Activation of the Renal PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in a DOCA-Salt Model of Hypertension
10.4068/cmj.2012.48.3.150
- Author:
Seong Kwon MA
1
;
Joon Seok CHOI
;
Soo Yeon JOO
;
Ha Yeon KIM
;
Chang Seong KIM
;
Eun Hui BAE
;
Jong Un LEE
;
Soo Wan KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. skimw@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Deoxycorticosterone;
Hypertension;
Kidney
- MeSH:
Actins;
Animals;
Blood Pressure;
Caspase 3;
Cyclooxygenase 2;
Desoxycorticosterone;
Hypertension;
Immunoblotting;
Kidney;
Muscles;
Nephrectomy;
Phosphorylation;
Rats;
Sirolimus;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
- From:Chonnam Medical Journal
2012;48(3):150-154
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The present study investigated the changes that occurred in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the kidney as a result of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. Rats were implanted with DOCA strips (200 mg/kg) 1 week after unilateral nephrectomy and were then supplied with 0.9% saline to drink. Four weeks after DOCA implantation, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by use of the tail-cuff method. The expression levels of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and mTOR, as well as the protein expression levels of ED-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2, were then examined in the kidney by semiquantitative immunoblotting. DOCA-salt hypertensive rats were found to have significantly increased SBP as well as an increased kidney weight-to-body weight ratio. Moreover, the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR was increased in the kidney of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats compared with the control, as was the protein expression of ED-1, COX-2, TGF-beta1, and alpha-SMA. The expression levels of caspase-3 and Bax were increased significantly, whereas Bcl-2 expression was decreased. In conclusion, the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR was increased in the kidney of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.
