the Department of Internal Medicine III (H.S., S.M., T.K., S.H., T.W.), Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Pathology (J.Y., R.A.F.), University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Va
Department of Pediatrics and Physiology and Biophysics (J.X., Y.L., X.W., I.A., P.A.J.), Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Department of Cardiology (C.Z.), Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China.
Abstract
Abnormalities in D1 dopamine receptor function in the kidney are present in some types of human essential and rodent genetic hypertension. We hypothesize that increased activity of G protein–coupled receptor kinase type 4 (GRK4) causes the impaired renal D1 receptor function in hypertension. We measured renal GRK4 and D1 and serine-phosphorylated D1 receptors and determined the effect of decreasing renal GRK4 protein by the chronic renal cortical interstitial infusion (4 weeks) of GRK4 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (As-Odns) in conscious- uninephrectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and their normotensive controls, Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats. Basal GRK4 expression and serine-phosphorylated D1 receptors were &90% higher in SHRs than in WKY rats and were decreased to a greater extent in SHRs than in WKY rats with GRK4 As-Odns treatment. Basal renal D1 receptor protein was similar in both rat strains. GRK4 As-Odns, but not scrambled oligodeoxynucleotides, increased sodium excretion and urine volume, attenuated the increase in arterial blood pressure with age, and decreased protein excretion in SHRs, effects that were not observed in WKY rats. These studies provide direct evidence of a crucial role of renal GRK4 in the D1 receptor control of sodium excretion and blood pressure in genetic hypertension.
Key Words: kidney blood pressure receptors, dopamine rats, spontaneously hypertensive
Introduction
Dopamine, produced by renal proximal tubules via D1-like receptors, is responsible for >50% of sodium excretion during moderate sodium surfeit.1,2 However, the dopaminergic paracrine regulation of renal tubular sodium handling is defective in salt-sensitive human essential hypertension and rodent models of genetic hypertension, for example, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).1–3 The renal dopaminergic defect in hypertension has been attributed to a diminished D1-like receptor inhibition of sodium transport in the proximal tubule and the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle. The impairment of D1-like receptor function in the kidney in genetic hypertension is not caused by abnormalities in the expression or primary structure of the 2 D1-like receptors (D1 and D5), G proteins, or effector proteins.1,2 Rather, the D1-like receptor is uncoupled from its G protein/effector protein complex in the kidney. The renal D1-like receptor uncoupling in rodent genetic hypertension is receptor and organ specific and cosegregates with and precedes the onset of hypertension.1,2
The uncoupling of the D1-like receptor from its effector proteins in the kidney in hypertension is associated with increased phosphorylation of the D1 receptor.4,5 In human essential hypertension, single nucleotide polymorphisms of the G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase 4 (GRK4) are associated with constitutive phosphorylation and desensitization of the D1 receptor in renal proximal tubules.4–6 These lead to sodium retention and hypertension. Indeed, transgenic mice expressing the GRK4 variant, GRK4A142V, develop hypertension that is associated with an impaired D1 receptor–mediated natriuresis.5
To determine whether aberrant GRK4 function contributes to the impaired renal D1 receptor function in SHRs, we studied the renal expression of GRK4 and the effects of decreasing its expression in the kidney by a chronic renal cortical interstitial infusion of GRK4 antisense (As) oligodeoxynucleotides (Odns) in conscious SHRs and their normotensive controls, Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats. If an increased GRK4 activity in the kidney is responsible for the increased blood pressure in SHRs, this maneuver should improve D1 receptor–mediated renal tubular handling of sodium and ameliorate the high blood pressure in SHRs without affecting these variables in WKY rats.
Methods
Animals
Four-week–old male WKY rats and SHRs (Japan SLC Inc, Sendai, Japan) were fed 0.26% NaCl chow (Japan CLEA) and tap water. At 5 weeks of age, the diet was changed to 4% NaCl chow. NaCl diet was increased, because the natriuretic effect of D1 receptor stimulation is most evident under conditions of sodium loading.1–3 Unmanipulated 8-week-old WKY rats and SHRs were also studied. All of the animal experimental procedures were approved by the Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine Animal Committee.
Uninephrectomy and Renal Cortical Interstitial Catheter Implantation
Under pentobarbital (50 mg/kg, IP) anesthesia, the right kidney was removed, and a catheter (8-mm polyethylene 10 tube connected to a 4-cm polyethylene 60 tube by Bipax epoxy resin glue) was implanted 3 to 4 mm deep from the outer edge of the lower pole of the remaining left kidney, as reported previously.7 At day 0, an osmotic minipump was placed in the space where the right kidney was removed (1 μL/h, Alzet Corporation) for the continuous cortical interstitial infusion of lactated Ringer’s solution. At day 7, the rats were anesthetized and the implanted minipump replaced with another that infused As-Odn, scrambled oligonucleotides (50 nmol per day), or lactated Ringer’s solution (vehicle) at 0.2 μL/h for 4 weeks.
Urine was collected for 24 hours, twice a week. Sodium concentrations were measured by ion electrode detection. Unanesthetized systolic blood pressures were measured twice a week by the tail-cuff method (Blood Pressure Analyzer model BP-98A, Softron).
After 4 weeks, the rats were anesthetized and perfused with 50 mL of lactated Ringer’s solution. The remaining kidney and heart were quickly removed, weighed, flash frozen, and stored at –70°C. In some rats, the kidneys were fixed with Histochoice and cryoprotected with 30% sucrose.
Design and Synthesis of Odn
The nucleotide sequences of purified rhodamine-conjugated propyne/phosphorothioate–modified rat GRK4 Odns (Greiner) were: As-Odn, 209 5'-CATGAAGTTCTC CAGTTCCAT-3' 189; and scrambled Odn (Scr-Odn), 5'-ATTTTCCATACGCC GCATTAG-3'.8,9 These sequences have no homology with other mammalian sequences in GenBank (Accession No X97568).
GRK4 Antibody Design
The GRK4 antibody used in these studies was raised in rabbit (94065) against the peptide EYEDKGLSPLEKHKICSC (Research Genetics, Huntsville, AL), which is 100% homologous to both rat GRK4A (amino acids 526 to 543; GenBank Accession No CAA66180) and GRK4B (amino acids 495 to 512; GenBank Accession No CAA66181).10 The affinity-purified (SulfoLink, product 44895, Pierce) antibodies were used in the experiments.
Immunohistochemistry for GRK4
Three-μm tissue sections were incubated with anti-rat GRK4 antibodies or GRK4 antibodies preadsorbed by the immunizing peptide (10x weight/weight, relative to antibody). Immunostaining was detected with an avidin–biotin immunoperoxidase kit (Vectastain Elite kit or ABC/Peroxidase kit, Vector Laboratories) and diaminobenzidine (Sigma Fast DAB Tablets, Sigma). The kidneys were lightly counterstained with hematoxylin. Some flash-frozen kidney sections were also examined by fluorescence microscopy to verify diffusion of the Odns.
Immunoprecipitation and Immunoblotting
Renal cortical or cardiac ventricular proteins were subjected to immunoblotting or immunoprecipitation, as reported previously.4–7,10,11 The membranes were probed with polyclonal anti-rat GRK4, anti-human GRK4 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc, Santa Cruz, CA), anti-rat D1 receptor, anti-phosphoserine (Zymed), or monoclonal -actin antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc). The specificities of the anti-rat D1 receptor and anti-phosphoserine antibodies have already been established.4–6,10 The bands were visualized by enhanced chemiluminescence reagents (Amersham Corp), and the density of the bands was quantified by densitometry using Quantiscan.
Statistical Analysis
The data are expressed as mean±SE. Comparisons within and among groups were made by repeated measures or factorial ANOVA, respectively, followed by Duncan’s test. Student t test was used for 2-group comparison. P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results
There were no differences in body weight, water intake, and sodium output among the groups at the beginning of the study. Systolic blood pressures were higher in SHRs than in WKY rats. Baseline sodium output was similar among the groups, but baseline urine output was greater in WKY rats than in SHRs. The nephrectomized kidney weight, as a percentage of body weight, was similar in all groups. (Table I, available in an online supplement at http://www.hypertensionaha.org).
GRK4 Antibody Characterization
Several bands at 65, 60, and 54 kDa were detected in rat renal cortex membranes, probably representing GRK4A, B8, and E, respectively, according to their molecular sizes. The 54- and 60-kDa bands were no longer visible or diminished (65 kDa) when the antibody was preadsorbed by its immunizing peptide (peptide+; Figure 1A). Bands of similar sizes were detected by the antibody, as well as by an antibody to the V5 tag in HEK-293 cells, heterologously expressing V5/His-tagged rat GRK4A (&65 kDa) and rat GRK4B (&60 kDa), confirming the specificity of the GRK4 antibody (Figure 1B). Faint bands were seen in the empty vector-transfected HEK 293 cells, indicating minimal endogenous expression of GRK4 in these cells (Figure 1B).
Distribution of GRK4 in the Kidney
In both WKY and SHRs, GRK4 expression was most evident in subapical membranes of renal proximal tubules and thick ascending limbs of Henle and arteries. There was much less staining in glomeruli. The expression of GRK4 in renal arterioles suggests regulation of the D1 receptor in rat renal resistance vessels (Figure 2A and 2B).12,13
Expression of GRK4, D1, and Serine-Phosphorylated D1 Receptors in Renal Cortex
Renal cortical GRK4 protein was increased in unmanipulated SHRs compared with unmanipulated WKY rats (Figure 3A and Figure I, available online), as well as in vehicle-treated SHRs compared with vehicle-treated WKY rats (Figure 3B). These results were confirmed using another antibody (anti-human GRK4 ; Figure II, available online). Although GRK4 Scr-Odns slightly increased GRK4 expression in WKY rats, GRK4 expression was still less than in vehicle or Scr-Odn–treated SHRs. However, GRK4 As-Odn decreased GRK4 expression in both WKY rats and SHRs such that there was no longer any difference between them. Cardiac GRK4 expression was similar in the 2 rat strains (Figure 3C), indicating that the increased GRK4 expression in hypertension has organ specificity. Cardiac GRK4 expression was not affected by Odn treatment, indicating confinement of the intrarenal Odn treatment to the kidney.
Renal cortical D1 receptor protein was similar in vehicle-treated WKY rats and SHRs (Figure 4A). In contrast, levels of serine-phosphorylated D1 receptors were increased in membranes of vehicle-treated SHRs, as reflected by the increased ratio of serine-phosphorylated/total D1 receptor protein (Figure 4B).
Effect of Treatment With GRK4 Odn
At the end of the study, WKY rats weighed more than SHRs. After 4 weeks of infusion of vehicle or Odns, the weight of the remnant left kidney in the As-Odn–treated SHRs was similar to other groups except for Scr-Odn–treated WKY rats (Table). As-Odn–treated SHR kidneys weighed less than Scr-Odn–treated and WKY rat kidneys. The heart weight was greater in SHRs than in WKY animals and was unaffected by any of the treatments. Food and water intake, urinary output, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine were similar in all of the groups. At the end of the study, protein excretion was higher in SHRs than in WKY rats regardless of the treatment. However, SHRs treated with As-Odn excreted significantly less protein than SHRs treated with vehicle or with Sdr-Odns (Table).
Characteristics of WKY Rats and SHRs at the End of the Study
Effect of GRK4 Odn on Blood Pressure
In WKY rats, blood pressure did not increase with age and was not affected by vehicle or Odn treatment. In SHRs, blood pressures increased with age. However, GRK4 As-Odn treatment caused a marked attenuation in the increase in blood pressure (relative to vehicle- and Sc-Odn–treated SHRs) that started at 6.5 weeks of age and persisted until the end of the study (9.5 weeks of age). Nevertheless, SHR blood pressures were still higher than age-matched WKY rats (Figure 5A).
Effect of GRK4 Odn on Urine Flow, Sodium Excretion, and Sodium Balance
Sodium excretion increased to a greater extent in WKY rats than in vehicle or Scr-Odn–treated SHRs. After 2.5 weeks of Odn or vehicle infusion, sodium output of As-Odn–treated SHRs was greater than vehicle- or Scr-Odn–treated SHRs and similar to the vehicle- and Odn-treated WKY rats (Figure 5B). Daily sodium balance (sodium intake minus urine sodium) from 7.5 to 9.5 weeks of age (age when the study ended) was significantly less (P<0.05 ANOVA, Duncan’s test) in As-Odn–treated SHRs than in Scr-Odn- or vehicle-treated SHRs and approximated those observed in vehicle and Odn-treated WKY rats (Table).
Effect of GRK4 Odn on Renal and Cardiac Expression of GRK4 and D1 Receptor
Treatment with GRK4 As-Odn but not with GRK4 Scr-Odn decreased the levels of immunoreactive GRK4 in renal cortical homogenates (Figure 3B) without affecting the levels of immunoreactive GRK2 (Figure III, available online). GRK4 As-Odns also seemed to reduce GRK4 immunostaining in rat kidney (Figure IVA, available online). These studies show the specificity of our GRK4 antibody and of the GRK4 Odns and attest to specificity of the effects of GRK4 As-Odn to GRK4 protein. Fluorescence microscopy showed diffusion of the GRK4 Odns throughout the kidney cortex; no fluorescence was noted in vehicle-infused kidneys (Figure IVB, available online).
Renal cortical GRK4 protein was greater in SHRs that were treated with vehicle or GRK4 Scr-Odn than in comparably treated WKY rats. Although GRK4 Scr-Odns slightly increased GRK4 expression in WKY rats, GRK4 expression was still less than in vehicle or Scr-Odn–treated SHRs. However, GRK4 As-Odn decreased GRK4 protein in both rat strains to levels lower than either Scr-Odn or vehicle treatment, such that there was no longer any difference between WKY rats and SHRs (Figure 3B). Cardiac GRK4 expression was not affected by renal GRK4 Odn treatment, indicating that the direct effect of GRK4 As-Odns on GRK4 expression was limited to the infused remaining kidney (Figure 3C).
Renal cortical D1 receptor protein was not affected by GRK4 Scr-Odn or As-Odn treatment (Figure 4A). However, the abundance of serine-phosphorylated D1 receptors was greater in vehicle-treated and GRK4 Scr-Odn–treated SHRs than in vehicle- or Odn-treated WKY rats (Figure 4B), similar to our preliminary report using renal proximal tubule cells from SHRs.14 In the renal cortex, GRK4 As-Odn decreased serine-phosphorylated D1 receptors in both WKY rats and SHRs such that the levels were no longer different from each other (Figure 4B).
Discussion
The renal dopaminergic system participates in the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension.1–5,10–18 Thus, the ability of dopamine and D1-like agonists to decrease renal proximal tubular sodium transport and increase urinary sodium excretion is impaired in human essential hypertension and rodent models of genetic hypertension.3,15–17 A defective coupling of the D1 dopamine receptor to its G protein/effector enzyme complex in renal proximal tubules and medullary thick ascending limbs causes the impaired renal dopaminergic action in genetic rodent and human essential hypertension.1–5,14–18
The uncoupling of the renal D1 receptor from its G protein/effector protein complex in genetic hypertension1–5,12–18 is akin to but different from homologous desensitization.6,10,19–22 After agonist stimulation, phosphorylation-dependent and -independent mechanisms initiated by GRKs lead to the binding of GPCRs with adaptor proteins (eg, arrestin), an uncoupling of the receptor from its G protein complex, and a decrease in functional response. The phosphorylated GPCR and arrestin complex undergoes internalization into endosomes where the GPCR is dephosphorylated by protein phosphatases and recycled back to the plasma membrane or degraded by lysosomes.6,19–22
Whereas homologous desensitization is ligand dependent, the desensitization of the D1 receptor in the kidney in hypertension is ligand independent.1,4,5,14,15 We have reported that the uncoupling of the D1 receptor from its G protein/effector complex in renal proximal tubules from humans with essential hypertension is caused by activating variants of GRK4.5 The GRK4 variants, R65L, A142V, and A486V, to a greater extent than GRK4 wild type, increase the phosphorylation and impair the ability of D1 receptors to stimulate cAMP in Chinese hamster ovary cells heterologously expressing these genes. Transgenic mice expressing GRK4A142V but not wild-type GRK4 have increased arterial blood pressure and have an impaired diuretic and natriuretic response to a nonhypotensive dose of the D1-like agonist, fenoldopam.5
We now report that in SHRs, as in humans with essential hypertension, GRK4 participates in the impaired function of the D1 receptor in the kidney. The increased activity of GRK4 in humans with essential hypertension is not caused by GRK4 protein abundance.5 However, SHRs have increased renal cortical membrane GRK4 expression relative to WKY rats. GRK4 polymorphisms (called FJ1 in Reference 24) are associated with hypertension in humans,23–26 but there are no differences in the coding region of GRK4 in WKY rats and SHRs (unpublished data).
We do not know the mechanism of the increased expression of GRK4 in the renal cortex of SHRs; however, there is ample evidence to suggest that GRK4 is important in the regulation of renal sodium handling and blood pressure in these rats. In SHRs, the selective decrease of renal GRK4 expression with GRK4 As-Odn reduces the increased D1 receptor serine phosphorylation. The increased serine phosphorylation is receptor specific, because angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor serine phosphorylation, but not AT1 tyrosine phosphorylation, is decreased in SHRs (unpublished data). Moreover, GRK4 does not participate in the desensitization of the AT1 receptor.27
The intrarenal cortical administration of GRK4 As-Odn in SHRs prevents by >50% the increase in blood pressure with age and slightly reduces the age-related increase7 in urinary protein excretion. The concomitant reduction in protein excretion and blood pressure suggests that the decrease in proteinuria could be related to the decrease in blood pressure. GRK4 As-Odn treatment also produces a 50% decrease in sodium balance that is associated with a 25% increase in sodium excretion. These data indicate that facilitation of sodium excretion by inhibition of GRK4 expression may, in part, be responsible for the amelioration of the increase in blood pressure with age in SHRs. However, it is not clear why the increase in sodium excretion is less than the decrease in sodium balance. Although the GRK4 As-Odn infusion affects GRK4 expression only in the kidney, the consequences of renal GRK4 inhibition may have affected renal hormonal secretion with consequences on intestinal sodium transport.10 Nonetheless, the increase in sodium excretion with GRK4 As-Odn treatment in SHRs is consistent with the impaired natriuretic effect of fenoldopam in transgenic mice expressing the GRK4 variant A142V.5
The failure of GRK4 As-Odn to completely normalize the blood pressure in SHRs may be because of several reasons. Antisense methods for posttranslational gene silencing may not be completely efficient.28 However, GRK4 As-Odn decreases renal GRK4 expression and D1 receptor phosphorylation in SHRs to levels similar to those noted in WKY rats. One possibility is that other GRKs may also regulate dopamine receptors. We have reported that GRK2 modestly contributes to the desensitization of D1 receptors in human renal proximal tubules.6 Overexpression of GRK2, GRK3, and GRK5 in HEK cells desensitizes the D1 receptor.19 GRK activity and GRK2 expression are increased in human essential hypertension and SHRs,29 and overexpression of GRK2 in vascular smooth muscles in mice produces hypertension and impairs the vasodilatory action of -adrenergic receptors.30 However, in SHRs, the increase in GRK activity and GRK2 expression follows rather than precedes the hypertensive process.29 Moreover, in the current studies, GRK4 As-Odn does not affect GRK2 expression.
There is another possible explanation for the failure of GRK4 As-Odn to completely normalize blood pressure in the SHR. Because the infusion of the Odns is limited to the kidney, nonrenal factors important in the pathogenesis of hypertension would have not been affected.31–33 GRK4 is expressed outside the kidney,8,9 including the brain, where blood pressure can also be regulated by GRK4 independent of the kidney.
In summary, in SHRs, the intrarenal infusion of GRK4 Asn-Odn decreases GRK4 expression and D1 receptor phosphorylation, increases sodium excretion, and attenuates the increase in blood pressure with age. In WKY rats, the intrarenal infusion of GRK4 Asn-Odn also decreases GRK4 expression and serine-phosphorylated D1 receptor but does not affect sodium excretion or blood pressure. GRK4 regulation of renal D1 dopamine receptors is important in the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension.
Perspectives
These studies provide direct evidence of a crucial role of renal GRK4 in the D1 receptor control of sodium excretion and blood pressure in genetic hypertension. The renal D1-like receptor uncoupling in rodent genetic hypertension is receptor and organ specific and cosegregates with and precedes the onset of hypertension.2 In human essential hypertension, GRK4 gene variants are associated with constitutive phosphorylation and desensitization of the D1 receptor in renal proximal tubules, sodium retention, and hypertension. In vitro treatment of renal proximal tubular cells from hypertensive patients with antisense GKR4 Odns corrects the D1 receptor/G protein–coupling defect.5 Our findings that the selective reduction in renal GRK4 activity decreases blood pressure and increases sodium excretion in SHRs suggest the possibility of the use of GRK4 inhibitors in the treatment of hypertension.
Acknowledgments
The experiments were supported by DK39308, HL23081, DK52612, HL074940, HL68686, Fukushima Society for the Promotion of Medicine No 18, and Salt Science Foundation (No. 05C6).
References
Zeng C, Sanada H, Watanabe H, Eisner GM, Felder RA, Jose PA. Functional genomics of the dopaminergic system in hypertension. Physiol Genomics. 2004; 19: 233–246.
Hussain T, Lokhandwala MF. Renal dopamine receptor function in hypertension. Hypertension. 1998; 32: 187–197.
O’Connell DP, Ragsdale NV, Boyd DG, Felder RA, Carey RM. Differential human renal tubular responses to dopamine type 1 receptor stimulation are determined by blood pressure status. Hypertension. 1977; 29: 115–122.
Sanada H, Jose PA, Hazen-Martin D, Yu PY, Xu J, Bruns DE, Phipps J, Carey RM, Felder RA. Dopamine-1 receptor defect in renal proximal tubular cells in essential hypertension. Hypertension. 1999; 33: 1036–1042.
Felder RA, Sanada H, Xu J, Yu PY, Wang Z, Watanabe H, Asico LD, Wang W, Zheng S, Yamaguchi I, Williams SM, Gainer J, Brown NJ, Hazen-Martin D, Wong LJ, Robillard JE, Carey RM, Eisner GM, Jose PA. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 gene variants in human essential hypertension. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002; 99: 3872–3877.
Watanabe H, Xu J, Bengra C, Jose PA, Felder RA. Desensitization of renal D1 dopamine receptors by G protein-coupled receptor. Kidney Int. 2002; 62: 790–798.
Yoneda M, Sanada H, Yatabe J, Midorikawa S, Hashimoto S, Sasaki M, Katoh T, Watanabe T, Andrews PM, Jose PA, Felder RA. Differential effects of angiotensin II type-1 receptor antisense oligonucleotides on renal function in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 2005; 46: 58–65.
Virlon B, Firsov D, Cheval L, Reiter E, Troispoux C, Guillou F, Elalouf JM. Rat G protein-coupled receptor kinase GRK4: identification, functional expression, and differential tissue distribution of two splice variants. Endocrinology. 1998; 139: 2784–2795.
Premont RT, Macrae AD, Aparicio SA, Kendall HE, Welch JE, Lefkowitz RJ. The GRK4 subfamily of G protein-coupled receptor kinases. Alternative splicing, gene organization, and sequence conservation. J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 29381–29389.
Fraga S, Jose PA, Soares-da-Silva P. Involvement of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 and 6 in rapid desensitization of dopamine D1 receptor in rat IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004; 287: R772–R779.
Zeng C, Asico LD, Wang X, Hopfer U, Eisner GM, Felder RA, Jose PA. Perturbation of D1 dopamine and AT1 receptor interaction in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 2003; 42: 787–792.
Chatziantoniou C, Ruan X, Arendshorst WJ. Interactions of cAMP-mediated vasodilators with angiotensin II in rat kidney during hypertension. Am J Physiol. 1993; 265: F845–F852.
Marcel de Vries PA, Navis G, de Jong PE, de Zeeuw D, Kluppel CA. Impaired renal vascular response to a D1-like receptor agonist but not to an ACE inhibitor in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1999; 34: 191–198.
Yu PY, Hopfer U, Felder RA, Jose PA. Increased serine-phosphorylation of the D1 receptor in renal proximal tubule cells in hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 2000; 13: 12A–13A.Abstract.
Felder RA, Seikaly MG, Cody P, Eisner GM, Jose PA. Attenuated renal response to dopaminergic drugs in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 1990; 15: 560–569.
Nishi A, Eklf A-C, Bertorello AM, Aperia A. Dopamine regulation of renal Na+, K+-ATPase activity is lacking in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Hypertension. 1993; 21: 767–771.
Debska-Slizien A, Ho P, Drangova R, Baines AD. Endogenous dopamine regulates phosphate reabsorption but not NaK-ATPase in spontaneously hypertensive rat kidneys. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1994; 5: 1125–1132.
Hussain T, Lokhandwala MF. Renal dopamine DA1 receptor coupling with GS and Gq/11 proteins in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Am J Physiol. 1997; 272: F339–F346.
Tiberi M, Nash SR, Bertrand L, Lefkowitz RJ, Caron MG. Differential regulation of dopamine D1A receptor responsiveness by various G protein-coupled receptor kinases. J Biol Chem. 1996; 271: 3771–3778.
Vickery RG, von Zastrow M. Distinct dynamin-dependent and -independent mechanisms target structurally homologous dopamine receptors to different endocytic membranes. J Cell Biol. 1999; 44: 31–43.
Carman CV, Benovic JL. G-protein-coupled receptors: turn-ons and turn-offs. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 1998; 8: 335–344.
Claing A, Laporte SA, Caron MG, Lefkowitz RJ. Endocytosis of G protein-coupled receptors: roles of G protein-coupled receptor kinases and -arrestin proteins. Prog Neurobiol. 2002; 66: 61–79.
Williams SM, Addy JH, Phillips JA 3rd, Dai M, Kpodonu J, Afful J, Jackson H, Joseph K, Eason F, Murray MM, Epperson P, Aduonum A, Wong LJ, Jose PA, Felder RA. Combinations of variations in multiple genes are associated with hypertension. Hypertension. 2000; 36: 2–6.
Bengra C, Mifflin TE, Khripin Y, Manunta P, Williams SM, Jose PA, Felder RA. Genotyping essential hypertension SNPs using a homogenous PCR method with universal energy transfer primers. Clin Chem. 2002; 48: 2131–2140.
Williams SM, Ritchie MD, Phillips JA III, Addy JH, Kpodonu J, Wong L-J, Felder RA, Jose PA, Moore JH. Multilocus analysis of hypertension: a hierarchical approach. Hum Hered. 2004; 57: 28–38.
Speirs HJ, Katyk K, Kumar NN, Benjafield AV, Wang WY, Morris BJ. Association of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 haplotypes, but not HSD3B1 or PTP1B polymorphisms, with essential hypertension. J Hypertens. 2004; 22: 931–936.
Oppermann M, Diverse-Pierluissi M, Drazner MH, Dyer SL, Freedman NJ, Peppel KC, Lefkowitz RJ. Monoclonal antibodies reveal receptor specificity among G-protein-coupled receptor kinases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996; 93: 7649–7654.
Metcalfe BL, Raizada M, Katovich MJ. Genetic targeting of the renin-angiotensin system for long-term control of hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2002; 4: 25–31.
Gros R, Benovic JL, Tan CM, Feldman RD. G-protein-coupled receptor kinase activity is increased in hypertension. J Clin Invest. 1997; 99: 2087–2093.
Eckhart AD, Ozaki T, Tevaearai H, Rockman HA, Koch WJ. Vascular-targeted overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 in transgenic mice attenuates -adrenergic receptor signaling and increases resting blood pressure. Mol Pharmacol. 2002; 61: 749–758.
Churchill PC, Churchill MC, Bidani AK, Kurtz TW. Kidney-specific chromosome transfer in genetic hypertension: the Dahl hypothesis revisited. Kidney Int. 2001; 60: 705–714.
Morgan DA, DiBona GF, Mark AL. Effects of interstrain renal transplantation on NaCl-induced hypertension in Dahl rats. Hypertension. 1990; 15: 436–442.
Crowley SD, Gurley SB, Oliverio MI, Pazmino AK, Griffiths R, Flannery PJ, Spurney RF, Kim HS, Smithies O, Le TH, Coffman TM. Distinct roles for the kidney and systemic tissues in blood pressure regulation by the renin-angiotensin system. J Clin Invest. 2005; 115: 1092–1099.
Increased Expression of Mineralocorticoid Effector Mechanisms in Kidney Biopsies of Patients With Heavy Proteinuria
Effect of Pravastatin on Rate of Kidney Function Loss in People With or at Risk for Coronary Disease
Upregulation of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor, Inflammatory Mediators, and Enzymes of Arachidonate Metabolism in Obese Zucker Rat Kidney
Quantitation of DNA of Polyomaviruses BK and JC in Human Kidneys
Inheritance of Susceptibility to Induced Escherichia coli Bladder and Kidney Infections in Female C3H/HeJ Mice
Development of Hypertension and Kidney Hypertrophy in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing ARAP1 Gene in the Kidney
Prevention of Hypertension and Organ Damage in 2-Kidney, 1-Clip Rats by Tetradecylthioacetic Acid
Differentiation of Cyclooxygenase 1- and 2–Derived Prostanoids in Mouse Kidney and Aorta
Lipid Accumulation and Transforming Growth Factor- Upregulation in the Kidneys of Rats Administered Angiotensin II
Androgen ReceptoreCMediated Regulation of the -Subunit of the Epithelial Sodium Channel in Human Kidney