Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Target Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Query: UMLS:C0033687 (
proteinuria
)
24,015
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Angiotensin (Ang) II is generated within the kidney via a complex transcellular pathway. Renin release is not the sole determinant of
Ang II
levels; the expression of angiotensinogen, Ang-converting enzyme, and angiotensinases may also regulate local
Ang II
. The
Ang II
levels in some intrarenal compartments are several orders of magnitude higher than in plasma; plasma measurements may not always predict local
Ang II
levels. Besides its effects on systemic blood pressure,
Ang II
modulates glomerular hemodynamics by constricting preferentially the efferent arteriole. The evidence available indicates that both the hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic effects of
Ang II
are mediated by the type 1
Ang II
receptor. Nonhemodynamic effects of
Ang II
include stimulation of the growth of renal vascular and glomerular cells, increased synthesis of matrix molecules, and possibly a stimulation of monocyte/macrophage infiltration. These effects of the octapeptide may contribute to glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. Intervention studies have shown that blockade of
Ang II
formation by Ang-converting enzyme inhibition reduces
proteinuria
and delays the progression of renal insufficiency in patients with diabetic and nondiabetic glomerular diseases.
...
PMID:Role of angiotensin II in glomerular injury: lessons from experimental and clinical studies. 895 37
In several models of renal disease progression, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduced
proteinuria
and limited glomerulosclerosis, which suggested that reduction of renal angiotensin II (
Ang II
) activity is crucial for the preservation of glomerular structure and function. However, it cannot be ruled out that other hormonal systems, including inhibition of the bradykinin breakdown, also play a role. We compared the effects of chronic treatment with the ACE inhibitor lisinopril with those of a specific
Ang II
receptor antagonist, L-158,809, on
proteinuria
and renal injury in passive Heymann nephritis (PHN), a model of immune renal disease that closely resembles human membranous nephropathy, with long-lasting
proteinuria
followed by tubulointerstitial damage and glomerulosclerosis. Passive Heymann nephritis was induced with 0.5 mL/100 g of rabbit anti-Fx1A antibody in 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into three groups of eight rats each, and were given the following in the drinking water on a daily basis: lisinopril (40 mg/L), L-158,809 (50 mg/L), or no therapy. Treatment started at day 7 (
proteinuria
was already present) and lasted 12 months. Eight normal rats were used as controls. Untreated PHN rats developed hypertension, while rats with PHN given lisinopril or L-158,809 all had systolic blood pressure values even lower than those of normal rats. Urinary protein excretion progressively increased with time in untreated PHN rats, who developed tubulointerstitial damage and glomerulosclerosis. Both lisinopril and L-158,809 exhibited a potent antiproteinuric effect and preserved glomerular and tubular structural integrity at a similar extent. Renal gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta and extracellular matrix proteins was also effectively reduced by the two treatments. These results indicate that ACE inhibitors and
Ang II
receptor antagonists are equally effective in preventing renal injury in PHN and suggest that the renoprotective effects of ACE inhibitors in this model are solely due to inhibition of
Ang II
.
...
PMID:The renoprotective properties of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in a chronic model of membranous nephropathy are solely due to the inhibition of angiotensin II: evidence based on comparative studies with a receptor antagonist. 901 98
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors diminish
proteinuria
and the progression to renal failure in several experimental models of renal injury. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) possesses potent biological actions on renal vessels and has been considered as a potential mediator of renal damage. Because angiotensin II (
Ang II
) induces ET-1 synthesis in endothelial and mesangial cells, we hypothesized that some of the beneficial effects of the ACE inhibitors could result from the blockade of ET-1 synthesis. In a normotensive model of immune-complex nephritis, in which there exists an increase in renal ACE activity, the effect of the ACE inhibitor quinapril on preproET-1 and ETA receptor mRNA expression, as well as on ET-1 protein levels, was examined in this study. In relation to controls, nephritic rats showed an increase in preproET-1 and ETA receptor gene expression in renal cortex and medulla, coinciding with the maximal renal ACE activity. PreproET-1 mRNA (in situ hybridization) and ET-1 protein (immunohistochemistry) were localized in glomerular capillary walls, mesangial and glomerular epithelial cells, as well as in the brush border of some proximal tubules, and in small vessels. In nephritic rats, there was an increase in preproET-1 mRNA levels and ET-1 protein in all of these areas, without modification of their distribution. The administration of the ACE inhibitor quinapril decreased
proteinuria
and morphological lesions, preproET-1 gene transcription, and ET-1 protein levels, as well as the ETA receptor mRNA. The results from this study show that in a normotensive model of immune-complex nephritis, there was an overexpression of ET-1 in several structures of the kidney that was downregulated by quinapril administration. The beneficial effect of ACE inhibitors could be a result of the modulation of local production of
Ang II
and ET-1.
...
PMID:Quinapril decreases renal endothelin-1 expression and synthesis in a normotensive model of immune-complex nephritis. 917 45
In the glomerulus, angiotensin II (
Ang II
) reduces the ultrafiltration coefficient and enhances the filtration of macromolecules. During glomerular injury, inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system by angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors reduces
proteinuria
and retards the progression to end-stage renal insufficiency. The mechanisms by which
Ang II
modulates glomerular function are still a matter of investigation. To study whether
Ang II
may regulate the cytosolic calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) in podocytes, these cells were propagated in short-term culture and the effect of
Ang II
was examined with the Fura-2 microfluorescence technique in single podocytes. The cellular identity of cultured podocytes was proven by the expression of WT-1 and pp44, specific antibodies against podocytes in vivo.
Ang II
led to a concentration-dependent, reversible and slow increase of [Ca2+]i with an EC50 of 3 nmol/liter
Ang II
(N = 229). Ten nmol/liter
Ang II
increased [Ca2+]i from 41 +/- 9 to 260 +/- 34 nmol/liter (N = 210). In a solution with an extracellular reduced Ca2+ concentration of 10 micromol/liter,
Ang II
-mediated [Ca2+]i increase was significantly reduced by 60 +/- 20% (N = 12), indicating that the [Ca2+]i increase was due to a Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space and a release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Flufenamate, an inhibitor of non-selective ion channels, significantly inhibited
Ang II
-mediated increase of [Ca2+]i (IC50 = 20 micromol/liter, N = 29), whereas the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nicardipine even in high concentrations of > 1 micromol/liter had only a small inhibitory effect. The AT1 receptor antagonist losartan inhibited
Ang II
-mediated [Ca2+]i increase with an IC50 of about 0.3 nmol/liter (N = 35). The data suggest that
Ang II
increases [Ca2+]i in podocytes by an influx of Ca2+ through non-selective channels and by a release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The effect of
Ang II
is mediated via an AT1 receptor.
...
PMID:Angiotensin II increases the cytosolic calcium activity in rat podocytes in culture. 929 Nov 88
An interaction between angiotensin (Ang) II and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 is gaining increasing recognition.
Ang II
has been implicated in the progression of renal disease, and TGF-beta 1 is a potent fibrosis-promoting cytokine. We sought to determine whether the beneficial effects of renin-angiotensin system blockade on remnant kidney function were associated with a reduction in renal TGF-beta 1 in this model of chronic renal failure. After subtotal renal ablation, rats fed a 40% protein diet and treated with losartan not only had a reduction in systolic BP (96 +/- 8 versus 130 +/- 8 mmHg, P < 0.05, losartan versus control) and urinary protein excretion (4 +/- 5 versus 23 +/- 20 g/d, P < 0.05, losartan versus control), but also exhibited a reduction in renal TGF-beta 1 mRNA (194 +/- 64 versus 411 +/- 101 optical density units, P < 0.05, losartan versus control) and TGF-beta 1 protein levels (9.8 +/- 2.5 versus 18.6 +/- 5.8 ng/g of renal tissue, P < 0.05, losartan versus control). The elevation of TGF-beta 1 in the remnant kidney was most pronounced in the scar region (22.9 +/- 13.1 versus 5.8 +/- 3.7 ng/g, P < 0.05, scar versus nonscar). A combination of reserpine, hydralazine, and hydrochlorothiazide, although effective in lowering systemic BP in this model of chronic renal failure, was not associated with a reduction in
proteinuria
or TGF-beta 1. We conclude that in this model of progressive renal injury,
Ang II
antagonism may exert a beneficial effect in part by its negative influence on TGF-beta 1.
...
PMID:Interaction of angiotensin II and TGF-beta 1 in the rat remnant kidney. 935 76
We previously reported a new animal model of progressive glomerulonephritis induced by a single intravenous injection of the anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody MoAb 1-22-3 into uninephrectomized rats (Clin Exp Immunol 102: 181-185, 1995). We examined the effects of angiotensin II (
Ang II
) receptor antagonist (candesartan) on the clinical features and morphological lesions of this new model. By 10 weeks after induction of nephritis, untreated rats had developed hypertension, massive
proteinuria
, renal dysfunction, and severe glomerular injury, while uninephrectomized control rats had not. There was a significant increase in levels of glomerular protein and cortical mRNA for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and type I and type III collagens in untreated nephritic rats. Ten week treatments with candesartan and hydralazine significantly reduced blood pressure (BP) to an equal extent. Candesartan, but not hydralazine, prevented
proteinuria
, normalized renal function, and ameliorated glomerular injury. Candesartan also reduced levels of glomerular protein and cortical mRNA for TGF-beta and type I and type III collagens, while hydralazine did not. These findings suggest that candesartan prevents progression to end-stage renal failure by modulating the effects of
Ang II
at least in part on the production of TGF-beta and type I and type III collagens, and not merely on systemic BP.
...
PMID:Candesartan prevents the progression of mesangioproliferative nephritis in rats. 940 66
Chronic treatment of saline-drinking stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) with agents that interfere with the formation or actions of angiotensin II (
Ang II
) prevents the development of stroke and renal vascular damage.
Ang II
, in addition to its direct vascular effects, stimulates the synthesis and release of aldosterone. To assess the role of aldosterone in the development of pathologic changes in these rats, we implanted time-release pellets containing 200 mg of the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, spironolactone, into 14 SHRSP at 7.5 weeks of age. Eight SHRSP littermates received placebo pellets. Over the period of study (3 to 4 weeks), systolic blood pressure (SBP) was not different between the groups. Spironolactone did not enhance water and electrolyte excretion. All placebo-treated SHRSP developed marked
proteinuria
(150+/-6 mg/d) whereas in spironolactone-treated SHRSP, urinary protein excretion (UPE) averaged 39+/-9 mg/d (P<.0001). In a second study to assess effects on survival, 6 SHRSP received spironolactone (10 mg/kg/d) and 6 received vehicle. All but one of the control rats displayed signs of stroke and died by 16 weeks of age, while the spironolactone-treated SHRSP remained asymptomatic through 19 weeks of age (P<.03). At 16 weeks of age, spironolactone-treated SHRSP were severely hypertensive (247+/-3 mm Hg), yet UPE remained at baseline levels. In contrast, preterminal UPE averaged 136+/-13 mg/d in control rats (P<.0001). In both studies, histopathologic examination revealed a marked protective effect of spironolactone against the development of malignant nephrosclerotic and cerebrovascular lesions. These observations indicate a vascular and end organ protective effect of spironolactone in the absence of lowered blood pressure in saline-drinking SHRSP and are consistent with a major role for mineralocorticoids as hormonal mediators of vascular injury.
...
PMID:Mineralocorticoid blockade reduces vascular injury in stroke-prone hypertensive rats. 945 44
Recently, we have reported that endothelin-1 (ET-1) production is increased in blood vessels and glomeruli of rats with chronic renal failure. This study was design to investigate the role of angiotensin II (
Ang II
) in endogenous ET-1 production in rats with reduced renal mass. One week after subtotal (5/6) nephrectomy, uremic rats were divided into three groups, and received either no treatment, the
Ang II
subtype 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist losartan (10 mg/kg/day), or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) captopril (30 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks. Sham-operated rats were used as controls and received no treatment. The levels of immunoreactive ET-1 (ir-ET-1) in plasma and urine, as well as in vascular and renal tissues, were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) after extraction. In uremic rats, losartan and captopril completely prevented the increase in systolic blood pressure. At week 6, plasma ir-ET-1 was similar in the different groups of uremic rats and in the controls. However, ir-ET-1 concentration in the mesenteric arterial bed, the thoracic aorta, preglomerular arteries, and glomeruli, as well as urinary ir-ET-1 excretion were significantly greater in uremic-untreated rats compared to controls (P < .01). Treatment of uremic rats with losartan or captopril reduced irET-1 concentration in the thoracic aorta and preglomerular arteries (P < .05), but ir-ET-1 concentration in the mesenteric arterial bed was unchanged. Although both drugs completely prevented the increase in
proteinuria
, losartan but not captopril significantly reduced ir-ET-1 concentration in glomeruli (P < .05) and normalized urinary ir-ET-1 excretion. This indicates that increased ET-1 production in blood vessels and glomeruli of uremic rats is modulated, at least in part, by
Ang II
through the AT1 receptor. The beneficial effects of the AT1 antagonist losartan could be attributable to the attenuation of
Ang II
-induced ET-1 production in this rat remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure, whereas those of the ACE-I captopril are not related to changes in ET-1 production in glomeruli.
...
PMID:Effects of losartan and captopril on endothelin-1 production in blood vessels and glomeruli of rats with reduced renal mass. 971 93
Persistent
proteinuria
is considered a deleterious prognostic factor in most progressive renal diseases. However, the mechanisms by which
proteinuria
induces renal damage remain undetermined. Since proximal tubular cells possess all the machinery to generate angiotensin II (
Ang II
), we approached the hypothesis that
proteinuria
could elicit the renal activation of the renin-angiotensin system in a model of intense
proteinuria
and interstitial nephritis induced by protein overload. After uninephrectomy (UNX), Wistar-Kyoto rats received daily injections of 1 g BSA or saline for 8 days. The mean peak of
proteinuria
was observed at the fourth day (538+/-89 versus 3+/-1 mg/24 h in UNX controls; n=12; P<0.05) and was increased during the whole study period (at the eighth day: 438+/-49 mg/24 h; n=12; P=NS). Morphological examination of the kidneys at the end of the study showed marked tubular lesions (atrophy, vacuolization, dilation, and casts), interstitial infiltration of mononuclear cells, and mesangial expansion. In relation to UNX control rats, renal cortex of BSA-overloaded rats showed an increment in the gene expression of angiotensinogen (2.4-fold) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (2.1-fold), as well as a diminution in renin gene expression. No changes were observed in angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor mRNA expression in both groups of rats. By in situ reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, ACE expression (gene and protein) was mainly localized in proximal and distal tubules and in the glomeruli. By immunohistochemistry, angiotensinogen was localized only in proximal tubules, and AT1 receptor was localized mainly in proximal and distal tubules. In the tubular brush border, an increase in ACE activity was also seen (5. 5+/-0.5 versus 3.1+/-0.7 U/mg protein x10(-4) in UNX control; n=7; P<0.05). Our results show that in the kidney of rats with intense
proteinuria
, ACE and angiotensinogen were upregulated, while gene expression of renin was inhibited and AT1 was unmodified. On the whole, these data suggest an increase in
Ang II
intrarenal generation. Since
Ang II
can elicit renal cell growth and matrix production through the activation of AT1 receptor, this peptide may be responsible for the tubulointerstitial lesions occurring in this model. These results suggest a novel mechanism by which
proteinuria
may participate in the progression of renal diseases.
...
PMID:Angiotensin-converting enzyme is upregulated in the proximal tubules of rats with intense proteinuria. 1002 37
Angiotensin (Ang) II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists are orally active drugs that specifically block the subtype 1 of Ang receptors. In contrast to AT1 receptor antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors block the actions of
Ang II
incompletely. Furthermore, the bradykinin-potentiating effects of ACE inhibitors may contribute to the mechanism of action of ACE inhibitors. Data in experimental animals suggest that AT1 receptor antagonists decrease the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to a lesser degree than ACE inhibitors. The greater effect of ACE inhibitors in decreasing glomerular pressure was attenuated with a bradykinin antagonist. In rat models of renal damage with
proteinuria
, acute reduction of
proteinuria
was seen with ACE inhibitors but not with AT1 receptor antagonists, whereas long-term reductions of
proteinuria
were of similar magnitude with both agents. Renal histology after several months revealed that AT1 receptor antagonists and ACE inhibitors were equally renoprotective in various renal damage models. AT1 receptor antagonists, like ACE inhibitors, exhibit a natriuretic effect equal to moderate doses of a thiazide diuretic. In patients with severe volume depletion, use of AT1 receptor antagonists may lead to acute renal failure. Valsartan was tested in a double-blind trial in patients with moderate to severe renal failure and led to a substantial decrease in diastolic and systolic blood pressure, whereas there was no difference from placebo for changes in GFR. Urine protein increased with placebo and decreased with valsartan. The data indicate that valsartan in renal failure patients is effective in lowering blood pressure while leaving renal excretory function unaltered. Whether there is a renoprotective effect can only be shown in long-term trials, which are under way.
...
PMID:Valsartan and the kidney: present and future. 1002 53
<< Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next >>