Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a mediator of renal and cardiovascular function reflected by its capability to eliminate the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II (Ang II) by generating the vasodilator angiotensin (1-7) (Ang (1-7)). ACE2 signaling is critical in promoting cardiovascular and renal health especially under pathological conditions. Deletion of ACE2 produces a mouse phenotype which is essentially normal with respect to basal renal and cardiac function, suggesting an activation of compensatory mechanisms. Indeed, studies have shown that Ang (1-7) is present and actually synthesized in the kidney of ACE2 knock out (ACE2KO) mice. The proposed experiments will work towards understanding the role of ACE2 and Ang (1-7) in renal and cardiovascular function under normal and pathological conditions. The question is what are the feedback mechanisms compensating for ACE2 deficiency in ACE2KO mice thus causing a normal phenotype. Compensatory mechanisms will be characterized by utilizing a newly established, sensitive and highly specific mass spectrometric imaging method, MALDI imaging. This powerful technique will be applied to identify Ang (1-7) generation in the renal cortex. Strategic use of peptide substrates and specific inhibitors will assign enzymatic activity to one of the two other known peptidases capable of forming Ang (1-7) from Ang II, prolyl oligopeptidase and prolyl carboxypeptidase. Real time PCR, Western Blot and immunohistochemical techniques will correlate enzyme activity with gene and protein levels. The response of these compensatory mechanisms, in particular activities of prolyl oligopeptidase and prolyl carboxypeptidase as well as Ang II/Ang (1-7) peptide levels, will be further characterized after chronic infusion of Ang II, a pathological insult known to cause hypertension and renal damage. The resulting changes in cardiovascular and renal function will be monitored by radiotelemetric blood pressure measurements, urinary volume and albumin/creatinine excretion, histological examination of kidney tissue and Ang II/Ang (1-7) peptide level analysis in urine, blood and kidney. Identification of molecular mechanisms compensating ACE2 deficiency may contribute to a better understanding of the causes of renal and cardiovascular pathologies and may aid towards the development of pharmacological strategies against these diseases.

Public Health Relevance

There is much need for new strategies to prevent kidney and cardiovascular disease, leading causes of death in the U.S.A. This research program uses newly developed, state-of-the-art tissue imaging techniques to examine the mechanisms by which local peptide hormones regulate kidney/cardiovascular function. The goal is to uncover new therapeutic approaches which may target the diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32DK093226-01
Application #
8202684
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-G (M1))
Program Officer
Rankin, Tracy L
Project Start
2011-09-01
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$48,398
Indirect Cost
Name
Wright State University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047814256
City
Dayton
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45435
Grobe, Nadja; Elased, Khalid M (2017) Analysis of Angiotensin Metabolism in the Kidney Using Mass Spectrometry. Methods Mol Biol 1614:189-197
Grobe, Nadja; Di Fulvio, Mauricio; Kashkari, Nada et al. (2015) Functional and molecular evidence for expression of the renin angiotensin system and ADAM17-mediated ACE2 shedding in COS7 cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 308:C767-77
Stavrou, Evi X; Fang, Chao; Merkulova, Alona et al. (2015) Reduced thrombosis in Klkb1-/- mice is mediated by increased Mas receptor, prostacyclin, Sirt1, and KLF4 and decreased tissue factor. Blood 125:710-9
Grobe, Nadja; Leiva, Orly; Morris, Mariana et al. (2015) Loss of prolyl carboxypeptidase in two-kidney, one-clip goldblatt hypertensive mice. PLoS One 10:e0117899
Alghamri, Mahmoud S; Morris, Mariana; Meszaros, J Gary et al. (2014) Novel role of aminopeptidase-A in angiotensin-(1-7) metabolism post myocardial infarction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 306:H1032-40
Salem, Esam S B; Grobe, Nadja; Elased, Khalid M (2014) Insulin treatment attenuates renal ADAM17 and ACE2 shedding in diabetic Akita mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 306:F629-39
Chodavarapu, Harshita; Grobe, Nadja; Somineni, Hari K et al. (2013) Rosiglitazone treatment of type 2 diabetic db/db mice attenuates urinary albumin and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 excretion. PLoS One 8:e62833
Fang, Chao; Stavrou, Evi; Schmaier, Alec A et al. (2013) Angiotensin 1-7 and Mas decrease thrombosis in Bdkrb2-/- mice by increasing NO and prostacyclin to reduce platelet spreading and glycoprotein VI activation. Blood 121:3023-32
Grobe, Nadja; Weir, Nathan M; Leiva, Orly et al. (2013) Identification of prolyl carboxypeptidase as an alternative enzyme for processing of renal angiotensin II using mass spectrometry. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 304:C945-53
Grobe, Nadja; Elased, Khalid M; Cool, David R et al. (2012) Mass spectrometry for the molecular imaging of angiotensin metabolism in kidney. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 302:E1016-24