Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is emerging as valuable biomarker in cardiovascular disease and diabetic kidney disease. Also, GDF15 represents an early response gene induced after tissue injury and studies performed in GDF15 knockout (KO) mice suggest that GDF15 plays a protective role after injury. In the current study, we investigated the role of GDF15 in the development of diabetic kidney damage in type 1 and type 2 models of diabetes. Renal damage was assessed in GDF15 KO mice and wild-type (WT) mice in streptozotocin type 1 and db/db type 2 diabetic models. Genetic deletion of GDF15 augmented tubular and interstitial damage in both models of diabetes, despite similar diabetic states in KO and WT mice. Increased tubular damage in KO animals was associated with increased glucosuria and polyuria in both type 1 and type 2 models of diabetes. In both models of diabetes, KO mice showed increased interstitial damage as indicated by increased α-smooth muscle actin staining and collagen type 1 expression. In contrast, glomerular damage was similarly elevated in diabetic KO and WT mice. In type 1 diabetes, GDF15 KO mice demonstrated increased expression of inflammatory markers. In type 2 diabetes, elevated levels of plasma creatinine indicated impaired kidney function in KO mice. GDF15 protects the renal interstitium and tubular compartment in experimental type 1 and 2 diabetes without affecting glomerular damage.

1 The presence of a nucleotide receptor and a discrete ATP-sensitive receptor on C2C12 myotubes has been shown by electrophysiological experiments. In this study, the ATP-sensitive receptors of C2C12 myotubes were further characterized by measuring the formation of inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and internal Ca2+. 2 The nucleotides ATP and UTP caused a concentration-dependent increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 content with comparable time courses (EC5o: ATP 33 ± 2 JAM, UTP 80 ± 4 jaM). ADP was less effective in increasing Ins(1,4,5)P3 content of the cells, while selective agonists for PI-, P2X-and P2Y-purinoceptors, adenosine, a,3-methylene ATP and 2-methylthio ATP, appeared to be ineffective.3 Under Ca2+-free conditions, the basal level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was lower than in the presence of Ca2 , and the ATP-and UTP-induced formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was diminished. 4 The Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation induced by optimal ATP and UTP concentrations was not additive. ATPand UTP-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation showed cross-desensitization, whereas cross-desensitization was absent in responses elicited by one of the nucleotides and bradykinin. 5 The change in Ins(1,4,5)P3 content induced by effective nucleotides was inhibited by suramin. Schild plots for suramin inhibition of Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation in ATP-and UTP-stimulated myotubes showed slopes greater than unity (1.63 ± 0.09 and 1.37 ± 0.11, respectively). Apparent pA2 values were 4.50 ± 0.48 and 4.41 ± 0.63 for ATP and UTP, respectively. 6 Stimulation of the cells with ATP or UTP induced a rapid increase in intracellular Ca2 , followed by a slow decline to basal levels. Ca2+ responses reached lower maximal values and did not show the slow phase in the absence of extracellular Ca2 . The ATP and UTP-evoked increase in intracellular Ca2+ was not additive and showed cross-desensitization. Cross-desensitization was absent in myotubes stimulated with one of the nucleotides and bradykinin.7 These results show that ATP-and UTP-induced formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3, Ca2+ release from internal stores and Ca2'-influx from the extracellular space are mediated exclusively via the nucleotide type P2-purinoceptor in mouse C2C12 myotubes.

Background and purpose:High level of plasma catecholamines is a risk factor for vascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Catecholamines induce hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle through a1-adrenoceptors, which in cell culture involves the transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We hypothesized that EGFR transactivation was also involved in contractions of rat aorta mediated by a1-adrenoceptors. Experimental approach: Thoracic aorta was isolated from 12-14 week old male Wistar rats. In vitro aortic contractile responses to cumulative doses of phenylephrine were characterized in the absence and presence of the EGFR kinase inhibitors, AG1478 and DAPH, in intact and endothelium-denuded rings. Involvement of signal transduction pathways was investigated by using heparin and inhibitors of Src, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK1/2 was measured after short-term phenylephrine or EGF stimulation in aorta segments in the presence of AG1478 and the PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin. Key results: AG1478 and DAPH concentration dependently attenuated phenylephrine-induced contractile responses in intact or endothelium-denuded aortic rings. Inhibition of PI3K (wortmannin and LY294002) but not heparin or inhibitors of Src or MMP, prevented the effect of AG1478 on the responses to phenylephrine. Phenylephrine induced phosphorylation of EGFR, which was partially blocked by AG1478. Phenylephrine also increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, time-dependently and was blocked by AG1478 and wortmannin. Conclusions and implications:Contractions of rat thoracic aorta mediated by a1-adrenoceptors involved transactivation of EGFR, mediated via a PI3K and ERK1/2 dependent pathway.