Transcriptional and physiological responses to chronic ACTH treatment by the mouse kidney.

Article Details

Citation

Dunbar DR, Khaled H, Evans LC, Al-Dujaili EA, Mullins LJ, Mullins JJ, Kenyon CJ, Bailey MA

Transcriptional and physiological responses to chronic ACTH treatment by the mouse kidney.

Physiol Genomics. 2010 Feb 4;40(3):158-66. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00088.2009. Epub 2009 Nov 17.

PubMed ID
19920212 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

We investigated the effects on urinary steroid and electrolyte excretion and renal gene expression of chronic infusions of ACTH in the mouse. ACTH caused a sustained increase in corticosteroid excretion; aldosterone excretion was only transiently elevated. There was an increase in the excretion of deoxycorticosterone, a weak mineralocorticoid, to levels of physiological significance. Nevertheless, we observed neither antinatriuresis nor kaliuresis in ACTH-treated mice, and plasma renin activity was not suppressed. We identified no changes in expression of mineralocorticoid target genes. Water turnover was increased in chronic ACTH-treated mice, as were hematocrit and hypertonicity: volume contraction is consistent with high levels of glucocorticoid. ACTH-treated mice exhibited other signs of glucocorticoid excess, such as enhanced weight gain and involution of the thymus. We identified novel ACTH-induced changes in 1) genes involved in vitamin D (Cyp27b1, Cyp24a1, Gc) and calcium (Sgk, Calb1, Trpv5) metabolism associated with calciuria and phosphaturia; 2) genes that would be predicted to desensitize the kidney to glucocorticoid action (Nr3c1, Hsd11b1, Fkbp5); and 3) genes encoding transporters of enzyme systems associated with xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress. Although there is evidence that ACTH-induced hypertension is a function of physiological cross talk between glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, the present study suggests that the major changes in electrolyte and fluid homeostasis and renal function are attributable to glucocorticoids. The calcium and organic anion metabolism pathways that are affected by ACTH may explain some of the known adverse effects associated with glucocorticoid excess.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
Corticotropin1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) 24-hydroxylase, mitochondrialProteinHumans
Unknown
Inducer
Details
Corticotropin25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 alpha hydroxylase, mitochondrialProteinHumans
Unknown
Inducer
Details