The role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases is well established. 1 Moreover, pharmacologic antagonists of GPCRs, such as -adrenergic and angiotensin receptors, are cornerstones of therapy in the treatment of hypertension and its complications. 2 Signaling by GPCRs is triggered by ligand-induced conformational changes in the receptor that promote exchange of guanosine 5Ј-diphosphate for guanosine 5Ј-triphosphate on the G␣ subunit of the G protein complex, 3 followed by dissociation of G␣ from the G␥ dimer. The dissociated subunits can then interact with effector molecules to propagate the signal. The duration and intensity of signaling are further regulated by GTPase-activating proteins. 4 The regulators of G protein signaling (RGSs) are a family of proteins with GTPase-activating protein activity. 4 Among these, RGS2 displays regulatory selectivity for the G␣q subclass of G proteins. 5 Many key cardiovascular hormones such as angiotensin II, endothelin-1, thromboxane A 2 , and norepinephrine activate receptors that couple to G␣q.A specific role for RGS2 in maintaining normal vascular tone and BP was established using genetically modified mice. 6,7 RGS2-deficient mice have hypertension 6,7 along with abnormal vascular contraction and relaxation responses. 7 In addition to its actions to influence the contractile state of vascular smooth muscle, regulated expression of RGS2 has been described in other tissues that are important for BP regulation including the central nervous system 8 and the kidney. 9 Here, we use a kidney crosstransplantation strategy to distinguish contributions of RGS2 actions in the kidney from extrarenal tissues to the regulation of BP and the development of hypertension. Our studies indicate that RGS2 effects within the kidney are critical for regulation of BP, suggesting that altered renal epithelial and/or vascular functions are responsible for hypertension in this genetic model.To determine the relative contributions of RGS2 in renal versus extrarenal tissues to the pathogenesis of hypertension, we used a kidney crosstransplantation strategy. By varying the genotype of the transplant donor and recipient, we generated four groups of animals in which renal function was provided entirely by the single transplanted kidney. The wild-type group consisted of wildtype mice transplanted with kidneys from wild-type donors, having normal expression of RGS2 in the kidney transplant and in all systemic tissues. For the systemic knockout (KO) group, RGS2-deficient recipients were transplanted with kidneys from wild-type donors; these animals lack RGS2 in all tissues except the kidney. Kidney KO animals are wild-type recipients of RGS2-deficient kidneys lacking expression of RGS2 only in renal parenchyma and vasculature but with normal expression of receptors in
ABSTRACTG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have key roles in cardiovascular regulation and are important targets for the treatment of hypertension. GTPase-activating proteins, such as RGS2, mod...