Mechanisms of angiotensin II signaling on cytoskeleton of podocytes

HH Hsu, S Hoffmann, N Endlich, A Velic… - Journal of molecular …, 2008 - Springer
HH Hsu, S Hoffmann, N Endlich, A Velic, A Schwab, T Weide, E Schlatter, H Pavenstädt
Journal of molecular medicine, 2008Springer
Podocytes are significant in establishing the glomerular filtration barrier. Sustained rennin–
angiotensin system (RAS) activation is crucial in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury and
causes proteinuria. This study demonstrates that angiotensin II (Ang II) caused a reactive
oxygen species (ROS)-dependent rearrangement of cortical F-actin and a migratory
phenotype switch in cultured mouse podocytes with stable Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R)
expression. Activated small GTPase Rac-1 and phosphorylated ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) …
Abstract
Podocytes are significant in establishing the glomerular filtration barrier. Sustained rennin–angiotensin system (RAS) activation is crucial in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury and causes proteinuria. This study demonstrates that angiotensin II (Ang II) caused a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent rearrangement of cortical F-actin and a migratory phenotype switch in cultured mouse podocytes with stable Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression. Activated small GTPase Rac-1 and phosphorylated ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins provoked Ang II-induced F-actin cytoskeletal remodeling. This work also shows increased expression of Rac-1 and phosphorylated ERM proteins in cultured podocytes, and in glomeruli of podocyte-specific AT1R transgenic rats (Neph-hAT1 TGRs). The free radical scavenger DMTU eliminated Ang II-induced cell migration, ERM protein phosphorylation and cortical F-actin remodeling, indicating that ROS mediates the influence of Rac-1 on podocyte AT1R signaling. Heparin, a potent G-coupled protein kinase 2 inhibitor, was found to abolish ERM protein phosphorylation and cortical F-actin ring formation in Ang II-treated podocytes, indicating that phosphorylated ERM proteins are the cytoskeletal effector in AT1R signaling. Moreover, Ang II stimulation triggered down-regulation of α actinin-4 and reduced focal adhesion expression in podocytes. Signaling inhibitor assay of Ang II-treated podocytes reveals that Rac-1, RhoA, and F-actin reorganization were involved in expressional regulation of α actinin-4 in AT1R signaling. With persistent RAS activation, the Ang II-induced phenotype shifts from being dynamically stable to adaptively migratory, which may eventually exhaust podocytes with a high actin cytoskeletal turnover, causing podocyte depletion and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
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