Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits mineralocorticoid receptor function in rat colonic surface cells

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Locally Counteracts the Deleterious Effects of Cardiomyocyte Mineralocorticoid Receptor Activation

Background—

The endocrine balance between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system is critical for the maintenance of arterial blood pressure and volume homeostasis. This study investigated whether a cardiac imbalance between ANP and aldosterone, toward increased mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) signaling, contributes to adverse left ventricular remodeling in response to pressure overload.

Methods and Results—

We used the MR-selective antagonist eplerenone to test the role of MRs in mediating pressure overload–induced dilatative cardiomyopathy of mice with abolished local, cardiac ANP activity. In response to 21 days of transverse aortic constriction, mice with cardiomyocyte-restricted inactivation (knockout) of the ANP receptor (guanylyl cyclase [GC]-A) or the downstream cGMP-dependent protein kinase I developed enhanced left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis together with contractile dysfunction. Treatment with eplerenone (100 mg/kg/d) attenuated left ventricular hypertrophy and fully prevented fibrosis, dilatation, and failure. Transverse aortic constriction induced the cardiac expression of profibrotic connective tissue growth factor and attenuated the expression of SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase) in knockout mice, but not in controls. These genotype-dependent molecular changes were similarly prevented by eplerenone. ANP attenuated the aldosterone-induced nuclear translocation of MRs via GC-A/cGMP-dependent protein kinase I in transfected HEK 293 (human embryonic kidney) cells. Coimmunoprecipitation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments demonstrated that a population of MRs were membrane associated in close interaction with GC-A and cGMP-dependent protein kinase I and, moreover, that aldosterone caused a conformational change of this membrane MR/GC-A protein complex which was prevented by ANP.

Conclusions—

ANP counter-regulates cardiac MR activation in hypertensive heart disease. An imbalance in cardiac ANP/GC-A (inhibition) and aldosterone/MR signaling (augmentation) favors adverse cardiac remodeling in chronic pressure overload.

Electrolyte transport in the mammalian colon: mechanisms and implications for disease

The colonic epithelium has both absorptive and secretory functions. The transport is characterized by a net absorption of NaCl, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and water, allowing extrusion of a feces with very little water and salt content. In addition, the epithelium does secret mucus, bicarbonate, and KCl. Polarized distribution of transport proteins in both luminal and basolateral membranes enables efficient salt transport in both directions, probably even within an individual cell. Meanwhile, most of the participating transport proteins have been identified, and their function has been studied in detail. Absorption of NaCl is a rather steady process that is controlled by steroid hormones regulating the expression of epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaC), the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, and additional modulating factors such as the serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase SGK. Acute regulation of absorption may occur by a Na(+) feedback mechanism and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Cl(-) secretion in the adult colon relies on luminal CFTR, which is a cAMP-regulated Cl(-) channel and a regulator of other transport proteins. As a consequence, mutations in CFTR result in both impaired Cl(-) secretion and enhanced Na(+) absorption in the colon of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Ca(2+)- and cAMP-activated basolateral K(+) channels support both secretion and absorption of electrolytes and work in concert with additional regulatory proteins, which determine their functional and pharmacological profile. Knowledge of the mechanisms of electrolyte transport in the colon enables the development of new strategies for the treatment of CF and secretory diarrhea. It will also lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiological events during inflammatory bowel disease and development of colonic carcinoma.

Role of natriuretic peptides in ion transport mechanisms

Natriuretic peptides (NP) act as ligands on the guanylyl cyclase family of receptors. The NP binding site on these receptors is extracellular and the guanylyl cyclase and protein kinase domains are intracellular. The guanylyl cyclase receptor catalyzes the synthesis of the second messenger molecule, cGMP, which activates protein kinase. This in turn is involved in the phosphorylation of various ion transport proteins. Ion transport proteins, which are modulated by NP and are thought to underlie the natriuretic and diuretic actions of NP, include: (a) calcium-activated K+ channels; (b) ATP-sensitive K+ channels; (c) inwardly-rectifying K+ channels; (d) outwardly-rectifying K+ channels; (e) L-type Ca2+ channels; (f) Cl- channels including cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl- channels; (g) Na+- K+ 2Cl- co-transporter; (h) Na+- K+ ATPase; (i) Na+ channels; (j) stretch-activated channels; and (k) water channels. It appears that NP modulate the kinetics, rather than the conductance, of ion channels. Some of these channels, like the Ca2+, ATP-sensitive K+ and stretch-activated channels, are also involved in NP secretion. In addition, the structural properties of the NP, e.g., ovCNP-22 and ovCNP-39, appear to confer on them the ability to form ion channels. These CNP-formed ion channels can modify the trans-membrane signal transduction and second messenger systems underlying NP-induced pathological effects.

Natriuretic factors and nitric oxide suppress plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Role of cGMP in the regulation of the plasminogen system

Increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) has been reported in atherosclerotic and balloon-injured vessels. Little is known regarding the factors and mechanisms that may negatively regulate PAI-1 expression. In this report, the effect of cGMP-coupled vasoactive hormones, including natriuretic factors and nitric oxide, on the regulation of PAI-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells was examined. Atrial natriuretic factor 1-28 (ANF) and C-type natriuretic factor-22 (CNP) reduced angiotensin II (Ang II)- and platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated PAI-1 mRNA expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells by 50% to 70%, with corresponding reductions in PAI-1 protein release. Treatment of human aortic smooth muscle cells with CNP similarly inhibited both platelet-derived growth factor-induced PAI-1 mRNA expression and PAI-1 protein release by 50%. Dose-response studies revealed that the inhibitory effects of CNP and ANF on PAI-1 expression were concentration dependent, with IC50s of approximately 1 nmol/L for both natriuretic peptides. Ang II-stimulated PAI-1 expression was also inhibited by the nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine. The membrane-permeant cGMP analogue 8-Br-cGMP reduced Ang II-stimulated PAI-1 expression by 60%, and an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxalin-1-one) significantly impaired the inhibitory effects of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine on Ang II-stimulated PAI-1 expression. Studies of PAI-1 mRNA stability in cells treated with actinomycin D showed that ANF did not alter PAI-1 mRNA half-life, suggesting that natriuretic factors reduce PAI-1 transcription. These data show that natriuretic factors and nitric oxide, via a cGMP-dependent mechanism, inhibit PAI-1 synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells. Thus, cGMP-coupled vasoactive hormones may play an important role in suppressing vascular PAI-1 expression.