Growth arrest specific protein 6 participates in DOCA-induced target-organ damage

Hypertension. 2009 Aug;54(2):359-64. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.129460. Epub 2009 Jun 29.

Abstract

Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas 6) is involved in inflammatory kidney diseases, vascular remodeling, cell adhesion, and thrombus formation. We explored a role for Gas 6 in aldosterone-induced target organ damage. We observed that Gas 6 was upregulated in rats with high aldosterone levels. Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade prevented target organ damage and decreased the elevated Gas 6 expression. Vascular smooth muscle cells given aldosterone increased their Gas 6 expression in vitro. To test the pathophysiological relevance, we investigated the effects of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) on Gas 6 gene-deleted ((-/-)) mice. After 6 weeks DOCA, Gas 6(-/-) mice developed similar telemetric blood pressure elevations compared to wild-type mice but were protected from cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac expression of interleukin 6 and collagen IV was blunted in Gas 6(-/-) mice, indicating reduced inflammation and fibrosis. Gas 6(-/-) mice also had an improved renal function with reduced albuminuria, compared to wild-type mice. Renal fibrosis and fibronectin deposition in the kidney were also reduced. Gas 6 deficiency reduces the detrimental effects of aldosterone on cardiac and renal remodeling independent of blood pressure reduction. Gas 6 appears to play a role in mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated target organ damage. Furthermore, because warfarin interferes with Gas 6 protein expression, the findings could be of clinical relevance for anticoagulant choices.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / pathology
  • Acute Kidney Injury / physiopathology*
  • Albuminuria
  • Aldosterone / pharmacology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cardiomegaly / pathology
  • Cardiomegaly / physiopathology*
  • Cells, Cultured / cytology
  • Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Desoxycorticosterone / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Kidney / drug effects*
  • Kidney / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology*
  • Probability
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • growth arrest-specific protein 6
  • Desoxycorticosterone
  • Aldosterone