Additionally, nephrin and CD2AP decreased and stained intermittently. Through the immunoelectron microscopy, different degrees of foot processes effacement were observed in the hypertensive group. Nephrin and CD2AP decreased and stained weakly along the podocyte basal membrane, while in the control group, they distributed evenly in podocytes. Conclusion: Hypertension induced dysregulation of podocyte cytoskeletal proteins, which may be an important cause that leads to the development of proteinuria and decline of renal function in hypertensive kidney injury patients. BOKUDA KANAKO1,2, MORIMOTO SATOSHI1, RYUZAKI

MASAKI1, MIZUGUCHI YUUKI1, OSHIMA YOICHI1, NIIYAMA MICHITA1, SEKI YASUFUMI1, YOSHIDA NAOHIRO1, WATANABE high throughput screening assay DAISUKE1, MORI FUMIKO1, ANDO TAKASHI1, ONO MASAMI1, ITOH HIROSHI2,

ICHIHARA ATSUHIRO1 1Department of Medicine II, Endocrinology and Hypertension, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan; 2Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University, School of Medicine, Japan Introduction: The (pro)renin receptor[(P)RR] plays an important role in tissue angiotensin generation and in angiotensin-independent activation of intracellular signaling. Alisikiren, Selleckchem CHIR 99021 the direct renin inhibitor, effectively inhibits the first step of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In addition, it affects (P)RR-mediated actions and (P)RR expressions in experimental models. Aliskiren therefore may have organ protective effects, however, effects of single Aliskiren treatment on kidney and vascular functions still remain unclear. The soluble form of (P)RR [s(P)RR] is secreted into the extracellular space and serum level of s(P)RR is supposed to be a biomarker reflecting the status

of the tissue RAS. Herein, we examined the effects of Aliskiren on kidney and vascular functions and serum s(P)RR levels in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Thirty consecutive essential hypertensive patients with CKD in our outpatient clinic were randomly assigned to the Aliskiren (DRI) group or the Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, (CCB) group. Changes in parameters associated Selleckchem Erlotinib with renal and vascular functions and indices of RAS components including serum s(P)RR levels were compared between the groups before and after 3- and 6-month treatment periods. Results: Office blood pressure (BP) was not significantly different between the groups before and after treatment. Plasma renin concentration and activity were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in DRI group, while these remained unchanged in CCB group. There were no significant changes in serum s(P)RR levels throughout the treatment periods in both groups. Urinary albumin excretion was significantly decreased in DRI group, while no significant changes were observed in CCB group. eGFR remained unchanged in both groups.