in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and is important for maintaining vascular wall stability. The goal of this study is to generate a Myh11 dual reporter mouse line for definitive visualization of MYH11 + SMCs in vivo. Approach and Results: We generated a Myh11 knock-in mouse model by inserting LoxP-nlacZ-4XpolyA-LoxP-H2B-GFP-polyA-FRT-Neo-FRT reporter cassette into the Myh11 gene locus. The nuclear (n) lacZ-4XpolyA cassette is flanked by 2 LoxP sites followed by H2B-GFP (histone 2B fused green fluorescent protein). Upon Cre-mediated recombination, nlacZ-stop cassette is removed thereby permitting nucleus localized H2B-GFP expression. Expression of the nuclear localized lacZ or H2B-GFP is under control of the endogenous Myh11 promoter. Nuclear lacZ was expressed specifically in SMCs at embryonic and adult stages. Following germline Cre-mediated deletion of nuclear lacZ, H2B-GFP was specifically expressed in the nuclei of SMCs. Comparison of nuclear lacZ expression with Wnt1 Cre and Mef2c Cre mediated-H2B-GFP expression revealed heterogenous origins of SMCs from neural crest and second heart field in the great arteries and coronary vessels adjacent to aortic root. Conclusions: The Myh11 knock-in dual reporter mouse model offers an exceptional genetic tool to visualize and trace the origins of SMCs in mice.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (2) ◽  
pp. H699-H707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Steward Pentz ◽  
Maria Luisa S. Sequeira Lopez ◽  
Magali Cordaillat ◽  
R. Ariel Gomez

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) regulates blood pressure and fluid-electrolyte homeostasis. A key step in the RAS cascade is the regulation of renin synthesis and release by the kidney. We and others have shown that a major mechanism to control renin availability is the regulation of the number of cells capable of making renin. The kidney possesses a pool of cells, mainly in its vasculature but also in the glomeruli, capable of switching from smooth muscle to endocrine renin-producing cells when homeostasis is threatened. The molecular mechanisms governing the ability of these cells to turn the renin phenotype on and off have been very difficult to study in vivo. We, therefore, developed an in vitro model in which cells of the renin lineage are labeled with cyan fluorescent protein and cells actively making renin mRNA are labeled with yellow fluorescent protein. The model allowed us to determine that it is possible to culture cells of the renin lineage for numerous passages and that the memory to express the renin gene is maintained in culture and can be reenacted by cAMP and chromatin remodeling (histone H4 acetylation) at the cAMP-responsive element in the renin gene.


genesis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 457-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Armstrong ◽  
Irina V. Larina ◽  
Mary E. Dickinson ◽  
Warren E. Zimmer ◽  
Karen K. Hirschi

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Jiroutová ◽  
Lenka Majdiaková ◽  
Martina Čermáková ◽  
Renata Köhlerová ◽  
Jiří Kanta

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are located in Disse spaces of normal rat liver. In their quiescent state they serve as a storage site for vitamin A. In fibrotic liver they become activated, proliferate and they undergo transdifferentiation into myofibroblast-like cells. Changes in the cell phenotype are accompanied by changes in the cellular cytoskeleton. We have studied the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and intermediate filament proteins vimentin, desmin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by immunocytochemistry in HSC cultured for 2 or 7 days after isolation. Normal or cirrhotic rat liver was perfused with solutions of pronase and collagenase and HSC were isolated by density gradient centrifugation of the resulting cell suspension. Liver cirrhosis was produced in rats by repeated carbon tetrachloride administration. Vimentin was detected in all cells from normal and cirrhotic liver. The concentration of desmin in the cells from cirrhotic liver was slightly higher than that in normal cells and it increased with time in culture. GFAP could be detected only in normal cells 2 days after their isolation. In contrast, alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was absent from normal cells at this time but its expression was pronouced later. In most cells from cirrhotic liver this antigen was already present on the second day of culture and its expression further increased.


2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Iorga ◽  
Gabriel Wong ◽  
Denise Mai ◽  
Jingyuan Li ◽  
Salil Sharma ◽  
...  

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic lung disease characterized by progressively elevated pulmonary arterial pressures and severe pulmonary vascular remodeling resulting from interactions between oxidized lipoprotein deposition and increased endothelial proliferation. Previously we have shown increased plasma levels of biological oxidation products such as hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) in the rat monocrotaline model of PH. Here we investigated the role of HETEs and HODEs in the development of PH and whether their inhibition with the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) attenuates the progression of PH. Mice were placed in a hypoxic chamber with O2 concentrations of ≤10% for 21 days and either left untreated to develop PH (n=7) or treated with NDGA daily (10mg/kg/day, i.p., n=4) from day 1. Direct RV catheterization was terminally performed to record RV pressure (RVP). Pulmonary arteriolar thickening and oxidized lipid deposition were assessed by staining lung sections with Masson’s Trichrome or with α-smooth muscle actin and E-06 (marker for oxidized low-density lipoproteins). In vitro, human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (hPASMC) proliferation was assessed by MTT assays in the absence or presence of 12-HETE (100ng/ml), 9-HODE (1µg/ml) and 13-HODE (1µg/ml) alone or together with NDGA (10, 25 and 50µM). In-vitro, HETE/HODE treatment increased hPASMC proliferation ~ 2-fold when compared to untreated cells and NDGA significantly inhibited the proliferative effects of all three oxidized lipids. In-vivo, NDGA treatment prevented the development of PH. RVP was lower in the NDGA-treated group vs. the PH group (24.01±1.39mmHg vs. 36.91±5.74mmHg, p<0.05) and was comparable to control normoxic mice (20.93±2.52mmHg). RV hypertrophy index was significantly elevated in the PH mice versus control mice (0.38±0.03 vs. 0.28±0.02 (p<0.001), while NDGA treatment completely prevented the development of RV hypertrophy (0.28±0.04). Lung sections demonstrated arteriolar thickening and E-06 positive deposits in the PH group, which was prevented by NDGA therapy. We conclude that oxidized fatty acid deposition and accumulation might play a role in the development of PH.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (2) ◽  
pp. R279-R287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiyou Zhou ◽  
Curt D. Sigmund

We tested the hypothesis that a transcriptional chorionic enhancer (CE), previously identified to increase human renin expression in choriodecidual cells is required to mediate tissue-specific, cell-specific, and regulated expression of human renin in transgenic mice. Recombineering was used to delete the CE upstream of the renin gene alone or in combination with the kidney enhancer (KE) in a large artificial chromosome construct containing the entire human renin gene and extensive flanking sequences. Deletion of the CE had no qualitative or quantitative effect on the tissue-specific expression of human renin, nor on the cellular localization of human renin in the kidney or placenta. Combined deletion of both the CE and KE caused a decrease in the level of renal renin expression consistent with the established role of the KE. We also considered the possibility that the CE is a downstream enhancer of the KiSS1 gene, which lies directly upstream of renin and is also expressed in the placenta. Deletion of the CE alone, or the CE and KE together, had no effect on the level of KiSS1 expression in the placenta. These data provide convincing evidence that the CE is silent in vivo, at least in the mouse. The absence of a phenotype caused by deletion of the CE is consistent with the observation that the sequence is not evolutionarily conserved.


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