Sara M. Molinas

Mitochondrial aquaporin-8 in renal proximal tubule cells: evidence for a role in the response to metabolic acidosis

Mitochondrial ammonia synthesis in proximal tubules and its urinary excretion are key components of the renal response to maintain acid-base balance during metabolic acidosis. Since aquaporin-8 (AQP8) facilitates transport of ammonia and is localized in inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) of renal proximal cells, we hypothesized that AQP8-facilitated mitochondrial ammonia transport in these cells plays a role in the response to acidosis. We evaluated whether mitochondrial AQP8 (mtAQP8) knockdown by RNA interference is able to impair ammonia excretion in the human renal proximal tubule cell line, HK-2. By RT-PCR and immunoblotting, we found that AQP8 is expressed in these cells and is localized in IMM. HK-2 cells were transfected with short-interfering RNA targeting human AQP8. After 48 h, the levels of mtAQP8 protein decreased by 53% (P < 0.05). mtAQP8 knockdown decreased the rate of ammonia released into culture medium in cells grown at pH 7.4 (-31%, P < 0.05) as well as in cells exposed to acid (-90%, P < 0.05). We also evaluated mtAQP8 protein expression in HK-2 cells exposed to acidic medium. After 48 h, upregulation of mtAQP8 (+74%, P < 0.05) was observed, together with higher ammonia excretion rate (+73%, P < 0.05). In vivo studies in NH(4)Cl-loaded rats showed that mtAQP8 protein expression was also upregulated after 7 days of acidosis in renal cortex (+51%, P < 0.05). These data suggest that mtAQP8 plays an important role in the adaptive response of proximal tubule to acidosis possibly facilitating mitochondrial ammonia transport.

Effects of losartan pretreatment in an experimental model of ischemic acute kidney injury

Background/Aims: Contributions to the understanding of acute renal failure (ARF) pathogenesis have not been translated into an effective clinical therapy. We studied the effects of pretreatment with the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker, losartan, on renal function, tissue injury, inflammatory response and serum aldosterone levels in a model of ischemic ARF. Methods: Rats underwent unilateral renal ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion (IR), and were pretreated or not with 8 (IRL8) or 80 (IRL80) mg/kg/day of losartan for 3 days. Results: IR kidneys showed marked renal dysfunction, epithelial damage, capillary congestion, increased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and increased TNF-α, IL1-β and IL-6 mRNA levels. IRL80 kidneys showed protection against dysfunction and tissue injury, associated with normal MPO activity and cytokine mRNA levels. The lower dose was not able to achieve the same degree of functional renoprotection and could not prevent an increase of MPO or proinflammatory cytokine mRNA levels. The high losartan dose completely prevented an increase of serum aldosterone levels induced by IR. Conclusion: Renoprotection of the high losartan dose would be mainly mediated by its anti-inflammatory actions. Our results show a potential pathophysiological role of AT1 activation in promoting renal dysfunction, structural injury, inflammation and aldosterone elevation after IR injury.

Losartan reverses fibrotic changes in cortical renal tissue induced by ischemia or ischemia-reperfusion without changes in renal function

Unilateral renal ischemia for 40 min in rat results in increased fibronectin (FN) expression in proximal tubular cells. This study examines the role of 24 h of blood reperfusion and the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on these results. Rats were submitted to 40 min of unilateral renal ischemia followed by 24 h of blood reperfusion. Renal function was assayed by clearance measurement in metabolic cages. Intracellular ATP and calcium were determined in proximal tubules. The expression and abundance of FN were investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, ELISA and Western blot either in isolated proximal tubules or cortex homogenates from control, ischemic and ischemic with reperfusion rats. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) activity was also measured. Losartan effects on renal function and on the abundance of FN and the MMPs activity in cortical homogenates were also measured. The renal function remained altered after 24 h of reperfusion in untreated and losartan-treated ischemic rats. On the other hand, the abundance of FN is increased after reperfusion both in isolated proximal tubules and total cortex homogenates and the same pattern was observed in the MMPs activity. Twenty-four h of blood reperfusion presented FN-mRNA signals similar to control ones. Losartan pretreated-rats presented diminished FN abundance in homogenates of cortex tissue from ischemic rats with or without reperfusion. Similar results were observed in the MMPs-activity. These results suggest that angiotensin II acting via the AT1 receptor plays a role in the development of tubulointersticial fibrosis after ischemia-reperfusion by activation of intrarenal RAS from the injured kidney.

Lipopolysaccharide impairs hepatocyte ureagenesis from ammonia: Involvement of mitochondrial aquaporin-8

We recently reported that hepatocyte mitochondrial aquaporin‐8 (mtAQP8) channels facilitate the uptake of ammonia and its metabolism into urea. Here we studied the effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on ammonia‐derived ureagenesis. In LPS‐treated rats, hepatic mtAQP8 protein expression and diffusional ammonia permeability (measured utilizing ammonia analogues) of liver inner mitochondrial membranes were downregulated. NMR studies using 15 N‐labeled ammonia indicated that basal and glucagon‐induced ureagenesis from ammonia were significantly reduced in hepatocytes from LPS‐treated rats. Our data suggest that hepatocyte mtAQP8‐mediated ammonia removal via ureagenesis is impaired by LPS, a mechanism potentially relevant to the molecular pathogenesis of defective hepatic ammonia detoxification in sepsis.

Localization and functional activity of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) in the adult rat kidney

Cumulative evidence demonstrated effective downstream metabolism of pregnenolone in renal tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and functional activity of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), which converts cholesterol into pregnenolone, in adult rat kidney. Immunohistochemical labeling for CYP11A1 was observed in renal cortex and medulla, on structures identified as distal convoluted tubule and thick ascending limb of Henles loop, respectively. Immunoblotting analysis corroborated the renal expression of the protein in inner mitochondrial membrane fractions. The incubation of isolated mitochondria with the membrane-permeant cholesterol analogue 22R-hydroxycholesterol resulted in efficient formation of pregnenolone, the immediate precursor for the synthesis of all the steroid hormones. The low progesterone production rate observed in these experiments suggested a poor activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme in renal mitochondria. The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), involved in the mitochondrial import of cholesterol, was detected in renal tissue at both mRNA and protein level. Immunostaining for StAR showed similar distribution to that observed for CYP11A1. The expression of StAR and CYP11A1 was found to be higher in medulla than in cortex. This enhanced expression of steroidogenesis-related proteins correlated with a greater pregnenolone synthesis rate and higher steroid hormones tissular content measured in medulla. In conclusion, we have established the expression and localization of StAR and CYP11A1 protein, the ability of synthesizing pregnenolone and a region-specific content of sex hormones in the adult rat kidney. These data clearly show that the kidney is a steroid hormones synthesizing organ. It is proposed that the existence in the kidney of complete steroidogenic machinery would respond to a physiological significance.

Evolution of renal function and Na + ,K + -ATPase expression during ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rat kidney

The aim of the present work was to study the effects of an unilateral ischaemic-reperfusion injury on Na+, K+-ATPase activity, α1 and β1 subunits protein and mRNA abundance and ATP content in cortical and medullary tissues from postischaemic and contralateral kidneys. Right renal artery was clamped for 40 min followed by 24 and 48 h of reperfusion. Postischaemic and contralateral renal function was studied cannulating the ureter of each kidney. Postischaemic kidneys after 24 (IR24) and 48 (IR48) hours of reperfusion presented a significant dysfunction. Na+, K+-ATPase α1 subunit abundance increased in IR24 and IR48 cortical tissue and β1 subunit decreased in IR48. In IR24 medullary tissue, α1 abundance increased and returned to control values in IR48 while β1 abundance was decreased in both periods. Forty minutes of ischaemia without reperfusion (I40) promoted an increment in α1 mRNA in cortex and medulla that normalised after 24 h of reperfusion. β1 mRNA was decreased in IR24 medullas. No changes were observed in contralateral kidneys. This work provides evidences that after an ischaemic insult α1 and β1 protein subunit abundance and mRNA levels are independently regulated. After ischaemic-reperfusion injury, cortical and medullary tissue showed a different pattern of response. Although ATP and Na+, K+-ATPase activity returned to control values, postischemic kidney showed an abnormal function after 48 h of reflow.