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Biomedical subjects

J Svennilson

Publications and source records attributed to J Svennilson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Increased blood pressure and loss of anp-induced natriuresis in mice lacking DARPP-32 gene.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is an important regulator of sodium metabolism and indirectly of blood pressure. Evidence has accumulated that ANP regulates sodium metabolism through a cascade of steps involving an increase in the level of cGMP, activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), and inhibition of renal tubular Na+, K+-ATPase activity. One of the major substrates for PKG is DARPP-32. In the present study we observed that ANP does not induce natriuresis in mice that lack DARPP-32. In contrast, there was a 4-fold increase in urinary sodium excretion following ANP administration to wild type mice. ANP as well as Zaprinast, a selective inhibitor of cGMP phosophodiesterase, inhibited renal Na+, K+-ATPase activity in wild type mice but had no such effect in mice lacking DARPP-32. Mean arterial blood pressure, measured in conscious animals, was significantly increased in DARPP-32 deficient mice as compared to wild type mice. The results confirm that DARPP-32 acts as a third messenger in the ANP signaling pathway in renal tissue and suggest an important role of DARPP-32 in the maintenance of normal blood pressure.

Animals↗

Age-dependent expression of protein phosphatase 2A in the developing rat kidney.

Several lines of evidence suggest that the serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP)2A is of vital importance for cell cycle regulation, cell differentiation, and signal transduction. This prompted us to study the expression of the mRNA for PP2A catalytic isoforms alpha and beta in the developing rat kidney using in situ hybridization histochemistry. The expression patterns of the two isoforms were strikingly similar. Both were ubiquitously expressed in early metanephric kidneys. Later in gestation they were expressed in the nephrogenic zone. Strong expression was observed on postnatal day (PN) 10. This was followed by a downregulation at PN20, i.e., when nephrogenesis is completed. The expression in the adult kidney was very weak and mainly confined to the medulla. In a phosphatase activity assay, PP2A accounted for 78% of the total serine/threonine phosphatase activity in embryonic day 15 rat kidneys. PP1 was the main contributor to the remaining activity. In conclusion, PP2A is the major serine/threonine phosphatase in fetal kidneys. The age-dependent expression pattern supports the concept that this enzyme is of particular importance during renal morphogenesis and development.

Aging↗

Dopamine in the developing kidney.

The adult kidney has a high rate of dopamine (DA) production, metabolism, and signalling. The non-neuronal DA system in the adult kidney is of utmost importance for the regulation of salt metabolism. DA may also act as a transcription factor and may be of importance for tissue differentiation. In the central nervous system, D1 receptors require the dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein with a molecular weight of 32,000 Dalton (DARPP-32) to mediate their actions. The renal D1 mediates DARPP-32 activation via a cascade involving cAMP and PKA, and protein kinase C (PKC) activation via phospholipase C. Active DARPP-32 has a specific inhibitory effect on protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), leaving, e.g. Na+,K+-ATPase in a phosphorylated, inactive, state. Thus, dopamine acts as a natriuretic hormone in the mature kidney. Here, we discuss the age-dependent distribution and some functional aspects of several parts of the renal dopamine system (dopamine, AADC, COMT, D1 receptor, and DARPP-32) during renal morphogenesis.

Animals↗

Protein kinase C in the developing kidney: isoform expression and effects of ceramide and PKC inhibitors.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a serine/threonine kinase recognized as a key enzyme in signal transduction mechanisms in various biological processes. During development, PKC is involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation. In mature tissue PKC is important for homeostatic functions. We studied PKC with regard to expression and effects on differentiation, growth and apoptosis in the developing kidney. Using in situ hybridization, we demonstrate age-dependent expression of PKC alpha, PKC delta, PKC zeta and PKC lambda during fetal and postnatal kidney development. The endogenous sphingolipid product ceramide, as well as specific PKC inhibitors, disturbed nephron formation and induced apoptosis in organ cultures of E13 kidneys. In primary cell cultures of proximal tubule cells, ceramide and the specific PKC inhibitors induced apoptosis. In conclusion, PKC alpha, PKC delta, PKC zeta and PKC lambda are expressed in an age-dependent pattern during kidney development. Inhibition of PKC disturbs nephron formation, inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in the developing kidney. The findings suggest that PKC plays an important role in regulating normal kidney growth and differentiation.

Animals↗

Evidence for a role of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A during early nephrogenesis.

Although most transcriptional events appear to be modulated by reversible protein phosphorylation, little is known about the role of this regulatory system during the development of mammalian organs. Here we have studied the serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP) 1 and 2A in the early embryonic rat kidney with regard to expression and effects on growth and differentiation. All isoforms of PP-1 and PP-2A were ubiquitously expressed in 15-day embryonic (E15) kidneys (in situ hybridization studies). In contrast, mRNA for inhibitor-1 (I-1), an endogenous inhibitor of PP-1, was detected only in undifferentiated stem cells in the outer cortical area. I-1 is a novel marker for these cells. The abundance of the PP-1 protein, confirmed with immunoblotting, was high in the embryonic kidney. In organ culture of E13 kidneys, okadaic acid (OA), an exogenous inhibitor of PP-1 and PP-2A, dose-dependently inhibited growth and nephron formation (apparent half-maximal effect at 6 nM). OA 10 nM had little effect on the growth of cultured E15 kidneys, whereas nephron formation was disturbed and morphological evidence of apoptosis was seen. In summary, this study points towards important roles for protein phosphatases 1 and/or 2A in regulation of mitogenic activity in the early embryonic kidney.

Animals↗