Renal tubular hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II.

Cellular processes leading to renal tubular hypertrophy may contribute to the development of progressive renal disease. Angiotensin II (ANG II) is a prime agent that has been linked to the progression of renal disease by a host of mechanisms, including the induction of tubular epithelial hypertrophy and stimulation of extracellular matrix biosynthesis. All components of a functional renin-angiotensin system reside within the renal tubule. Epithelial cells exhibit distinct patterns of growth behavior after stimulation with ANG II (namely, hypertrophy of proximal tubule segments and proliferation of more distal segments). The hypertrophic action of ANG II is mediated through high-affinity AT1-receptors, involves activation of pertussis-toxin sensitive G1 proteins, and depends on a decrease in intracellular cAMP. In addition, ANG II induces sequential activation of MAP kinases and S6 kinase, and leads to activation of early immediate genes and the modulation of a series of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. There is also compelling evidence that the ANG II-induced epithelial hypertrophy and the stimulated-synthesis of collagen type IV are mediated by increased transcription and production of TGF-beta. ANG II-mediated inhibition of protein degradation may further increase protein content. The hypertrophic response to ANG II is greater in medium with high glucose concentration. Blockade of the action of ANG II prevents the renal hypertrophy and the tubulointerstitial fibrosis in animal models of chronic renal diseases (independent of changes in systemic or glomerular hemodynamics), in part through interception of ANG II-mediated induction of TGF-beta expression.