Obesity and diabetes lead to high circulating levels of insulin and high blood pressure (BP). However, mechanisms underlying these associations are in dire need of clarification. For example, in the kidney, insulin, through its own receptor, can lead to sodium retention, and activate the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Nonetheless, insulin can also increase the production of nitric oxide (NO), which has been shown to reduce the activity of ENaC. Thus, these two actions of insulin would be expected to have opposing effects on BP. To better elucidate the role of the insulin receptor in the kidney, we have developed an transgenic mouse with """"""""knockout"""""""" (KO) or deletion of the insulin receptor (IR) in the distal tubule of the kidney (IRKO). These mice survive and grow normally, but have significantly higher basal BP. They are also impaired in their ability to rapidly excrete a NaCl load, as well as, have blunted rise in urinary nitrates plus nitrites (a urinary form of NO) excretion in the basal state and after insulin treatment. Thus our hypothesis is that IR in the kidney may have a previously unappreciated role in facilitating volume excretion and in the maintenance of normal BP. We further suggest these deficiencies arise directly as the result of impaired NO production with subsequent over-activity of ENaC. Three main aims are outlined below.
Aim 1 is to determine whether reduced renal NOS activity in the distal tubule is a mechanistic determinant of the sodium-excretory defect and elevated BP in the IRKO mice. Renal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity will be measured in inner medulla, outer medulla, and cortex, as well as, microdissected proximal tubule, thick ascending limb, and collecting duct from fed and fasted IRKO and WT mice. We will also test the direct effects of insulin on NOS activity and NO levels in inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cultures. Finally, we will test whether molsidomine, an NO donor, restores NO levels, as well as normalizes BP and sodium excretion in IRKO mice.
Aim 2 is to determine whether increased activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a mechanistic determinant of the sodium-excretory defect and elevated BP in the IRKO mice. For this aim, we will test whether benzamil, an antagonist of ENaC, abolishes differences in BP and natriuresis. ENaC regulation will be examined in native tissue and in primary IMCD cells. Finally, in Aim 3 we determine whether distinct IR signaling relating to ENaC activation and NO generation is altered in the IRKO mouse IMCD. Phosphorylation of critical proteins involved in IR signal transmission from the receptor to the activation of ENaC and nitric oxide synthase will be evaluated. These proteins include, but are not limited to, the insulin receptor substrate (IRS), phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI-3K), and the serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK1). Overall, these studies will highly elucidate the role of insulin in the the distal tubule with regard to its role in blood control and sodium regulation. Moreover, they may provide insight into the pathology underlying hypertension associated with the metabolic syndrome.

Public Health Relevance

Insulin resistance is associated with high circulating plasma levels of insulin, as well as, increased blood pressure;however, cellular mechanisms relating the two are not well understood. The kidney, a major regulator of blood pressure, expresses insulin receptors along the renal tubule;however, their role there is undefined. These studies are aimed at elucidating insulin's role in the distal tubule, which will hopefully allow for earlier and better targeted treatments in obesity and diabetes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DK082507-01A2
Application #
7887108
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Kidney Study Section (CMBK)
Program Officer
Rys-Sikora, Krystyna E
Project Start
2010-05-15
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-15
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$379,042
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgetown University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
049515844
City
Washington
State
DC
Country
United States
Zip Code
20057
Li, Lijun; Byrd, Marcus; Doh, Kwame et al. (2016) Absence of renal enlargement in fructose-fed proximal-tubule-select insulin receptor (IR), insulin-like-growth factor receptor (IGF1R) double knockout mice. Physiol Rep 4:
Zhang, Yue; Robson, Simon C; Morris, Kaiya L et al. (2015) Impaired natriuretic response to high-NaCl diet plus aldosterone infusion in mice overexpressing human CD39, an ectonucleotidase (NTPDase1). Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 308:F1398-408
Pandey, Gaurav; Makhija, Ekta; George, Nelson et al. (2015) Insulin regulates nitric oxide production in the kidney collecting duct cells. J Biol Chem 290:5582-91
Sharma, Nikhil; Li, Lijun; Ecelbarger, C M (2015) Sex differences in renal and metabolic responses to a high-fructose diet in mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 308:F400-10
Kishore, B K; Carlson, N G; Ecelbarger, C M et al. (2015) Targeting renal purinergic signalling for the treatment of lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 214:176-88
Kishore, Bellamkonda K; Ecelbarger, Carolyn M (2013) Lithium: a versatile tool for understanding renal physiology. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 304:F1139-49
Pavlov, Tengis S; Ilatovskaya, Daria V; Levchenko, Vladislav et al. (2013) Regulation of ENaC in mice lacking renal insulin receptors in the collecting duct. FASEB J 27:2723-32
Tiwari, Swasti; Singh, Ravi Shankar; Li, Lijun et al. (2013) Deletion of the insulin receptor in the proximal tubule promotes hyperglycemia. J Am Soc Nephrol 24:1209-14
Li, Lijun; Garikepati, R Mayuri; Tsukerman, Susanna et al. (2013) Reduced ENaC activity and blood pressure in mice with genetic knockout of the insulin receptor in the renal collecting duct. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 304:F279-88
Ecelbarger, Carolyn M (2012) The elusive phosphotyrosine: pinning down a rare species. Focus on ""Large-scale phosphotyrosine proteomic profiling of rat renal collecting duct epithelium reveals predominance of proteins involved in cell polarity determination"". Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 302:C16-7

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications