Ment had a significant effect on heart rat as shown in Figure 1B. ETS-1 Expression Is Increased in Hypertensive DS Rats Hypertensive DS rats had increased glomerular expression of the phosphorylated form of ETS-1 compared with normotensive DS rats as assessed by Western blot (Figure 2A). No significant changes in the expression of total ETS-1 were observed in hypertensive DS rats compared with their normotensive counterparts. The expression of ETS-1 and phosphoETS-1 was exclusively glomerular as assessed by immunofluorescence (Figure 2B). To determine the role of RAS activation on ETS-1 expression in hypertensive Dahl rats, we determined the effects of RAS blockade on ETS-1 expression. As shown in Figure 2C and 2D, the administration of the ARB candesartan significantly reduced the expression of the phosphorylated form of ETS-1 as assessed by western blot. In addition, the administration of the DN as well as the combination of the DN and ARB resulted in significant reductions in ETS-1 phosphorylation. We performed colocalization studies to characterize the glomerular cells that express ETS-1 in hypertensive DS rats, using specific markers for vascular endothelium (CD31), mesangial cells (desmin), and podocytes (synaptopodin). As shown in Figure 3, in hypertensive DS rats, the expression of total ETS-1 partially colocalized with CD31 (Figure 3A?C) indicating expression of ETS-1 in the glomerular endothelium. Following a similar strategy, we performed colocalization studies using synaptopodin as a podocyte marker, and we observed strong colocalization of ETS-1 with synaptopodin-expressing cells, indicating that podocytes express ETS-1 (Figure 3D?F). We also evaluated the expression of ETS-1 in the glomerular mesangium using desmin as a PD150606 site marker for mesangial expression. As shown in Figure 4, there was no clear colocalization of ETS-1 and desmin, suggesting that in vivo there is no significant expression of ETS-1 in the glomerular mesangium. ETS-1 Blockade Reduces Proteinuria in Hypertensive DS Rats As others and we have shown, hypertensive DS rats had a significant increase in the urinary 2 excretion of protein and get Pan-RAS-IN-1 albumin compared with normotensive DS rats (Table). Treatment with DN peptide but not MU resulted in significant reductions in both proteinuria andHypertension. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 June 08.Feng et al.Pagealbuminuria. Treatment with ARB also resulted in significant reductions in protein excretion and albuminuria, while the combination of ARB and DN completely normalized the urinary excretion of protein in these rats but had no additional effect on albuminuria (Table). ETS-1 Blockade Improves GIS and Interstitial Fibrosis To assess the effect of ETS-1 blockade alone or in combination with RAS blockade on renal injury, we measured GIS in Periodic Acid Schiff tained kidney sections and interstitial fibrosis in trichrome-stained sections. As expected, the GIS was significantly increased in hypertensive DS rats compared with normotensive DS rats (Figure 4). Treatment with DN, ARB, or DN/ ARB, but not with MU, resulted in significant improvements in GIS (Figure 4). Similarly, we observed significant increases in interstitial fibrosis in hypertensive DS rats compared with normotensive DS rats (Figure 4). Treatment with DN or ARB alone resulted in a small and nonsignificant improvement in the severity of interstitial fibrosis. However, the combination of DN and ARB reduced interstitial fibrosis to levels similar to th.Ment had a significant effect on heart rat as shown in Figure 1B. ETS-1 Expression Is Increased in Hypertensive DS Rats Hypertensive DS rats had increased glomerular expression of the phosphorylated form of ETS-1 compared with normotensive DS rats as assessed by Western blot (Figure 2A). No significant changes in the expression of total ETS-1 were observed in hypertensive DS rats compared with their normotensive counterparts. The expression of ETS-1 and phosphoETS-1 was exclusively glomerular as assessed by immunofluorescence (Figure 2B). To determine the role of RAS activation on ETS-1 expression in hypertensive Dahl rats, we determined the effects of RAS blockade on ETS-1 expression. As shown in Figure 2C and 2D, the administration of the ARB candesartan significantly reduced the expression of the phosphorylated form of ETS-1 as assessed by western blot. In addition, the administration of the DN as well as the combination of the DN and ARB resulted in significant reductions in ETS-1 phosphorylation. We performed colocalization studies to characterize the glomerular cells that express ETS-1 in hypertensive DS rats, using specific markers for vascular endothelium (CD31), mesangial cells (desmin), and podocytes (synaptopodin). As shown in Figure 3, in hypertensive DS rats, the expression of total ETS-1 partially colocalized with CD31 (Figure 3A?C) indicating expression of ETS-1 in the glomerular endothelium. Following a similar strategy, we performed colocalization studies using synaptopodin as a podocyte marker, and we observed strong colocalization of ETS-1 with synaptopodin-expressing cells, indicating that podocytes express ETS-1 (Figure 3D?F). We also evaluated the expression of ETS-1 in the glomerular mesangium using desmin as a marker for mesangial expression. As shown in Figure 4, there was no clear colocalization of ETS-1 and desmin, suggesting that in vivo there is no significant expression of ETS-1 in the glomerular mesangium. ETS-1 Blockade Reduces Proteinuria in Hypertensive DS Rats As others and we have shown, hypertensive DS rats had a significant increase in the urinary 2 excretion of protein and albumin compared with normotensive DS rats (Table). Treatment with DN peptide but not MU resulted in significant reductions in both proteinuria andHypertension. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 June 08.Feng et al.Pagealbuminuria. Treatment with ARB also resulted in significant reductions in protein excretion and albuminuria, while the combination of ARB and DN completely normalized the urinary excretion of protein in these rats but had no additional effect on albuminuria (Table). ETS-1 Blockade Improves GIS and Interstitial Fibrosis To assess the effect of ETS-1 blockade alone or in combination with RAS blockade on renal injury, we measured GIS in Periodic Acid Schiff tained kidney sections and interstitial fibrosis in trichrome-stained sections. As expected, the GIS was significantly increased in hypertensive DS rats compared with normotensive DS rats (Figure 4). Treatment with DN, ARB, or DN/ ARB, but not with MU, resulted in significant improvements in GIS (Figure 4). Similarly, we observed significant increases in interstitial fibrosis in hypertensive DS rats compared with normotensive DS rats (Figure 4). Treatment with DN or ARB alone resulted in a small and nonsignificant improvement in the severity of interstitial fibrosis. However, the combination of DN and ARB reduced interstitial fibrosis to levels similar to th.
