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Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of angiotensinogen and ANG II type 1 receptor (AT(1)) mRNA translation in rat proximal tubules (PT) was examined to provide direct evidence for a role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in upregulated osteopontin expression observed following mechanical cell stretch. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) under Brevital anesthesia. In situ hybridization and Western blot analysis demonstrated angiotensinogen mRNA and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) protein localized to PTs and upregulated in obstructed kidneys, respectively, confirming an increased expression of renal RAS in vivo. In vitro studies were performed to provide mechanistic insight into ANG II-dependent osteopontin expression following mechanical cell stretch, which putatively mimics the increased PT luminal pressure post-UUO. A cationic transfection method was used to introduce either angiotensinogen or AT(1) antisense oligonucleotide into cultured rat PT cells prior to 1 h of cyclic mechanical cell stretch. Northern blot analysis revealed that PT cells subjected to cyclic mechanical stretch with/without prior transfection with a sense oligonucleotide exhibited increased osteopontin mRNA expression compared with unstretched cells. Blockade of either angiotensinogen or AT(1) mRNA translation by antisense oligonucleotide inhibition prior to cell stretch was found to significantly decrease osteopontin mRNA levels 2.4-fold (P<0.004) and 1.6-fold (P<0.001), respectively, compared with values observed in control unstretched cells. This study provides evidence that stretch-induced upregulation of osteopontin mRNA expression is mediated, in part, via production of ANG II. These results lend insight into upregulation of osteopontin via a local PT RAS leading to macrophage infiltration in the tubulointerstitium in experimental hydronephrosis.

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