Exchange protein activated by cAMP 1 (Epac1)-deficient mice develop β-cell dysfunction and metabolic syndrome.

Previously, exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 2 (Epac2) and PKA were known to play a role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by pancreatic β cells. The present study shows that Epac1 mRNA is also expressed by β cells. Therefore, we generated mice and embryonic stem (ES) cells with deletion of the Epac1 gene to define its role in β-cell biology and metabolism.

Nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 deficiency increases the severity of neuronal cell death in ischemic injury.

Nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5) has been implicated in regulating several genes that are thought to be neuroprotective in ischemic injury. Because of the embryonic lethality of NFAT5 knockout (NFAT5(-/-)) mice, the heterozygous (NFAT5(+/-)) mice were used to study the in vivo role of NFAT5 in hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) condition. The NFAT5(+/-) mice exhibited more severe neurological deficits, larger infarct area and edema formation associated with increased aquaporin 4 expressions in the brain.

Selective over-expression of endothelin-1 in endothelial cells exacerbates inner retinal edema and neuronal death in ischemic retina.

The level of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, was associated with retinopathy under ischemia. The effects of endothelial endothelin-1 (ET-1) over-expression in a transgenic mouse model using Tie-1 promoter (TET-1 mice) on pathophysiological changes of retinal ischemia were investigated by intraluminal insertion of a microfilament up to middle cerebral artery (MCA) to transiently block the ophthalmic artery. Two-hour occlusion and twenty-two-hour reperfusion were performed in homozygous (Hm) TET-1 mice and their non-transgenic (NTg) littermates.

Phenotypes developed in secretin receptor-null mice indicated a role for secretin in regulating renal water reabsorption.

Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) is responsible for regulating the concentration of urine in the collecting tubules of the kidney under the control of vasopressin (Vp). Studies using Vp-deficient Brattleboro rats, however, indicated the existence of substantial Vp-independent mechanisms for membrane insertion, as well as transcriptional regulation, of this water channel. The Vp-independent mechanism(s) is clinically relevant to patients with X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) by therapeutically bypassing the dysfunctional Vp receptor.

Osmotic response element-binding protein (OREBP) is an essential regulator of the urine concentrating mechanism.

OREBP (osmotic response element-binding protein), also called TonEBP or NFAT5, is thought to induce the expression of genes that increase the accumulation of organic osmolytes to protect cells against a hypertonic environment. To investigate the consequences of lacking OREBP activity, transgenic (Tg) mice that overexpress OREBPdn (dominant negative form of OREBP) specifically in the epithelial cells of the renal collecting tubules were generated. These mice showed impairment in their urine concentrating mechanism, most likely due to reduced expression of the aquaporin AQP2 and the urea transporter UT-A1 and UT-A2 mRNAs.

Fyn and p38 signaling are both required for maximal hypertonic activation of the osmotic response element-binding protein/tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (OREBP/TonEBP).

When cells are challenged by hyperosmotic stress, one of the crucial adaptive responses is the expression of osmoprotective genes that are responsible for raising the intracellular level of compatible osmolytes such as sorbitol, betaine, and myo-inositol. This is achieved by the activation of the transcription factor called OREBP (also known as TonEBP or NFAT5) that specifically binds to the osmotic response element (ORE) or tonicity-responsive enhancer that enhances the transcription of these genes. Here we show that p38, a subgroup of the mitogen-activated kinases activated by hypertonic stress, and Fyn, a shrinkage-activated tyrosine kinase, are both involved in the hypertonic activation of OREBP/TonEBP.