SLCO4C1 transporter eliminates uremic toxins and attenuates hypertension and renal inflammation

J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Dec;20(12):2546-55. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2009070696. Epub 2009 Oct 29.

Abstract

Hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) strongly associates with cardiovascular events. Among patients with CKD, reducing the accumulation of uremic toxins may protect against the development of hypertension and progression of renal damage, but there are no established therapies to accomplish this. Here, overexpression of human kidney-specific organic anion transporter SLCO4C1 in rat kidney reduced hypertension, cardiomegaly, and inflammation in the setting of renal failure. In addition, SLCO4C1 overexpression decreased plasma levels of the uremic toxins guanidino succinate, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and the newly identified trans-aconitate. We found that xenobiotic responsive element core motifs regulate SLCO4C1 transcription, and various statins, which act as inducers of nuclear aryl hydrocarbon receptors, upregulate SLCO4C1 transcription. Pravastatin, which is cardioprotective, increased the clearance of asymmetric dimethylarginine and trans-aconitate in renal failure. These data suggest that drugs that upregulate SLCO4C1 may have therapeutic potential for patients with CKD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Base Sequence
  • Biological Transport, Active
  • DNA / genetics
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / genetics
  • Hypertension / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nephritis / drug therapy
  • Nephritis / genetics
  • Nephritis / metabolism*
  • Organic Anion Transporters / genetics
  • Organic Anion Transporters / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / genetics
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / metabolism
  • Toxins, Biological / metabolism*
  • Uremia / drug therapy
  • Uremia / metabolism

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Organic Anion Transporters
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • SLCO4C1 protein, human
  • Toxins, Biological
  • uremia middle molecule toxins
  • DNA