Dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) deficiency increases renal inflammation and blood pressure in mice. We show here that long-term renal-selective silencing of Drd2 using siRNA increases renal expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors and blood pressure in mice. To determine the effects of renal-selective rescue of Drd2 expression in mice, the renal expression of DRD2 was first silenced using siRNA and 14 days later rescued by retrograde renal infusion of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector with DRD2 . Renal Drd2 siRNA treatment decreased the renal expression of DRD2 protein by 55%, and DRD2 AAV treatment increased the renal expression of DRD2 protein by 7.5- to 10-fold. Renal-selective DRD2 rescue reduced the expression of proinflammatory factors and kidney injury, preserved renal function, and normalized systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These results demonstrate that the deleterious effects of renal-selective Drd2 silencing on renal function and blood pressure were rescued by renal-selective overexpression of DRD2 . Moreover, the deleterious effects of 45-minute bilateral ischemia/reperfusion on renal function and blood pressure in mice were ameliorated by a renal-selective increase in DRD2 expression by the retrograde ureteral infusion of DRD2 AAV immediately after the induction of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Thus, 14 days after ischemia/reperfusion injury, the renal expression of profibrotic factors, serum creatinine, and blood pressure were lower in mice infused with DRD2 AAV than in those infused with control AAV. These results indicate an important role of renal DRD2 in limiting renal injury and preserving normal renal function and blood pressure.

AAV9 vector provides efficient gene transfer in all segments of the renal nephron, with minimum expression in non-renal cells, when administered retrogradely via the ureter. It is important to restrict the transgene expression to the desired cell type within the kidney, so that the physiological endpoints represent the function of the transgene expressed in that specific cell type within kidney. We hypothesized that segment-specific gene expression within the kidney can be accomplished using the highly efficient AAV9 vectors carrying the promoters of genes that are expressed exclusively in the desired segment of the nephron in combination with administration by retrograde infusion into the kidney via the ureter. We constructed AAV vectors carrying eGFP under the control of: kidney-specific cadherin (KSPC) gene promoter for expression in the entire nephron; Na+/glucose co-transporter (SGLT2) gene promoter for expression in the S1 and S2 segments of the proximal tubule; sodium, potassium, 2 chloride co-transporter (NKCC2) gene promoter for expression in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH); E-cadherin (ECAD) gene promoter for expression in the collecting duct (CD); and cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter that provides expression in most of the mammalian cells, as control. We tested the specificity of the promoter constructs in vitro for cell type-specific expression in mouse kidney cells in primary culture, followed by retrograde infusion of the AAV vectors via the ureter in the mouse. Our data show that AAV9 vector, in combination with the segment-specific promoters administered by retrograde infusion via the ureter, provides renal nephron segment-specific gene expression.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the kidney regulate the reabsorption of essential nutrients, ions, and water from the glomerular filtrate. Abnormalities in renal epithelial ion transport play important roles in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. The orphan G protein-coupled receptor 37L1 (GPR37L1), also known as endothelin receptor type B-like protein (ETBR-LP2), is expressed in several regions in the brain, but its expression profile and function in peripheral tissues are poorly understood. We found that GPR37L1 mRNA expression is highest in the brain, followed by the stomach, heart, testis, and ovary, with moderate expression in the kidney, pancreas, skeletal muscle, liver, lung, and spleen. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed the expression of GPR37L1 in specific regions within some organs. In the kidney, GPR37L1 is expressed in the apical membrane of renal proximal tubule cells. In human renal proximal tubule cells, the transient expression of GPR37LI increased intracellular sodium, whereas the silencing of GPR37LI decreased intracellular sodium. Inhibition of Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) activity abrogated the GPR37L1-mediated increase in intracellular sodium. Renal-selective silencing of Gpr37l1 in mice increased urine output and sodium excretion and decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The renal-selective silencing of GPR37L1 decreased the protein expression of NHE3 but not the expression of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase or sodium-glucose cotransporter 2. Our findings show that in the kidney, GPR37L1 participates in renal proximal tubule luminal sodium transport and regulation of blood pressure by increasing the renal expression and function of NHE3 by decreasing cAMP production. The role of GPR37L1, expressed in specific cell types in organs other than the kidney, remains to be determined.