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Abstract: SA-PO785

Pericyte Detachment and Interstitial Fibrosis in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Hypertensive (DahlS) Rats

Session Information

  • Hypertension and CVD: Mechanisms
    November 05, 2022 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Orange County Convention Center‚ West Building
    Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Hypertension and CVD

  • 1503 Hypertension and CVD: Mechanisms

Authors

  • Ito, Hiroki, Tohoku Ika Yakka Daigaku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
  • Hirose, Takuo, Tohoku Daigaku Daigakuin Igakukei Kenkyuka Igakubu, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
  • Sato, Shigemitsu, Tohoku Ika Yakka Daigaku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
  • Takahashi, Kazuhiro, Tohoku Daigaku Daigakuin Igakukei Kenkyuka Igakubu, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
  • Mori, Takefumi, Tohoku Ika Yakka Daigaku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Background

Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive (DahlS) rats have salt-sensitive hypertension and volume-overloaded renal venous congestion with heart failure. We previously reported that pericyte detachment and pericyte-myofibroblast transition (PMT) around the vasa recta were involved in interstitial injury and fibrosis in an artificially induced renal venous congestion model. In the present study, we assessed the relation of pericyte detachment around the vasa recta and PMT with interstitial fibrosis in DahlS rats.

Methods

Eight-week-old DahlS rats (Dahl/Mcwi) were divided into three groups: normal diet, 4% NaCl diet, and 8% NaCl diet groups, and their kidneys were analyzed after 2 weeks. Total mRNA and protein expression levels were quantified by real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Tubulointerstitial damage and fibrosis were identified by histological analysis. Furthermore, we evaluated pericyte detachment around the vasa recta by low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM).

Results

The expression of KIM1, a tubulointerstitial damage marker; CNN1 and αSMA, interstitial fibrosis markers; and TAGLN, a PMT marker; was increased in a salt-dependent manner in DahlS rats. Pericyte detachment around the vasa recta was observed in 4% and 8% NaCl diet groups by LV-SEM.

Conclusion

Pericyte detachment and PMT are involved in tubulointerstitial injury and fibrosis of DahlS rats. Renal venous congestion and subsequent physiological changes could have a role in renal damage and fibrosis.