Original Report: Laboratory Investigation

Angiotensin II Upregulates RAGE Expression on Podocytes: Role of AT2 Receptors
Christiane Rüster^a, Tzvetanka Bondeva^a, Sybille Franke^a, Nobushige Tanaka^{b, c}, Hiroshi Yamamoto^b, Gunter Wolf<sup>a

a</sup>Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany;
^bDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, and
^cDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Kyorin, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Am J Nephrol 2009;29:538-550 (DOI: 10.1159/000191467)

  Key Words

• Angiotensin II
• Receptor of advanced glycation end products, RAGE
• Podocytes
• Advanced glycation end products
• Proinflammatory cytokines

  Abstract

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in diabetic nephropathy. The receptor for AGEs, called RAGE, is present on podocytes. We investigated whether angiotensin II (ANG II) modulates RAGE expression on cultured differentiated podocytes. Results: Cultured podocytes expressed AT1 and AT2 receptors. Surprisingly, ANG II induced RAGE mRNA and protein expression through AT2 receptors. ANG II had no influence on proliferation or protein content of podocytes. The increase in RAGE expression depended on stimulated transcriptional activity. Using various mutant reporter constructs of the RAGE promoter region, it was shown that a NF-B binding site at -1519 was essential for ANG II-induced transcriptional activity. Preincubation with ANG II increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor- mRNA and protein expression induced by AGE, indicating that the ANG II-mediated upregulation of RAGE has functional consequences. AGE-BSA was incorporated into cells as measured by Western blots for N-carboxymethyllysine, but ANG II did not influence this process. ANG II in the absence or presence of AGE-BSA did not induce apoptosis of podocytes. Conclusion: Our study revealed aninteraction between the renin-angiotensin system and the AGE/RAGE axis in podocytes. Since intraglomerular ANG II levels are increased in diabetic nephropathy, this interaction may have pathophysiological consequences for podocyte injury and inflammation associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Gunter Wolf, MD
Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Friedrich Schiller University
Erlanger-Allee 101
DE-07740 Jena (Germany)
Tel. +49 3641 932 4301, Fax +49 3641 932 4302, E-Mail gunter.wolf@med.uni-jena.de

  Article Information

Received: September 3, 2008
Accepted: November 19, 2008
Published online: January 8, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 13
Number of Figures : 10, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 34