Michael J. Dunn

Endothelin stimulates phospholipase C, Na+/H+ exchange, c-fos expression, and mitogenesis in rat mesangial cells.

A recently described peptide hormone, endothelin, is a potent vasoconstrictor, but it is unclear whether endothelin has other biological actions. These experiments extend the range of biological actions of endothelin to stimulation of mitogenesis. Endothelin at low concentrations (0.1-10 nM) induced mitogenesis by quiescent rat glomerular mesangial cells in culture. Mitogenesis induced by endothelin was accompanied by activation of phospholipase C with increased inositol phosphate turnover and increments of intracellular [Ca2+]. Endothelin also activated Na+/H+ exchange, causing cytosolic alkalinization, and enhanced transcription of the c-fos protooncogene, additional biochemical signals closely linked to proliferation. In addition to being a vasoconstrictor, endothelin thus also functions as a mitogen, presumably through activation of phospholipase C.

Prostaglandins and the kidney

This review provides a summary and assessment of research involving renal prostaglandins. Arachidonic acid released from phospholipids is converted by prostaglandin cyclo-oxygenase in the kidney to PGF2, PGF2alpha, PGD2, and, possibly, to PGI2 and thromboxane A2. Production of PGE2 and PGF2alpha is predominately but not exclusively in the medulla, whereas degradative enzymes are present in both cortex and medulla. Prostaglandins enter the tubular lumen by facilitated transport and are partially reabsorbed from the urine in the distal nephron. Urine prostaglandins probably reflect renal synthesis. PGE2 and endoperoxides stimulate and PGF2alpha and indomethacin inhibit renal renin synthesis. In response to ischemia, vasoconstriction, or angiotensin II the kidney increases prostaglandin synthesis to modulate renal vascular resistance. In conscious animals or man no role has been established for prostaglandins in the maintenance of basal renal blood flow or renal sodium excretion. PGE influences renal water excretion by inhibiting the action vasopressin. Despite conflicting data there is evidence that renal prostaglandins are involved either primarily or secondarily in many types of hypertension. Inhibitors of prostaglandin cyclooxygenase have been used with success in Bartters syndrome. Conflicting results in many areas of investigation may be resolved by the use of more accurate and reliable assays, careful handling of samples, and the use of urine to further investigate renal prostaglandin synthesis.

Cellular signaling by peptides of the endothelin gene family.

Endothelins (ET) are a family of regulatory peptides synthesized by selected endothelial and epithelial cells that act in a paracrine fashion on nearby smooth muscle or connective tissue cells. We review the pathways of transmembrane signaling triggered by binding of endothelin peptides to receptors on the plasma membrane. Although our understanding of many components is unclear, endothelin peptides appear to evoke a phosphoinositide‐linked signaling system that bears a striking resemblance to signaling pathways activated by other regulatory peptides. Expression of endothelin receptors and specific pathways stimulated by activated receptors are controlled in a cell‐ and tissue‐specific manner, which perhaps explains the diverse biological actions of endothelin in different tissues. Complex negative feedback pathways regulate endothelin‐induced signaling at the receptor and second messenger levels. Moreover, by regulating the activity of sequence‐specific DNA binding proteins, short‐term signals by ET can be extended to long‐term effects involving gene expression. Regulation of gene expression by ET could account for complex events such as mitogenesis and vascular and tissue remodeling in disease.— Simonson, M. S.; Dunn, M. J. Cellular signaling by peptides of the endothelin gene family. FASEB J. 4: 2989‐3000; 1990.

Glomerular prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis in rat nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Effects on renal hemodynamics.

Glomerular arachidonate cyclooxygenation by isolated rat glomeruli was assessed in vitro in antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody-induced glomerulonephritis by radioimmunoassay for prostaglandins (PG) and thromboxane. After a single intravenous injection of rabbit anti-rat GBM serum, we observed enhancement of glomerular thromboxane B2 (TxB2) synthesis as early as 2 to 3 h with smaller increments in PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthetic rates. On day 2 of the disease, the glomerular synthesis of TxB2 and, to a lesser extent, PGF2 alpha and PGE2 remained enhanced, whereas on days 8, 11, and 14, TxB2 was the only prostanoid synthesized at increased rates. Glomerular TxB2 synthesis correlated with the presacrifice 24-h protein excretion. 60 min after intravenous infusion of anti-GMB serum, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreased (0.66 +/- 0.04 to 0.44 +/- 0.03 ml/min per 100 g, P less than 0.05), without a significant change in renal plasma flow (RPF): 1.97 +/- 0.23 to 1.80 +/- 0.23 ml/min per 100 g) and without a change in glomerular PG synthetic rates. At 2 h, GFR and RPF reached a nadir (0.25 +/- 0.04 and 1.3 +/- 0.1 ml/min per 100 g, respectively) coinciding with a fivefold increment in glomerular TxB2. By 3 h GFR and RPF partially recovered to 0.43 +/- 0.07 and 1.77 +/- 0.20 ml/min per 100 g, respectively, P less than 0.05, despite further increments in TxB2 synthesis. This recovery of GFR and RPF coincided with increments in vasodilatory PG, (PGE2 and PGI2). The thromboxane synthetase inhibitor OKY-1581 markedly inhibited platelet and glomerular TxB2 synthesis and preserved GFR at 1, 2, and 3 h. Another thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, UK-38485, also completely inhibited platelet and glomerular TxB2 synthesis and prevented decrements of GFR at 2 and 3 h. A cyclooxygenase inhibitor, ibuprofen, inhibited platelet TxB2 and PGE2 synthesis and significantly reduced glomerular PGE2 but not TxB2 synthesis. In the ibuprofen-treated rats, the partial recoveries of GFR and RPF at 3 h were attenuated. The in vitro glomerular TxB2 synthesis correlated inversely with the presacrifice GFR and filtration fraction. These observations indicate that in anti-GBM nephritis there is enhanced synthesis of TxA2 and PG in the glomerulus that mediate changes in renal hemodynamics.

Prostaglandin synthesis by rat glomerular mesangial cells in culture. Effects of angiotensin II and arginine vasopressin.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin II (ANG II) reduce the glomerular filtration rate and ultrafiltration coefficient. Vasodilatory prostaglandins (PG) antagonize these effects. AVP and ANG II also cause mesangial cell contraction. Therefore, possible PG stimulation by these peptides and two vasopressin analogues was studied in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells. The effect of altered calcium availability on PG production was also studied. Glomeruli from 75-100-g Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in supplemented nutrient media for 28 d and experiments were performed on the first passage. Mesangial cell morphology was confirmed by electron microscopy. Cells produced PGE2 much greater than PGF2 alpha greater than 6-keto-PGF1 alpha greater than thromboxane B2 when incubated with the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, or arachidonic acid (C20:4). ANG II and AVP selectively stimulated PGE2 at threshold concentrations of 10 nM ANG II and 100 pM of AVP. The effects of the antidiuretic analogue 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP) and the antipressor analogue [1-(beta-mercapto-beta beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid)-4-valine, 8-D-arginine]-vasopressin (d[CH2]5VDAVP), were studied. Neither compound stimulated PGE2 and preincubation with d(CH2)5VDAVP abolished, and dDAVP blunted, AVP-enhanced PGE2 production. Incubation in verapamil, nifedipine, or zero calcium media blocked peptide-stimulated PGE2 production. Increasing extracellular calcium or adding A23187 increased PGE2 synthesis. Selective stimulation of PGE2 by ANG II or AVP in mesangial cells suggests a hormone-sensitive phospholipase and a coupled cyclooxygenase capable of synthesizing only PGE2. Since neither vasopressin analogue stimulated PGE2, but both blocked AVP-enhanced PGE2 production, we conclude that these cells respond to the pressor activity of AVP. This is a calcium-dependent process. Selective stimulation of PGE2 by ANG II and AVP may modulate their contractile effects on the glomerulus.

Thromboxane A2 Mediates Augmented Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Adhesiveness

We examined the role of prostaglandins and thromboxanes as mediators of plasma-dependent increased polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesiveness induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors-indomethacin and d,l-6-chloro-alpha-methyl-carbozole-2-acetic acid (R020-5720)-reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by 74 and 62%, respectively. In addition, inhibitors of thromboxane synthetase-imidazole, 9,11-azoprosta-5,13-dienoic acid, and 1-benzylimidazole-suppressed the stimulation of adherence by 31, 66, and 83%, respectively. Exogenous prostaglandins E(1), E(2), and F(2)alpha did not increase polymorphonuclear leukocyte adherence, nor were they detected in significant quantities in supernates of polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to lipopolysaccharide. However, inhibitors of both cyclo-oxygenase and thromboxane synthetase reduced increases in adherence induced by arachidonic acid (10 mug/ml), suggesting that lipopolysaccharide-mediated increases in adherence were due to an arachidonic acid product other than prostaglandin E(2) or F(2)alpha. 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic acid, a precursor of monoenoic prostaglandins, did not enhance polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesiveness. We next demonstrated lipopolysaccharide-stimulated generation, by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, of a labile, low molecular weight, dialyzable substance capable of enhancing the adherence of unstimulated leukocytes. In parallel experiments, a 10-fold increase in immunoreactive thromboxane B(2) over basal levels was detected after exposure of leukocytes to lipopolysaccharide. The inhibition of lipopolysaccharide enhancement of adherence by specific rabbit antibodies to thromboxane B(2) strongly supported a primary role for thromboxane A(2) as the mediator of the observed increases in adherence. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated purified platelets did not increase leukocyte adherence, whereas thrombin-stimulated platelets did increase adherence. These studies suggest that lipopolysaccharide stimulates polymorphonuclear leukocytes to produce thromboxane A(2), which enhances their adhesiveness to nylon.

Endothelin-1 stimulates contraction of rat glomerular mesangial cells and potentiates beta-adrenergic-mediated cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation.

The newly isolated peptide, endothelin-1 (ET-1), is a potent pressor agent that reduces GFR and the glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient. Recent evidence demonstrates that ET-1 mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) in glomerular mesangial cells by activating the phosphoinositide cascade. The present experiments were designed to examine whether ET-1 stimulates mesangial cell contraction and regulates the synthesis of PGE2 and cAMP, which dampen vasoconstrictor-induced mesangial contraction. ET-1 (greater than or equal to 1 nM) reduced the cross-sectional area of rat mesangial cells cultured on three-dimensional gels of collagen type I. ET-1 also caused complex rearrangements of F-actin microfilaments consistent with a motile response. Contraction in response to ET-1 occurred only at concentrations that activate phospholipase C, and contraction was unaffected by blockade of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Elevation of [Ca2+]i with ionomycin, to equivalent concentrations of [Ca2+]i achieved with ET-1, also reduced mesangial cell cross-sectional area. ET-1 (0.1 microM) also evoked [3H]arachidonate release and a fivefold increase in PGE2 synthesis as well as increased synthesis of PGF2 alpha and small changes of TXB2. ET-1 caused a minor increase in intracellular cAMP accumulation only in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. ET-1 also amplified cAMP production in response to isoproterenol. TPA and ionomycin, alone and in combination, failed to mimic the potentiating effect of ET-1; however, indomethacin blocked ET-1-induced potentiation of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP, which was restored by addition of exogenous 10 nM PGE2. Thus the present data demonstrate that ET-1 stimulates mesangial cell contraction via pharmacomechanical coupling and activates phospholipase A2 to produce PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and TXB2. ET-1 also amplified beta adrenergic-stimulated cAMP accumulation by a PGE2-dependent mechanism.

Induction of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase 1 by the Stress-activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway but Not by Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase in Fibroblasts

The intracellular mechanisms involved in the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) are relatively well understood. However, the intracellular signaling pathways which regulate the termination of ERK activity remain to be elucidated. Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) has been shown to dephosphorylate and inactivate ERK in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we show in NIH3T3 fibroblasts that activation of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway by either specific extracellular stress stimuli or via induction of MEKK, an upstream kinase of SAPK, results in MKP-1 gene expression. In contrast, selective stimulation of the ERK pathway by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or following expression of constitutively active MEK, the upstream dual specificity kinase of ERK did not induce the transcription of MKP-1. Hence, these findings demonstrate the existence of cross-talk between the ERK and SAPK signaling cascades since activation of SAPK induced the expression of MKP-1 that can inactivate ERK. This mechanism may modulate the cellular response to stimuli which employ the SAPK signal transduction pathway.

Biphasic activation of p21ras by endothelin‐1 sequentially activates the ERK cascade and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase

Endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) induces cell proliferation and differentiation through multiple G‐protein‐linked signaling systems, including p21ras activation. Whereas p21ras activation and desensitization by receptor tyrosine kinases have been extensively investigated, the kinetics of p21ras activation induced by engagement of G‐protein‐coupled receptors remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study we show that ET‐1 induces a biphasic activation of p21ras in rat glomerular mesangial cells. The first peak of activation of p21ras, at 2–5 min, is mediated by immediate association of phosphorylated Shc with the guanosine exchange factor Sos1 via the adaptor protein Grb2. This initial activation of p21ras results in activation of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. We demonstrate that ET‐1 signaling elicits a negative feedback mechanism, modulating p21ras activity through ERK‐dependent Sos1 phosphorylation, findings which were confirmed using an adenovirus MEK construct. Subsequent to p21ras and ERK deactivation, Sos1 reverts to the non‐phosphorylated condition, enabling it to bind again to the Grb2/Shc complex, which is stabilized by persistent Shc phosphorylation. However, the resulting secondary activation of p21ras at 30 min does not lead to ERK activation, correlating with intensive, ET‐1‐induced expression of MAP kinase phosphatase‐1, but does result in increased p21ras‐associated phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase activity. Our data provide evidence that ET‐1‐induced biphasic p21ras activation causes sequential stimulation of divergent downstream signaling pathways.

In vivo effect of indomethacin to potentiate the renal medullary cyclic AMP response to vasopressin.

In a previous study we demonstrated that indomethacin potentiated the hydro-osmotic action of vasopressin in vivo. It was hypothesized that this action of indomethacin was due to its ability to suppress renal medullary prostaglandin synthesis, since in vitro studies have suggested that prostaglandins interfere with the ability of vasopressin to stimulate production of its intracellular mediator, cyclic AMP. In the present study this hypothesis was tested in vivo. Anesthetized rats undergoing a water diuresis were studied. In a control group, bolus injections of 200 muU of vasopressin caused a rise in urinary osmolality (Uosm) from 124 +/- 6 to 253 +/- 20 mosmol/kg H2O (P less than 0.005). In a group treated with 2 mg/kg of indomethacin the same dose of vasopressin caused a significantly greater (P less than 0.001) rise in Uosm from 124 +/- 7 to 428 +/- 19 mosmol/kg H2O. Medullary tissue cyclic AMP rose from 9.4 +/- 0.9 to 13.4 +/- 1.7 (P less than 0.05) pmol/mg tissue protein after vasopressin administration in animals receiving no indomethacin, while in indomethacin-treated animals there was a significantly greater rise (P less than 0.001) in medullary cyclic AMP from 10.4 +/- 0.9 to 21.6 +/- 2.1 pmol/mg tissue protein in response to the vasopressin injections. In neither control animals nor indomethacin-treated animals were there significant changes in renal hemodynamics, as measured by clearance techniques. Indomethacin, when given alone, had no effect on Uosm or medullary tissue cyclic AMP. Indomethacin did, however, reduce medullary prostaglandin E content from 84.7 +/- 15.0 to 15.6 +/- 4.3 pg/mg tissue. This study has shown that indomethacin, in a dose which suppresses medullary prostaglandin content, potentiates the ability of vasopressin to increase the tissue content of its intracellular mediator, cyclic AMP. Indomethacin caused no demonstrable inhibition of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Therefore, it seems likely that indomethacin enhanced the ability of vasopressin to increase medullary cyclic AMP levels by causing an increased production rather than decreased destruction of the nucleotide. We conclude that this action of indomethacin contributes to its ability to potentiate the hydro-osmotic action of vasopressin in vivo. A corollary to this conclusion is that endogenous medullary prostaglandin Es may be significant physiological modulators of the renal response to vasopressin.