Regulation of Renal Ouabain-Resistant Na⁺-ATPase by Leptin, Nitric Oxide, Reactive Oxygen Species, and Cyclic Nucleotides: Implications for Obesity-Associated Hypertension

Abstract

This study examined the effect of leptin on renal ouabain-resistant Na⁺-ATPase, which drives the reabsorption of about 10% of sodium transported in the proximal tubule. Chronic leptin administration (0.25 mg/kg s.c. twice daily for seven days) increased Na⁺-ATPase activity by 62.9%. This effect was prevented by the coadministration of superoxide dismutase mimetic, tempol, or the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, apocynin (2 mM in the drinking water). Acutely administered NO donors decreased Na⁺-ATPase activity. This effect was abolished by soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ODQ, but not by protein kinase G inhibitors. Exogenous cGMP reduced Na⁺-ATPase activity, but its synthetic analogues, 8-bromo-cGMP and 8-pCPT-cGMP, were ineffective. The inhibitory effect of NO donors and cGMP was abolished by EHNA, an inhibitor of cGMP‐stimulated phosphodiesterase (PDE2). Exogenous cAMP analogue and dibutyryl-cAMP increased Na⁺-ATPase activity and abolished the inhibitory effect of cGMP. Finally, the administration of superoxide-generating mixture (xanthine oxidase+hypoxanthine) increased Na⁺-ATPase activity. The results suggest that nitric oxide decreases renal Na⁺-ATPase activity by stimulating cGMP, which in turn activates PDE2 and decreases cAMP concentration. Increased production of reactive oxygen species may lead to the elevation of Na⁺-ATPase activity by scavenging NO and limiting its inhibitory effect. Chronic hyperleptinemia is associated with increased Na⁺-ATPase activity due to excessive oxidative stress.

Keywords:

• leptin
• obesity
• arterial hypertension
• Na⁺-ATPase
• nitric oxide
• reactive oxygen species