PLVAP as an Early Marker of Glomerular Endothelial Damage in Mice with Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) is the main component of endothelial diaphragms in fenestrae, caveolae, and transendothelial channels. PLVAP is expressed in the adult kidney glomerulus upon injury. Glomerular endothelial injury is associated with progressive loss of kidney function in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). This study aimed to investigate whether PLVAP could serve as a marker for glomerular endothelial damage in DKD. Glomerular PLVAP expression was analyzed in different mouse models of DKD and their respective healthy control animals using automatic digital quantification of histological whole kidney sections. Transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative GIP receptor (GIPRdn) in pancreatic beta-cells as a model for diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 and black and tan brachyuric (BTBR) ob/ob mice, as a model for DM type 2, were used. Distinct PLVAP induction was observed in all diabetic models studied. Traces of glomerular PLVAP expression could be identified in the healthy control kidneys using automated quantification. Stainings for other endothelial injury markers such as CD31 or the erythroblast transformation-specific related gene (ERG) displayed no differences between diabetic and healthy groups at the time points when PLVAP was induced. The same was also true for the mesangial cells marker α8Integrin, while the podocyte marker nephrin appeared to be diminished only in BTBR ob/ob mice. Glomerular hypertrophy, which is one of the initial morphological signs of diabetic kidney damage, was observed in both diabetic models. These findings suggest that PLVAP is an early marker of glomerular endothelial injury in diabetes-induced kidney damage in mice.

Prolyl-4-hydroxylases 2 and 3 control erythropoietin production in renin-expressing cells of mouse kidneys.

Activation of the hypoxia-signalling pathway induced by deletion of the ubiquitin-ligase von Hippel-Lindau protein causes an endocrine shift of renin-producing cells to erythropoietin (EPO)-expressing cells. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been investigated. Since oxygen-regulated stability of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors relevant for EPO expression is dependent on the activity of prolyl-4-hydroxylases (PHD) 2 and 3, this study aimed to determine the relevance of different PHD isoforms for the EPO expression in renin-producing cells in vivo. For this purpose, mice with inducible renin cell-specific deletions of different PHD isoforms were analysed. Our study shows that there are two subgroups of renal renin-expressing cells, juxtaglomerular renin+ cells and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-ß+ interstitial renin+ cells. These interstitial renin+ cells belong to the cell pool of native EPO-producing cells and are able to express EPO and renin in parallel. In contrast, co-deletion of PHD2 and PHD3, but not PHD2 deletion alone, induces EPO expression in juxtaglomerular and hyperplastic renin+ cells and downregulates renin expression. A strong basal PHD3 expression in juxtaglomerular renin+ cells seems to prevent the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-2-dependent phenotype shift into EPO cells. In summary, PHDs seem important for the stabilization of the juxtaglomerular renin cell phenotype. Moreover, these findings reveal tubulointerstitial cells as a novel site of renal renin expression and suggest a high endocrine plasticity of these cells. Our data concerning the distinct expression patterns and functions of PHD2 and PHD3 provide new insights into the regulation of renin-producing cells and highlight the need for selective PHD inhibitors. KEY POINTS: Renal renin-expressing cells can be clearly distinguished into two subgroups, the typical juxtaglomerular renin-producing cells and interstitial renin+ cells. Interstitial renin+ cells belong to the cell pool of native erythropoietin (EPO)-producing cells, show a fast EPO response to acute hypoxia-inducible factor-2 (HIF-2) stabilization and are able to express EPO and renin in parallel. Only co-deletion of the prolyl-4-hydroxylases (PHD) 2 and 3, but not PHD2 deletion alone, induces EPO expression in juxtaglomerular renin+ cells. Chronic HIF-2 stabilization in juxtaglomerular renin-expressing cells leads to their phenotypic shift into EPO-producing cells. A strong basal PHD3 expression in juxtaglomerular renin+ cells seems to prevent a HIF-2-dependent phenotype shift into EPO cells suggesting PHD3 fulfils a stabilizer function for the juxtaglomerular renin cell phenotype.

Beyond the Paradigm: Novel Functions of Renin-Producing Cells.

The juxtaglomerular renin-producing cells (RPC) of the kidney are referred to as the major source of circulating renin. Renin is the limiting factor in renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which represents a proteolytic cascade in blood plasma that plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure. Further cells disseminated in the entire organism express renin at a low level as part of tissue RASs, which are thought to locally modulate the effects of systemic RAS. In recent years, it became increasingly clear that the renal RPC are involved in developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes outside RAS. Based on recent experimental evidence, a novel concept emerges postulating that next to their traditional role, the RPC have non-canonical RAS-independent progenitor and renoprotective functions. Moreover, the RPC are part of a widespread renin lineage population, which may act as a global stem cell pool coordinating homeostatic, stress, and regenerative responses throughout the organism. This review focuses on the RAS-unrelated functions of RPC - a dynamic research area that increasingly attracts attention.

Patterns of differentiation of renin lineage cells during nephrogenesis.

Developmentally heterogeneous renin-expressing cells serve as progenitors for mural, glomerular, and tubular cells during nephrogenesis and are collectively termed renin lineage cells (RLCs). In this study, we quantified different renal vascular and tubular cell types based on specific markers and assessed proliferation and de novo differentiation in the RLC population. We used kidney sections of mRenCre-mT/mG mice throughout nephrogenesis. Marker positivity was evaluated in whole digitalized sections. At embryonic day 16, RLCs appeared in the developing kidney, and the expression of all stained markers in RLCs was observed. The proliferation rate of RLCs did not differ from the proliferation rate of non-RLCs. RLCs expanded mainly by de novo differentiation (neogenesis). Fractions of RLCs originating from the stromal progenitors of the metanephric mesenchyme (renin-producing cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and mesangial cells) decreased during nephrogenesis. In contrast, aquaporin-2-positive RLCs in the collecting duct system, which embryonically emerges almost exclusively from the ureteric bud, expanded postpartum. The cubilin-positive RLC fraction in the proximal tubule, deriving from the cap mesenchyme, remained constant. In summary, RLCs were continuously detectable in the vascular and tubular compartments of the kidney during nephrogenesis. Therein, various patterns of RLC differentiation that depend on the embryonic origin of the cells were identified.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The unifying feature of the renal renin lineage cells (RLCs) is their origin from renin-expressing progenitors. RLCs evolve to an embryologically heterogeneous large population in structures with different ancestry. RLCs are also targets for the widely used renin-angiotensin-system blockers, which modulate their phenotype. Unveiling the different differentiation patterns of RLCs in the developing kidney contributes to understanding changes in their cell fate in response to homeostatic challenges and the use of antihypertensive drugs.

Renin cells with defective Gsα/cAMP signaling contribute to renal endothelial damage.

Synthesis of renin in renal renin-producing cells (RPCs) is controlled via the intracellular messenger cAMP. Interference with cAMP-mediated signaling by inducible knockout of Gs-alpha (Gsα) in RPCs of adult mice resulted in a complex adverse kidney phenotype. Therein, glomerular endothelial damage was most striking. In this study, we investigated whether Gsα knockout leads to a loss of RPCs, which itself may contribute to the endothelial injury. We compared the kidney phenotype of three RPC-specific conditional mouse lines during continuous induction of recombination. Mice expressing red fluorescent reporter protein tdTomato (tdT) in RPCs served as controls. tdT was also expressed in RPCs of the other two strains used, namely with RPC-specific Gsα knockout (Gsα mice) or with RPC-specific diphtheria toxin A expression (DTA mice, in which the RPCs should be diminished). Using immunohistological analysis, we found that RPCs decreased by 82% in the kidneys of Gsα mice as compared with controls. However, the number of tdT-positive cells was similar in the two strains, demonstrating that after Gsα knockout, the RPCs persist as renin-negative descendants. In contrast, both renin-positive and tdT-labeled cells decreased by 80% in DTA mice suggesting effective RPC ablation. Only Gsα mice displayed dysregulated endothelial cell marker expression indicating glomerular endothelial damage. In addition, a robust induction of genes involved in tissue remodelling with microvascular damage was identified in tdT-labeled RPCs isolated from Gsα mice. We concluded that Gsα/renin double-negative RPC progeny essentially contributes for the development of glomerular endothelial damage in our Gsα-deficient mice.

COX-2-derived PGE2 triggers hyperplastic renin expression and hyperreninemia in aldosterone synthase-deficient mice.

Pharmacological inhibition or genetic loss of function defects of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) causes compensatory renin cell hyperplasia and hyperreninemia. The triggers for the compensatory stimulation of renin synthesis and secretion in this situation may be multimodal. Since cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the macula densa is frequently increased in states of a defective RAAS, we have investigated a potential role of COX-2 and its derived prostaglandins for renin expression and secretion in aldosterone synthase-deficient mice (AS-/-) as a model for a genetic defect of the RAAS. In comparison with wild-type mice (WT), AS-/- mice had 9-fold and 30-fold increases of renin mRNA and of plasma renin concentrations (PRC), respectively. Renin immunoreactivity in the kidney cortex of AS-/- mice was 10-fold higher than in WT. Macula densa COX-2 expression was 5-fold increased in AS-/- kidneys relative to WT kidneys. Treatment of AS-/- mice with the COX-2 inhibitor SC-236 for 1 week lowered both renal renin mRNA and PRC by 70%. Hyperplastic renin cells in AS-/- kidneys were found to express the prostaglandin E2 receptors EP2 and EP4. Global deletion of EP2 receptors did not alter renin mRNA nor PRC values in AS-/- mice. Renin cell-specific inducible deletion of the EP4 receptor lowered renin mRNA and PRC by 25% in AS-/- mice. Renin cell-specific inducible deletion of the EP4 receptor in combination with global deletion of the EP2 receptor lowered renin mRNA and PRC by 70-75% in AS-/- mice. Lineage tracing of renin-expressing cells revealed that deletion of EP2 and EP4 leads to a preferential downregulation of perivascular renin expression. Our findings suggest that increased macula densa COX-2 activity in AS-/- mice triggers perivascular renin expression and secretion via prostaglandin E2.

Interference with Gsα-Coupled Receptor Signaling in Renin-Producing Cells Leads to Renal Endothelial Damage.

Intracellular cAMP, the production of which is catalyzed by the α-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα), controls renin synthesis and release by juxtaglomerular (JG) cells of the kidney, but may also have relevance for the physiologic integrity of the kidney. To investigate this possibility, we generated mice with inducible knockout of Gsα in JG cells and monitored them for 6 months after induction at 6 weeks of age. The knockout mapped exclusively to the JG cells of the Gsα-deficient animals. Progressive albuminuria occurred in Gsα-deficient mice. Compared with controls expressing wild-type Gsα alleles, the Gsα-deficient mice had enlarged glomeruli with mesangial expansion, injury, and FSGS at study end. Ultrastructurally, the glomerular filtration barrier of the Gsα-deficient animals featured endothelial gaps, thickened basement membrane, and fibrin-like intraluminal deposits, which are classic signs of thrombotic microangiopathy. Additionally, we found endothelial damage in peritubular capillaries and vasa recta. Because deficiency of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) results in thrombotic microangiopathy, we addressed the possibility that Gsα knockout may result in impaired VEGF production. We detected VEGF expression in JG cells of control mice, and cAMP agonists regulated VEGF expression in cultured renin-producing cells. Our data demonstrate that Gsα deficiency in JG cells of adult mice results in kidney injury, and suggest that JG cells are critically involved in the maintenance and protection of the renal microvascular endothelium.

The PPAR-gamma-binding sequence Pal3 is necessary for basal but dispensable for high-fat diet regulated human renin expression in the kidney.

We reported earlier that PPAR-gamma regulates renin transcription through a human-specific atypical binding sequence termed hRen-Pal3. Here we developed a mouse model to investigate the functional relevance of the hRen-Pal3 sequence in vivo since it might be responsible for the increased renin production in obesity and thus for the development of accompanying arterial hypertension. We used bacterial artificial chromosome construct and co-placement strategy to generate two transgenic mouse lines expressing the human renin gene from identical genomic locus without affecting the intrinsic mouse renin expression. One line carried a wild-type hRen-Pal3 in the transgene (Pal3wt strain) and the other a mutated non-functional Pal3 (Pal3mut strain). Human renin expression was correctly targeted to the renin-producing juxtaglomerular (JG) cells of kidney in both lines. However, Pal3mut mice had lower basal human renin expression. Since human renin does not recognize mouse angiotensinogen as substrate, the blood pressure was not different between the strains. Stimulation of renin production with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril equipotentially stimulated the human renin expression in Pal3wt and Pal3mut mice. High-fat diet for 10 weeks which is known to activate PPAR-gamma failed to increase human renin mRNA in kidneys of either strain. These findings showed that the human renin PPAR-gamma-binding sequence hRen-Pal3 is essential for basal renin expression but dispensable for the cell-specific and high-fat diet regulated renin expression in the kidney.

Persistent and inducible neogenesis repopulates progenitor renin lineage cells in the kidney.

Renin lineage cells (RLCs) serve as a progenitor cell reservoir during nephrogenesis and after renal injury. The maintenance mechanisms of the RLC pool are still poorly understood. Since RLCs were also identified as a progenitor cell population in bone marrow we first considered that these may be their source in the kidney. However, transplantation experiments in adult mice demonstrated that bone marrow-derived cells do not give rise to RLCs in the kidney indicating their non-hematopoietic origin. Therefore we tested whether RLCs develop in the kidney through neogenesis (de novo differentiation) from cells that have never expressed renin before. We used a murine model to track neogenesis of RLCs by flow cytometry, histochemistry, and intravital kidney imaging. During nephrogenesis RLCs first appear at e14, form a distinct population at e16, and expand to reach a steady state level of 8-10% of all kidney cells in adulthood. De novo differentiated RLCs persist as a clearly detectable population through embryogenesis until at least eight months after birth. Pharmacologic stimulation of renin production with enalapril or glomerular injury induced the rate of RLC neogenesis in the adult mouse kidney by 14% or more than three-fold, respectively. Thus, the renal RLC niche is constantly filled by local de novo differentiation. This process could be stimulated consequently representing a new potential target to beneficially influence repair and regeneration after kidney injury.

Extrarenal Progenitor Cells Do Not Contribute to Renal Endothelial Repair.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may be relevant contributors to endothelial cell (EC) repair in various organ systems. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EPCs in renal EC repair. We analyzed the major EPC subtypes in murine kidneys, blood, and spleens after induction of selective EC injury using the concanavalin A/anti-concanavalin A model and after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury as well as the potential of extrarenal cells to substitute for injured local EC. Bone marrow transplantation (BMTx), kidney transplantation, or a combination of both were performed before EC injury to allow distinction of extrarenal or BM-derived cells from intrinsic renal cells. During endothelial regeneration, cells expressing markers of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) were the most abundant EPC subtype in kidneys, but were not detected in blood or spleen. Few cells expressing markers of EC colony-forming units (EC-CFUs) were detected. In BM chimeric mice (C57BL/6 with tandem dimer Tomato-positive [tdT+] BM cells), circulating and splenic EC-CFUs were BM-derived (tdT+), whereas cells positive for ECFC markers in kidneys were not. Indeed, most BM-derived tdT+ cells in injured kidneys were inflammatory cells. Kidneys from C57BL/6 donors transplanted into tdT+ recipients with or without prior BMTx from C57BL/6 mice were negative for BM-derived or extrarenal ECFCs. Overall, extrarenal cells did not substitute for any intrinsic ECs. These results demonstrate that endothelial repair in mouse kidneys with acute endothelial lesions depends exclusively on local mechanisms.

Renin lineage cells repopulate the glomerular mesangium after injury.

Mesangial cell injury has a major role in many CKDs. Because renin-positive precursor cells give rise to mesangial cells during nephrogenesis, this study tested the hypothesis that the same phenomenon contributes to glomerular regeneration after murine experimental mesangial injury. Mesangiolysis was induced by administration of an anti-mesangial cell serum in combination with LPS. In enhanced green fluorescent protein-reporter mice with constitutively labeled renin lineage cells, the size of the enhanced green fluorescent protein-positive area in the glomerular tufts increased after mesangial injury. Furthermore, we generated a novel Tet-on inducible triple-transgenic LacZ reporter line that allowed selective labeling of renin cells along renal afferent arterioles of adult mice. Although no intraglomerular LacZ expression was detected in healthy mice, about two-thirds of the glomerular tufts became LacZ positive during the regenerative phase after severe mesangial injury. Intraglomerular renin descendant LacZ-expressing cells colocalized with mesangial cell markers α8-integrin and PDGF receptor-ß but not with endothelial, podocyte, or parietal epithelial cell markers. In contrast with LacZ-positive cells in the afferent arterioles, LacZ-positive cells in the glomerular tuft did not express renin. These data demonstrate that extraglomerular renin lineage cells represent a major source of repopulating cells for reconstitution of the intraglomerular mesangium after injury.

Inducible glomerular erythropoietin production in the adult kidney.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2-triggered erythropoietin production in renal interstitial fibroblast-like cells is the physiologically relevant source of erythropoietin for regulating erythropoiesis. During renal fibrosis, these cells transform into myofibroblasts and lose their ability to produce sufficient erythropoietin leading to anemia. To find if other cells for erythropoietin production might exist in the kidney we tested for the capability of nonepithelial glomerular cells to elaborate erythropoietin. Therefore, HIF transcription factors were stabilized by cell-specific deletion of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene. Inducible deletion of VHL in glomerular connexin40-expressing cells (endothelial, renin-expressing, and mesangial cells) markedly increased glomerular erythropoietin mRNA expression levels, plasma erythropoietin concentrations, and hematocrit values. These changes were mimicked by inducible cell-specific VHL deletion in renin-expressing and in mesangial cells but not in endothelial cells. The increases of erythropoietin production were absent, when VHL was co-deleted with HIF-2. The induction of glomerular erythropoietin expression was associated with the downregulation of juxtaglomerular renin expression, again in a HIF-2-dependent manner. Thus, VHL deletion in renin-expressing and in mesangial cells induces the capability to produce relevant amounts of erythropoietin and to suppress renin expression in the adult kidney if HIF-2 is stabilized.

The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin ameliorates early features of diabetic nephropathy in BTBR ob/ob type 2 diabetic mice with and without hypertension.

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in humans in the Western world. The recent development of Na+-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors offers a new antidiabetic therapy via enhanced glucose excretion. Whether this strategy exerts beneficial effects on the development of type 2 diabetic nephropathy is still largely unclear. We investigated the effects of the specific SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in BTBR.Cg-Lep/WiscJ (BTBR ob/ob) mice, which spontaneously develop type 2 diabetic nephropathy. In the first experiment, BTBR ob/ob mice received either a diet containing 300 ppm empagliflozin or equicaloric placebo chow for 12 wk. In the second experiment, BTBR ob/ob mice received 1 µg·kg body wt(-1)·day(-1) ANG II to induce arterial hypertension and were separated into the same two diet groups for 6 wk. In both experiments, empagliflozin treatment enhanced glucosuria, thereby lowering blood glucose. Independently of hypertension, empagliflozin reduced albuminuria in diabetic mice. However, empagliflozin treatment affected diabetes-related glomerular hypertrophy, markers of renal inflammation, and mesangial matrix expansion only in BTBR ob/ob mice without hypertension. In summary, empagliflozin demonstrated significant antihyperglycemic effects, differentially ameliorating early features of diabetic nephropathy in BTBR ob/ob mice with and without hypertension.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II regulates renin gene expression.

This study aimed to investigate the possible involvement of the orphan nuclear receptor chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) in the regulation of renin gene expression. COUP-TFII colocalized with renin in the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney, which are the main source of renin in vivo. Protein-DNA binding studies demonstrated that COUP-TFII binds to an imperfect direct repeat COUP-TFII recognition sequence (termed hereafter proxDR) in the proximal renin promoter. Because cAMP signaling plays a central role in the control of the renin gene expression, we suggested that COUP-TFII may modulate this cAMP effect. Accordingly, knockdown of COUP-TFII in the clonal renin-producing cell lines As4.1 and Calu-6 diminished the stimulation of the renin mRNA expression by cAMP agonists. In addition, the mutation of the proxDR element in renin promoter reporter gene constructs abrogated the inducibility by cAMP. The proxDR sequence was found to be necessary for the function of a proximal renin promoter cAMP-response element (CRE). Knockdown of COUP-TFII or cAMP-binding protein (CREB), which is the archetypal transcription factor binding to CRE, decreased the basal renin gene expression. However, the deficiency of COUP-TFII did not further diminish the renin expression when CREB was knocked down. In agreement with the cell culture studies, mutant mice deficient in COUP-TFII have lower renin expression than their control strain. Altogether our data show that COUP-TFII is involved in the control of renin gene expression.

Transgelin is a marker of repopulating mesangial cells after injury and promotes their proliferation and migration.

Mesangial cell (MC) migration is essential during glomerular repair and kidney development. The aim of the study was to identify marker/player for glomerular progenitor/reserve cells migrating into the glomerulus after MC injury and during glomerulogenesis in the rat. Experimental mesangial proliferative nephritis was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by intravenous injection of OX-7 antibody. We investigated mRNA expression profiles in isolated glomeruli from on days 0, 1, 2, 3, and 5 after induction of anti-Thy1 nephritis using Affymetrix microarray technology. Using self-organizing maps, transgelin was identified as a new marker for repopulating glomerular cells. Expression of transgelin during anti-Thy1 nephritis was investigated by northern blot, real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Migration and proliferation assays using isolated MCs after transgelin knockdown by siRNA were performed to investigate the potential role of transgelin during glomerular repopulation. Transgelin mRNA was not detected in healthy glomeruli. It was strongly upregulated during the repopulation process starting on day 1, continued to be increased until day 5 and disappeared on day 7. Transgelin was specifically expressed at the edge of the migratory front during glomerular repopulation as indicated by transgelin/OX-7 double staining. Transgelin expression was similar in migrating vs non-migrating MCs in vitro. Blocking of transgelin expression by siRNA treatment resulted in inhibition of MC migration and proliferation. Transgelin was also expressed in MCs during glomerulogenesis and in biopsies from patients with IgA nephritis. In conclusion, transgelin in the kidney is upregulated in repopulating MCs in vivo and supports their migratory and proliferative repair response after injury.

Identification of ATF2 as a transcriptional regulator of renin gene.

The cAMP response element (enhCRE) in the distal enhancer regulatory region of renin gene is believed to play a major role in the control of renin transcription. enhCRE binds the CRE-binding protein (CREB), which is the main transcription factor target of cAMP signaling. Using the mouse renin-producing cell line As4.1 we found that activating transcription factor-2 (ATF2) also binds to enhCRE. N-terminal phosphorylation of ATF2, which controls its transactivation, is associated with downregulation of renin gene expression by the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). The ubiquitin proteasome inhibitor MG132 also phosphorylates ATF2 and inhibits renin expression. Knockdown of ATF2 attenuated the suppression of renin gene expression by MG132, thus demonstrating that ATF2 mediates the inhibitory effect of MG132. In addition, MG132 increased the DNA-binding of ATF2 as well as the ratio of bound ATF2 to CREB. Using ATF2- and CREB-Gal4 fusion protein constructs coupled with luciferase reporter system we showed that ATF2 has a weaker transactivating capacity than CREB. These data suggest that ATF2 represses renin expression by drifting the transcriptional control of renin gene away from CREB. Accordingly, TNFα completely abrogated the cAMP-dependent stimulation of renin gene expression.

cAMP target sequences enhCRE and CNRE sense low-salt intake to increase human renin gene expression in vivo.

This study aimed to assess the role of cAMP target sequences enhancer cAMP response element (enhCRE) and cAMP and overlapping negative response element (CNRE) in the control of human renin gene (REN) in vivo. enhCRE and CNRE were silenced by mutations in a 12.2-kb human renin promoter fused to LacZ reporter gene. This construct was used to generate transgenic mice (RENMut-LacZ). The expression of the transgene was correctly targeted to the juxtaglomerular portions of renal afferent arterioles which express endogenous mouse renin. Therefore, enhCRE and CNRE do not seem to be relevant for the control of the cell-specific expression of the human renin gene. The ß-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol (10 mg/kg/day, for 2 days) stimulated the endogenous renin, but not the LacZ mRNA expression. Treatment of RENMut-LacZ mice with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (enalapril 10 mg/kg/day, for 7 days) or their crossing to angiotensin receptor type 1a knockout mice led to increased renin and LacZ mRNA levels. Renin expression was upregulated by low-salt diet (0.03% NaCl, for 10 days) and downregulated by high-salt diet (4% NaCl, for 10 days). In contrast, low-salt diet did not influence, while high-salt diet inhibited the expression of LacZ. In summary, enhCRE and CNRE appear to be necessary for the transactivation of the human renin gene through ß-adrenoreceptors and by low-salt diet. Our data also suggest that different intracellular mechanisms mediate the effect of low- and high-salt intake on renin expression in vivo.

The Pal3 promoter sequence is critical for the regulation of human renin gene transcription by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma.

We recently reported that human renin gene transcription is stimulated by the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma in the renin-producing cell line Calu-6. The effect of PPARgamma was mapped to two sequences in the renin promoter: a direct repeat hormone response element (HRE), which is related to the classical PPAR response element (PPRE) and a nonconsensus palindromic element with a 3-bp spacer (Pal3). We now find that PPARgamma binds to the renin HRE. Neither the human renin HRE nor the consensus PPRE was sufficient to attain the maximal stimulation of renin promoter activity by the PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone. In contrast, the human renin Pal3 element mediates both the full PPARgamma-dependent activation of transcription and the PPARgamma-driven basal renin gene transcription. The human renin Pal3 sequence was found to selectively bind PPARgamma and the retinoid X receptor-alpha from Calu-6 nuclear extracts. This is in contrast to the consensus PPRE, which can bind other nuclear proteins. PPARgamma knockdown paradoxically did not attenuate the stimulation of the endogenous renin gene expression by rosiglitazone. Similarly, a deficiency of PPARgamma did not attenuate the activation of the minimal human renin promoter, which contains the endogenous Pal3 motif. However, when the human renin Pal3 site was replaced by the consensus PPRE sequence, PPARgamma knockdown abrogated the effect of rosiglitazone on renin promoter activity. Thus, the human renin Pal3 site appears to be critical for the PPARgamma-dependent regulation of gene expression by mediating maximal transcription activation, particularly at the low cellular level of PPARgamma.

Progenitor Renin Lineage Cells are not involved in the regeneration of glomerular endothelial cells during experimental renal thrombotic microangiopathy.

Endothelial cells (EC) frequently undergo primary or secondary injury during kidney disease such as thrombotic microangiopathy or glomerulonephritis. Renin Lineage Cells (RLCs) serve as a progenitor cell niche after glomerular damage in the adult kidney. However, it is not clear whether RLCs also contribute to endothelial replenishment in the glomerulus following endothelial injury. Therefore, we investigated the role of RLCs as a potential progenitor niche for glomerular endothelial regeneration. We used an inducible tet-on triple-transgenic reporter strain mRen-rtTAm2/LC1/LacZ to pulse-label the renin-producing RLCs in adult mice. Unilateral kidney EC damage (EC model) was induced by renal artery perfusion with concanavalin/anti-concanavalin. In this model glomerular EC injury and depletion developed within 1 day while regeneration occurred after 7 days. LacZ-labelled RLCs were restricted to the juxtaglomerular compartment of the afferent arterioles at baseline conditions. In contrast, during the regenerative phase of the EC model (day 7) a subset of LacZ-tagged RLCs migrated to the glomerular tuft. Intraglomerular RLCs did not express renin anymore and did not stain for glomerular endothelial or podocyte cell markers, but for the mesangial cell markers α8-integrin and PDGFRß. Accordingly, we found pronounced mesangial cell damage parallel to the endothelial injury induced by the EC model. These results demonstrated that in our EC model RLCs are not involved in endothelial regeneration. Rather, recruitment of RLCs seems to be specific for the repair of the concomitantly damaged mesangium.