Renal proteinase-activated receptor 2, a new actor in the control of blood pressure and plasma potassium level.

Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a G protein-coupled membrane receptor that is activated upon cleavage of its extracellular N-terminal domain by trypsin and related proteases. PAR2 is expressed in kidney collecting ducts, a main site of control of Na(+) and K(+) homeostasis, but its function remains unknown. We evaluated whether and how PAR2 might control electrolyte transport in collecting ducts, and thereby participate in the regulation of blood pressure and plasma K(+) concentration.

Regulation of pendrin by cAMP: possible involvement in β-adrenergic-dependent NaCl retention.

The sodium-independent anion exchanger pendrin is expressed in several tissues including the kidney cortical collecting duct (CCD), where it acts as a chloride/bicarbonate exchanger and has been shown to participate in the regulation of acid-base homeostasis and blood pressure. The renal sympathetic nervous system is known to play a key role in the development of salt-induced hypertension. This study aimed to determine whether pendrin may partly mediate the effects of β adrenergic receptors (β-AR) on renal salt handling.