Renln-expresslng cells are crucial in the control of blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and development ofthe kidney vasculature. Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the acquisition of renin cell identity-and their plasticity to switch the renin phenotype on and off- is of fundamental biological and medical relevance. With the support of the R37 we generated mouse and cell models which allowed us to demonstrate that the identity and plasticity ofthe renin cell is determined by chromatin remodeling at the renin gene resulting from the balance between histone methylation and acetylation marks at the renin promoter. We further showed that cAMP plays a central role in the regulation of renin expression and renin cell identity and that the transcriptional effects of cAMP are mediated by the binding of CREB and histone acetyl transferases CBP/p300 to the cAMP response element (CRE) located in the enhancer region ofthe renin gene. While there is still work to be completed, the results obtained during the current cycle allow us to formulate with confidence a plan that will expand the depth of our understanding as to how renin cell identity is regulated. The overall hypothesis to be tested is that the identity of the renin cell is determined by the three- dimensional conformation of chromatin governed by: 1) renin gene locus specific and associated genome- wide epigenetic marks such as histone acetylation and methylation and DNA methylation patterns, 2) the establishment of gene-gene interactions and transcriptional factories ultimately responsible for the coordinated expression ofthe genes that confer the renin cell with its unique identity, and 3) interactions of the CRE (and associated Creb/CBP/p300) of the renin gene enhancer with regulatory elements within the renin gene (RBP-J, Hox/Pbx sites) and other genes in the genome are ultimately responsible for the pattern of unique genome-wide epigenetic changes, chromosomal looping and transcriptional factories that determine the identity and fate of the renin cell.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed work should provide fundamental new information regarding the molecular-genomic mechanisms that control renin cell identity and plasticity. Novel information gained form these studies may be of benefit to individuals affected by hypertension, cardiovascular diseases involving tissue repair, vascular development and renal diseases resulting from abnormal vascular structure and/or differentiation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
4R37HL066242-15
Application #
9052202
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
OH, Youngsuk
Project Start
2001-01-01
Project End
2017-04-30
Budget Start
2016-05-01
Budget End
2017-04-30
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Virginia
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
065391526
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22904
Gomez, R Ariel; Lopez, Maria Luisa S Sequeira (2017) Plasticity of Renin Cells in the Kidney Vasculature. Curr Hypertens Rep 19:14
Oka, Masafumi; Medrano, Silvia; Sequeira-L?pez, Maria Luisa S et al. (2017) Chronic Stimulation of Renin Cells Leads to Vascular Pathology. Hypertension 70:119-128
Hickmann, Linda; Steglich, Anne; Gerlach, Michael et al. (2017) Persistent and inducible neogenesis repopulates progenitor renin lineage cells in the kidney. Kidney Int 92:1419-1432
Gomez, R Ariel (2017) Fate of Renin Cells During Development and Disease. Hypertension 69:387-395
Hu, Yan; Li, Minghong; Göthert, Joachim R et al. (2016) Hemovascular Progenitors in the Kidney Require Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 for Vascular Development. J Am Soc Nephrol 27:1984-95
Lu, Ko-Ting; Keen, Henry L; Weatherford, Eric T et al. (2016) Estrogen Receptor ? Is Required for Maintaining Baseline Renin Expression. Hypertension 67:992-9
Gomez, R Ariel; Sequeira-Lopez, Maria Luisa S (2016) Novel Functions of Renin Precursors in Homeostasis and Disease. Physiology (Bethesda) 31:25-33
Castellanos-Rivera, Ruth M; Pentz, Ellen S; Lin, Eugene et al. (2015) Recombination signal binding protein for Ig-?J region regulates juxtaglomerular cell phenotype by activating the myo-endocrine program and suppressing ectopic gene expression. J Am Soc Nephrol 26:67-80
Lin, Eugene E; Pentz, Ellen S; Sequeira-Lopez, Maria Luisa S et al. (2015) Aldo-keto reductase 1b7, a novel marker for renin cells, is regulated by cyclic AMP signaling. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 309:R576-84
Sequeira-Lopez, Maria Luisa S; Nagalakshmi, Vidya K; Li, Minghong et al. (2015) Vascular versus tubular renin: role in kidney development. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 309:R650-7

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