Administration of a substituted adamantyl urea inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase protects the kidney from damage in hypertensive Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Hypertension and Type 2 diabetes are co-morbid diseases that lead to the development of nephropathy. sEH (soluble epoxide hydrolase) inhibitors are reported to provide protection from renal injury. We hypothesized that the sEH inhibitor AUDA [12-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-dodecanoic acid] protects the kidney from the development of nephropathy associated with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. Hypertension was induced in spontaneously diabetic GK (Goto-Kakizaki) rats using AngII (angiotensin II) and a high-salt diet. Hypertensive GK rats were treated for 2 weeks with either AUDA or its vehicle added to drinking water. MAP (mean arterial pressure) increased from 118+/-2 mmHg to 182+/-20 and 187+/-6 mmHg for vehicle and AUDA-treated hypertensive GK rats respectively. AUDA treatment did not alter blood glucose. Hypertension in GK rats resulted in a 17-fold increase in urinary albumin excretion, which was decreased with AUDA treatment. Renal histological evaluation determined that AUDA treatment decreased glomerular and tubular damage. In addition, AUDA treatment attenuated macrophage infiltration and inhibited urinary excretion of MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and kidney cortex MCP-1 gene expression. Taken together, these results provide evidence that sEH inhibition with AUDA attenuates the progression of renal damage associated with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes.

Normalization of the ovarian cancer microenvironment by SPARC.

Malignant ascites is a major source of morbidity and mortality in ovarian cancer patients. It functions as a permissive reactive tumor-host microenvironment and provides sustenance for the floating tumor cells through a plethora of survival/metastasis-associated molecules. Using a syngeneic, immunocompetent model of peritoneal ovarian carcinomatosis in SP(-/-) mice, we investigated the molecular mechanisms implicated in the interplay between host secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) and ascitic fluid prosurvival/prometastasis factors that result in the significantly augmented levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Ascitic fluid-enhanced ID8 invasiveness was mediated through VEGF via a positive feedback loop with MMP-2 and MMP-9 and through activation of alpha(v) and beta(1) integrins. Host SPARC down-regulated the VEGF-MMP axis at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. In vitro, SPARC attenuated the basal as well as VEGF-induced integrin activation in tumor cells. SPARC inhibited the VEGF- and integrin-mediated ID8 proliferation in vitro and significantly suppressed their tumorigenicity in vivo. Relative to SP(+/+), SP(-/-) ascitic fluid contained significantly higher levels of bioactive lipids and exerted stronger chemotactic, proinvasive, and mitogenic effects on ID8 cells in vitro. SP(-/-) ascites also contained high levels of interleukin-6, macrophage chemoattractant protein-1, and 8-isoprostane (prostaglandin F(2)alpha) that were positively correlated with extensive infiltration of SP(-/-) ovarian tumors and ascites with macrophages. In summary, our findings strongly suggest that host SPARC normalizes the microenvironment of ovarian cancer malignant ascites through down-regulation of the VEGF-integrin-MMP axis, decreases the levels and activity of bioactive lipids, and ameliorates downstream inflammation.

Targeting of hepatic angiotensinogen using chemically modified siRNAs results in significant and sustained blood pressure lowering in a rat model of hypertension.

Angiotensinogen (AGT) is the precursor of active vasoconstrictive octapeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Blocking the AGT-converting enzymes in the pathway and the Ang II receptor through pharmacological agents has been proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients. In this study, we developed chemically modified small interfering RNAs (siRNA) to target hepatic AGT mRNA in rats. Lipid nanoparticle encapsulated siRNAs were efficiently delivered to rat liver and resulted in significant reduction in hepatic Agt mRNA levels and plasma AGT concentration without impairing liver function. Single intravenous injection of Agt siRNA led to significant and sustained BP lowering in spontaneous hypertensive rats and in Sprague-Dawley rats, and the effect was maintained by weekly siRNA dosing. Data presented here provide proof-of-feasibility for the use of siRNA technology for inhibition of peripheral AGT levels via hepatic mRNA silencing with beneficial effects on BP in preclinical rat models. Similar approach could be used for validation of novel hypertension hepatic and extrahepatic targets.

Chemokine receptor 2b inhibition provides renal protection in angiotensin II - salt hypertension.

The present study was designed to determine whether chemokine receptor 2b (CCR2b) contributes to the development of renal injury in salt-sensitive angiotensin II (ANG) hypertension. Rats were infused with ANG and fed a high-salt diet (HS) for 14 days. Rats were divided into 4 groups: HS; HS administered the CCR2b antagonist, RS102895; Ang/HS hypertensive; and Ang/HS hypertensive administered RS102895. CCR2b inhibition slowed the progression of blood pressure elevation during the first week of ANG/HS hypertension; however, it did not alter blood pressure in the HS group. At 2 weeks, arterial pressure was not significantly different between ANG/HS and ANG/HS hypertensive rats administered RS102895. Renal cortical nuclear factor kappaB activity increased in ANG/HS hypertension compared with the HS group (0.11+/-0.006 versus 0.08+/-0.003 ng of activated nuclear factor kappaB per microgram of protein), and RS102895 treatment lowered nuclear factor kappaB activity in ANG/HS hypertension (0.08+/-0.005 ng of activated nuclear factor kappaB per microgram of protein). Renal tumor necrosis factor-alpha and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression increased, and Cyp2c23 expression decreased in ANG/HS hypertension compared with the HS group, and CCR2b inhibition reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and increased Cyp2c23 expression. Histological immunostaining revealed increased renal monocyte and macrophage infiltration in ANG/HS hypertensive rats with decreased infiltration in rats receiving RS102895 treatment. Albuminuria and cortical collagen staining also increased in ANG/HS hypertensive rats, and RS102895 treatment lowered these effects. Afferent arteriolar autoregulatory responses to increasing renal perfusion pressure were blunted in ANG/HS hypertension, and RS102895 treatment improved this response. These data suggest that CCR2b inhibition protects the kidney in hypertension by reducing inflammation and delaying the progression of hypertension.

Substituted adamantyl-urea inhibitors of the soluble epoxide hydrolase dilate mesenteric resistance vessels.

The epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have been identified as endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors. Metabolism of the EETs to the dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids is catalyzed by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Administration of urea-based sEH inhibitors provides protection from hypertension-induced renal injury at least in part by lowering blood pressure. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that a mechanism by which sEH inhibitors elicit their cardiovascular protective effects is via their action on the vasculature. Mesenteric resistance arteries were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats, pressurized, and constricted with the thromboxane A2 agonist U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-11,9-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2alpha). Mesenteric arteries were then incubated with increasing concentrations of the sEH inhibitor 12-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)dodecanoic acid (AUDA). AUDA resulted in a concentration-dependent relaxation of mesenteric arteries, with 10 microM resulting in a 48 +/- 7% relaxation. Chain-shortened analogs of AUDA had an attenuated vasodilatory response. Interestingly, at 10 microM, the sEH inhibitors 1-cyclohexyl-3-dodecylurea, 12-(3-cyclohexylureido)dodecanoic acid, and 950 [adamantan-1-yl-3-{5-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethoxy]pentyl}urea] were significantly less active, resulting in a 25 +/- 8%, 10 +/- 9%, and -8 +/- 3% relaxation, respectively. Treatment of mesenteric arteries with tetraethylammonium, iberiotoxin, ouabain, or glibenclamide did not alter AUDA-induced relaxation. The AUDA-induced relaxation was completely inhibited when constricted with KCl. In separate experiments, denuding mesenteric resistance vessels did not alter AUDA-induced relaxation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that adamantyl-urea inhibitors have unique dilator actions on vascular smooth muscle compared with other sEH inhibitors and that these dilator actions depend on the adamantyl group and carbon chain length.

An orally active epoxide hydrolase inhibitor lowers blood pressure and provides renal protection in salt-sensitive hypertension.

The present study tested the hypothesis that increasing epoxyeicosatrienoic acids by inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) would lower blood pressure and ameliorate renal damage in salt-sensitive hypertension. Rats were infused with angiotensin and fed a normal-salt diet or an 8% NaCl diet for 14 days. The sEH inhibitor, 12-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-dodecanoic acid (AUDA), was given orally to angiotensin-infused animals during the 14-day period. Plasma AUDA metabolite levels were measured, and they averaged 10+/-2 ng/mL in normal-salt angiotensin hypertension and 19+/-3 ng/mL in high-salt angiotensin hypertension on day 14 in the animals administered the sEH inhibitor. Mean arterial blood pressure averaged 161+/-4 mm Hg in normal-salt and 172+/-5 mm Hg in the high-salt angiotensin hypertension groups on day 14. EH inhibitor treatment significantly lowered blood pressure to 140+/-5 mm Hg in the normal-salt angiotensin hypertension group and to 151+/-6 mm Hg in the high-salt angiotensin hypertension group on day 14. The lower arterial blood pressures in the AUDA-treated groups were associated with increased urinary epoxide-to-diol ratios. Urinary microalbumin levels were measured, and ED-1 staining was used to determine renal damage and macrophage infiltration in the groups. Two weeks of AUDA treatment decreased urinary microalbumin excretion in the normal-salt and high-salt angiotensin hypertension groups and macrophage number in the high-salt angiotensin hypertension group. These data demonstrate that sEH inhibition lowers blood pressure and ameliorates renal damage in angiotensin-dependent, salt-sensitive hypertension.

NO inhibits signal transduction pathway for ATP release from erythrocytes via its action on heterotrimeric G protein Gi.

The release of ATP from erythrocytes involves a signal transduction pathway of which cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, PKA, adenylyl cyclase, and the heterotrimeric G proteins G(s) and G(i) are components. In the pulmonary circulation, ATP released from the erythrocyte stimulates nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, thereby regulating vascular resistance. We reported that NO liberated from an NO donor inhibited ATP release from erythrocytes in response to decreased Po(2) or mechanical deformation. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that NO inhibits ATP release from erythrocytes via inactivation of G(i). Washed rabbit erythrocytes were incubated in the presence or absence of the NO donor N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-hydroxy-2-nitrosohydrazino)-1,2-ethylenediamine (spermine NONOate; 100 nM, 20 min), followed by treatment with agents that activate specific components of the signal transduction pathway promoting ATP release. Neither ATP release nor cAMP accumulation induced by either forskolin (100 microM, n = 7) or iloprost (100 nM, n = 6) was inhibited by spermine NONOate. These experiments suggest that the inhibitory action of NO is not the result of inactivation of adenylyl cyclase or G(s), respectively. However, spermine NONOate completely inhibited ATP release in response to mastoparan (10 microm, P < 0.05, n = 5), a specific activator of G(i). Spermine (100 nM, 20 min), the polyamine remaining after liberation of NO from spermine NONOate, had no affect on mastoparan-induced ATP release (n = 4). These results support the hypothesis that NO inhibits ATP release from erythrocytes via inactivation of the heterotrimeric G protein G(i).

Heterotrimeric G protein Gi is involved in a signal transduction pathway for ATP release from erythrocytes.

Erythrocytes are reported to release ATP in response to mechanical deformation and decreased oxygen tension. Previously we proposed that receptor-mediated activation of the heterotrimeric G protein G(s) resulted in ATP release from erythrocytes. Here we investigate the hypothesis that activation of heterotrimeric G proteins of the G(i) subtype are also involved in a signal transduction pathway for ATP release from rabbit erythrocytes. Heterotrimeric G proteins G(alphai1), G(alphai2), and G(alphai3) but not G(alphao) were identified in rabbit and human erythrocyte membranes. Pretreatment of rabbit erythrocytes with pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml, 2 h), which uncouples G(i/o) from their effector proteins, inhibited deformation-induced ATP release. Incubation of rabbit and human erythrocytes with mastoparan (Mas, 10 microM) or Mas-7 (1 microM), which are compounds that directly activate G(i) proteins, resulted in ATP release. However, rabbit erythrocytes did not release ATP when incubated with Mas-17 (10 microM), which is an inactive Mas analog. In separate experiments, Mas (10 microM) but not Mas-17 (10 microM) increased intracellular concentrations of cAMP when incubated with rabbit erythrocytes. Importantly, Mas-induced ATP release from rabbit erythrocytes was inhibited after treatment with pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml, 2 h). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the heterotrimeric G protein G(i) is a component of a signal transduction pathway for ATP release from erythrocytes.

Extracellular ATP signaling in the rabbit lung: erythrocytes as determinants of vascular resistance.

Previously, it was reported that red blood cells (RBCs) are required to demonstrate participation of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of rabbit pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). RBCs do not synthesize NO; hence, we postulated that ATP, present in millimolar amounts in RBCs, was the mediator, which evoked NO synthesis in the vascular endothelium. First, we found that deformation of RBCs, as occurs on passage across the pulmonary circulation with increasing flow rate, evoked increments in ATP release. Here, ATP (300 nM), administered to isolated, salt solution-perfused (PSS) rabbit lungs, decreased total and upstream (arterial) PVR, a response inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM). In lungs perfused with PSS containing RBCs, L-NAME increased total and upstream PVR. In lungs perfused with PSS containing glibenclamide-treated RBCs, which inhibits ATP release, L-NAME was without effect. Apyrase grade VII (8 U/ml), which degrades ATP to AMP, was without effect on PVR in PSS-perfused lungs. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that ATP, released from RBCs as they traverse the pulmonary circulation, evokes endogenous NO synthesis.

Nitric oxide inhibits ATP release from erythrocytes.

Erythrocytes have been reported to release ATP from intracellular stores into the surrounding environment in response to decreased oxygen tension and mechanical deformation. This erythrocyte-derived ATP can then act on purinergic receptors present on vascular endothelial cells, resulting in the synthesis and bidirectional release of nitric oxide (NO). NO released abluminally produces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, thereby increasing vascular caliber, leading to a decrease in deformation-induced ATP release from erythrocytes. In contrast, NO released into the vascular lumen could interact directly with formed elements in the blood, including the erythrocyte. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that NO functions in a negative-feedback manner to inhibit ATP release from the erythrocyte. The NO donor N-(2-aminoethyl)- N-(2-hydroxy-2-nitrosohydrazino)-1,2-ethylenediamine (spermine NONOate) decreased total pulmonary resistance in a dose-dependent manner when administered to isolated perfused rabbit lungs. ATP release from rabbit erythrocytes in response to decreased oxygen tension or mechanical deformation was inhibited by preincubation with spermine NONOate (100 nM, 20 min). Importantly, incubating rabbit erythrocytes with spermine (100 nM, 20 min), the polyamine remaining after the liberation of NO from spermine NONOate, did not affect decreased oxygen tension-induced ATP release. Mechanical deformation-induced ATP release was also inhibited when erythrocytes were preincubated with spermine NONOate. However, NO-depleted spermine NONOate had no effect on mechanical deformation-induced ATP release from rabbit erythrocytes. These data provide support for the hypothesis that NO inhibits ATP release from erythrocytes, thereby identifying an additional role of NO in the regulation of vascular resistance.