Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is a transmembrane serine exopeptidase abundantly expressed in the kidneys, predominantly in the proximal tubule (PT); however, its non-enzymatic functions in this nephron segment remain poorly understood. While DPP4 physically associates with the Na /H exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) and its inhibitors exert natriuretic effects, the DPP4 role in blood pressure (BP) regulation remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of PT-specific deletion ( ) and global deletion ( ) on systolic blood pressure (SBP), natriuresis, and NHE3 regulation under baseline and angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated conditions in both male and female mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiometabolic diseases are often associated with heightened levels of angiotensin II (Ang II), which accounts for the observed oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. Accumulating evidence indicates a parallel upregulation of dipeptidyl dipeptidase 4 (DPP4) activity in cardiometabolic diseases, with its inhibition shown to mitigate oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. These findings highlight an overlap between the pathophysiological mechanisms used by Ang II and DPP4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension, yet the precise molecular mechanisms remain elusive. SGLT2i inhibits proximal tubule (PT) NHE3-mediated sodium reabsorption in normotensive rodents, yet no hypotensive effect is observed under this scenario. This study examined the effect of empagliflozin (EMPA) on renal tubular sodium transport in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Emerging evidence suggests the existence of a crosstalk between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Therefore, combined inhibition of DPP4 and RAS may produce similar pharmacological effects rather than being additive. This study tested the hypothesis that combining an inhibitor of DPP4 with an angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blocker does not provide additional cardioprotection compared to monotherapy in heart failure (HF) rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)/Angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) pathways are coexpressed in most tissues. The balance between these pathways determines, at least in part, whether tissue damage will occur in response to pathological stimuli. The present study tested the hypothesis that male sex and high blood pressure are associated with ACE/ACE2 imbalance in the lungs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to investigate the antiproteinuric and hyperkalemic mechanisms activated by dual renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade in renovascular hypertensive rats (2-kidney 1-clip model [2K-1C]). Six weeks after clipping the left renal artery or sham operation (2K), rats were treated with losartan, enalapril, or both drugs for two weeks. We found that 2K-1C rats displayed higher tail-cuff blood pressure (BP), increased non-clipped kidney Ang II concentration, and more pronounced urinary albumin excretion than 2K.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiproteinuric effect of DPP4 inhibition in 5/6 renal ablation rats and tested the hypothesis that the urinary activity of DPP4 correlates with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Experiments were conducted in male Wistar rats who underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) or sham operation followed by 8 wk of treatment with the DPP4 inhibitor (DPP4i) sitagliptin or vehicle. Proteinuria increased progressively in Nx rats throughout the observation period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Clinical and epidemiological studies have suggested a correlation between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and high blood pressure (BP). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that high BP induced by VDD is associated with altered expression and covalent modification of apical sodium transporters along the nephron. The contributions of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and oxidative stress were also investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe pharmacological administration of GLP-1R (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) agonists reduces blood pressure (BP) in type 2 diabetes mellitus and nondiabetic patients. This study tested the hypothesis that endogenous GLP-1R signaling influences the regulation of BP. To this end, SHRs (spontaneously hypertensive rats) and Wistar rats were treated with the GLP-1R antagonist Ex9 (exendin-9) or vehicle for 4 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study aimed to analyze the effects of reperfusion of a distant coronary artery on cardiac function, the ultrastructure, and the molecular environment of the remote myocardium immediately after the completion of myocardial regional necrosis: delayed reperfusion (DR). Additionally, the effects of prior exercise on the outcomes of DR were investigated. Female rats with permanent occlusion or delayed reperfusion were randomly assigned to an exercise (swimming, 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks) or sedentary protocol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Preconditioning of cell recipients may exert a significant role in attenuating the hostility of the infarction milieu, thereby enhancing the efficacy of cell therapy. This study was conducted to examine whether exercise training potentiates the cardioprotective effects of adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation following myocardial infarction (MI) in rats.
Methods: Four groups of female Fisher-344 rats were studied: Sham; non-trained rats with MI (sMI); non-trained rats with MI submitted to ADSCs transplantation (sADSC); trained rats with MI submitted to ADSCs (tADSC).
Circulating dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) activity is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes in humans and experimental heart failure (HF) models, suggesting that DPPIV may play a role in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Renal dysfunction is one of the key features of HF, but it remains to be determined whether DPPIV inhibitors are capable of improving cardiorenal function after the onset of HF. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that DPPIV inhibition by vildagliptin improves renal water and salt handling and exerts anti-proteinuric effects in rats with established HF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral evidences have shown that salt excess is an important determinant of cardiovascular and renal derangement in hypertension. The present study aimed to investigate the renal effects of chronic high or low salt intake in the context of hypertension and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying such effects. To this end, newly weaned male SHR were fed with diets only differing in NaCl content: normal salt (NS: 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Up to 30 % of patients undergoing 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy experience severe toxicity. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency explains 36-61 % of cases. Predicting toxicity is an unmet challenge.
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