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An AMPK activator as a therapeutic option for congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Janet D. Klein, Ish Khanna, Ram Pillarisetti, Rachael A. Hagan, Lauren M. LaRocque, Eva L. Rodriguez, Jeff M. Sands
Janet D. Klein, Ish Khanna, Ram Pillarisetti, Rachael A. Hagan, Lauren M. LaRocque, Eva L. Rodriguez, Jeff M. Sands
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Research Article Nephrology

An AMPK activator as a therapeutic option for congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

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Abstract

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) patients produce large amounts of dilute urine. NDI can be congenital, resulting from mutations in the type-2 vasopressin receptor (V2R), or acquired, resulting from medications such as lithium. There are no effective treatment options for NDI. Activation of PKA is disrupted in both congenital and acquired NDI, resulting in decreased aquaporin-2 phosphorylation and water reabsorption. We show that adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK) also phosphorylates aquaporin-2. We identified an activator of AMPK, NDI-5033, and we tested its ability to increase urine concentration in animal models of NDI. NDI-5033 increased AMPK phosphorylation by 2.5-fold, confirming activation. It increased urine osmolality in tolvaptan-treated NDI rats by 30%–50% and in V2R-KO mice by 50%. Metformin, another AMPK activator, can cause hypoglycemia, which makes it a risky option for treating NDI patients, especially children. Rats with NDI receiving NDI-5033 showed no hypoglycemia in a calorie-restricted, exercise protocol. Congenital NDI therapy needs to be effective long-term. We administered NDI-5033 for 3 weeks and saw no reduction in efficacy. We conclude that NDI-5033 can improve urine concentration in animals with NDI and holds promise as a potential therapy for patients with congenital NDI due to V2R mutations.

Authors

Janet D. Klein, Ish Khanna, Ram Pillarisetti, Rachael A. Hagan, Lauren M. LaRocque, Eva L. Rodriguez, Jeff M. Sands

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Figure 8

Urine osmolality increases and urine volume decreases with NDI-5033(P2) treatment.

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Urine osmolality increases and urine volume decreases with NDI-5033(P2) ...
Tolvaptan (10 mg/kg/day) was delivered by gavage feeding daily. (A) Combined data from 2 experiments. Osmolality was monitored for 3 days to verify development of NDI; then, NDI-5033 treatment at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day was initiated and given daily for 5 additional days, with daily urine collection for osmolality determination. Red data (left in each pair) show control levels in rats receiving tolvaptan only. Blue data (right data) show urine osmolality from tolvaptan-treated rats receiving NDI-5033 at the doses indicated. Mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 versus the untreated control values by unpaired Student’s t test. (B) Urine volume from one of the experiments from A. Red data (left in each pair) show control levels in rats receiving tolvaptan only. Blue data (right data) show 24-hour urine volumes from tolvaptan-treated rats receiving NDI-5033 at the doses indicated. Mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 versus 0 (vehicle control) by ANOVA followed by a Tukey-Kramer multiple-comparisons test.

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