Abstract. Previous studies have demonstrated increased renal expression of EGF receptor (EGFR) and EGFR ligands in response to acute toxic or ischemic renal tubular injury and have indicated that exogenous administration of EGF accelerates recovery from such injury. However, no studies to date have proved definitively an essential role for EGFR-mediated responses in regeneration after tubule injury. To this end, waved-2 (wa-2) mice, which contain a point mutation in EGFR that reduces receptor tyrosine kinase activity by Ͼ90%, were studied. These mice have a mild phenotype (wavy coat, curly whiskers, and runted stature) and normally developed kidneys. Acute nephrotoxic injury was induced in wa-2 and wild-type mice with HgCl 2 . One day after HgCl 2 injection, functional renal compromise was comparable in wild-type and wa-2 mice. However, the rates of recovery of serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were markedly slower in wa-2 mice. Histologic evidence of tubular injury also was more severe and persisted longer in wa-2 mice. Furthermore, their kidneys demonstrated reduced levels of DNA synthesis and increased TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining. These studies indicate that functional EGFR activity is an essential component of the kidney's ability to recover from acute injury and that EGFR may regulate genes involved in growth, repair, and cell survival in the kidney.
The carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) is known to interact with several classes of intracellular proteins that may modulate receptor function. Employing yeast two-hybrid screening of a human embryonic kidney cDNA library with the carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the AT1 receptor as a bait, we have isolated EP24.15 (EC 3.4.24.15, thimet oligopeptidase) as a potentially interacting protein. EP24.15 is widely distributed and is known to degrade bioactive peptides such as angiotensin I and II and bradykinin. In addition, EP24.15 was previously identified as a putative soluble angiotensin II binding protein. Two-hybrid screening also determined that EP24.15 can interact with the B2 bradykinin receptor. Transient expression of EP24.15 in a porcine kidney epithelial cell line stably expressing full length AT1 and full length B2 followed by affinity chromatography and co-immunoprecipitation confirmed EP24.15 association with both AT1 and B2 receptors. EP24.15 was also co-immunoprecipitated with AT1 and B2 in rat kidney brush border membranes (BBM) and basolateral membranes (BLM). Both AT1 and B2 undergo ligand-induced endocytosis. Analysis of endosomal fractions following immunoprecipitation with AT1 or B2 antibodies detected strong association of EP24.15 with the receptors in both light and heavy endosomal populations. Therefore, the present study indicates that EP24.15 associates with AT1 and B2 receptors both at the plasma membrane and after receptor internalization and suggests a possible mechanism for endosomal disposition of ligand that may facilitate receptor recycling.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.