Inhibition of calcineurin phosphatase promotes exocytosis of renin from juxtaglomerular cells

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

To examine the role of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin in regulation of renin release, we assayed exocytosis using whole-cell patch clamp of single juxtaglomerular cells in culture. The calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporine A (CsA), significantly increased juxtaglomerular cell membrane capacitance, an index of cell surface area and an established measure of exocytosis in single-cell assays. This effect was mimicked by intracellular delivery of a calcineurin inhibitory peptide, the calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), or the calmodulin inhibitor W-13. Simultaneous exposure to EGTA and CsA had no additive effect. The protein kinase A (PKA) blocker RpcAMPs had no effect on the CsA-induced increase in membrane capacitance. Intra-and extracellular application of tacrolimus did not alter membrane capacitance. A calmodulin antagonist (calmidazolium) and CsA, but not tacrolimus, significantly stimulated renin release from cultured juxtaglomerular cells. Juxtaglomerular cells expressed the calcineurin isoforms A-ß and A-gamm but not A-α. Plasma renin concentrations (PRCs) were not different in wild-type, calcineurin A-α, or A-ß knockout mice but increased after CsA treatment of the A-α knockout, while renin mRNA was suppressed. We conclude that calcineurin and calcium/calmodulin suppress exocytosis of renin from juxtaglomerular cells independent of PKA.

Publication Title

Kidney international

Volume

77

Issue

2

First Page

110

Last Page

117

Comments

This article was published in Kidney international, Volume 77, Issue 2, Pages 110-117.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ki.2009.418.

Copyright © 2010 International Society of Nephrology.

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