Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibits renin gene expression

Abstract

Renin, produced in renal juxtaglomerular (JG) cells, is a fundamental regulator of blood pressure. Accumulating evidence suggests that cytokines may directly influence renin production in the JG cells. TNF-α, which is one of the key mediators in immunity and inflammation, is known to participate in the control of vascular proliferation and contraction and hence in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Thus TNF-α may exert its effects on the cardiovascular system through modulation of renal renin synthesis. Therefore we have tested the effect of TNF-α on renin transcription in As4.1 cells, which represent transformed mouse JG cells, and in native mouse JG cells in culture. Renin gene expression was also determined in mice lacking the gene for TNF-α (TNF-α knockout mice). TNF-α inhibited renin gene expression via an inhibition of the transcriptional activity, targeting the proximal 4.1 kb of the renin promoter in As4.1 cells. TNF-α also attenuated forskolin-stimulated renin gene expression in primary cultures of mouse JG cells. Mice lacking the TNF-α gene had almost threefold higher basal renal renin mRNA abundance relative to the control strain. The general physiological regulation of renin expression by salt was not disturbed in TNF-α knockout mice. Our data suggest that TNF-α inhibits renin gene transcription at the cellular level and thus may act as a modulator of renin synthesis in (physio)pathological situations.