Effect of Western Diet on Renal Transcriptome of Hypertensive Mice Overexpressing Human Angiotensin Receptor Type 1

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

9-2021

Journal Title

Hypertension

Department

Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Abstract

Over-expression of human angiotensin-II receptor type1 (hAT1R) may cause pathological outcomes due to overactivation of renin-angiotensin system. Transgenic (TG) mice containing Hap-I (hypertensive genotype) of human hAT1R gene are more prone to develop metabolic syndrome disorders as compared to TG mice with Hap-II (normotensive genotype). This gene variant associated risk of hypertension together with Western diet and aging may lead to renal disorders. However, mechanisms underlying this process are not well examined. For this purpose, we studied the renal gene expression alterations in aged TG mice containing either Hap-I or Hap-II of hAT1R gene. Aged mice (20-24 months of age) were maintained on a regular diet or high fat diet with 2% NaCl (Western diet, WD) for 16 weeks. On a regular diet, aged Hap-I mice presented higher (~9 mmHg) systolic blood pressure with respect to age-matched Hap-II animals. Following administration of Western diet, blood pressure increased in both groups of mice, but to a larger extent in Hap-I animals (~15 mmHg in comparison to ~7 mmHg in Hap-II). Aged Hap-I mice on Western diet showed increased renal fibrosis. RNA-seq data from renal tissue of Hap-I aged mice revealed that WD significantly altered the expression of >400 genes (p-adj. <0.05). Bioinformatics analysis (Qiagen IPA software) identified major alterations in main canonical pathways involved in renal function and oxidative damage. These changes in turn resulted in kidney failure, renal tubular injury, and renal proliferation. In addition, post WD treatment, RNA seq. analysis from Hap-I and Hap-II kidneys also reveals haplotype specific regulation of genes associated with blood pressure regulation and kidney disorders. Overall, these results indicate that Western diet promotes hypertension and fibrosis in the kidneys of aged mice. These alterations are paralleled by perturbation of renal transcriptional profile. Overall, these studies will assist in the identification of novel mechanisms and molecules involved in hypertension and associated kidney pathophysiology.

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