Increased angiotensin II coupled with decreased Adra1a expression enhances cardiac hypertrophy in pregnancy-associated hypertensive mice.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a crucial risk factor for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, but its progression during pregnancy remains unclear. We previously showed cardiac hypertrophy in a pregnancy-associated hypertensive (PAH) mouse model, in which an increase in angiotensin II (Ang II) levels was induced by human renin and human angiotensinogen, depending on pregnancy conditions. Here, to elucidate the factors involved in the progression of cardiac hypertrophy, we performed a comprehensive analysis of changes in gene expression in the hearts of PAH mice and compared them with those in control mice.

Ezrin Regulates Ca Ionophore-Induced Plasma Membrane Translocation of Aquaporin-5.

Aquaporin-5 (AQP5) is selectively expressed in the apical membrane of exocrine glands, such as salivary, sweat, and submucosal airway glands, and plays important roles in maintaining their secretory functions. Because AQP5 is not regulated by gating, localization on the plasma membrane is important for its water-permeable function. Ezrin is an ezrin-radixin-moesin family protein that serves as a crosslinker between the plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton network.

C-Terminal Domain of Aquaporin-5 Is Required to Pass Its Protein Quality Control and Ensure Its Trafficking to Plasma Membrane.

Aquaporin-5 (AQP5) is selectively expressed in the apical membrane of exocrine glands, such as salivary, lacrimal, and submucosal glands. It is important for the secretory function of exocrine glands because mice with the knockout of AQP5 exhibit a significant reduction in secretion from these glands. Previous reports indicated that the AQP5 C-terminal domain is crucial for the localization of AQP5 at the plasma membrane, but it remains unclear which motif or amino acid residues in the C-terminal domain are essential for this.