# Renal Mechanisms of Blood Pressure Regulation and Salt Sensitivity by Collectrin

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2021 · $345,708

## Abstract

Hypertension (HTN) affects ~ 30% of adult Americans and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and
renal diseases. Its pathogenesis is complex, with contributions from both genetic and environmental factors.
The renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) is a key biological system that regulates arterial pressure (AP). Its major
effector molecule is angiotensin II (Ang II) which mediates opposing effects through the signaling of its
receptors, AT1R and AT2R. We have identified a transmembrane glycoprotein, collectrin (Tmem27 on
chromosome X), a key regulator of AP and modulator of the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide
(O2•_), as a downstream target of Ang II. We published that collectrin is a critical chaperone for the
reabsorption of all amino acids (AAs) in the proximal tubules (PT), and for the uptake of the cationic AA L-
arginine (L-Arg) in endothelial cells (ECs). We reported that global collectrin knockout (Tmem27Y/-) mice have
baseline HTN that is ameliorated by supplementation with L-Arg (a substrate for NO production). Furthermore,
they have augmented salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH) that is corrected by TEMPOL, a superoxide dismutase
mimetic. Tmem27Y/- mice have impaired cellular L-Arg uptake that is associated with decreased dimerization
of endothelial and neuronal NO synthase (eNOS and nNOS, respectively) in renal tissues. These observations,
along with their preferential production of O2•_ over NO, suggest that Tmem27Y/- mice have a state of NOS
uncoupling. Collectrin is highly expressed in the kidney in the PT, collecting duct (CD), and throughout the
vascular endothelium. In a manuscript in press, we show through kidney cross-transplantation (XTP) studies
that collectrin in the kidney ameliorates SSH. Importantly, renal expression of collectrin is decreased by Ang II
in an AT1R dependent manner, and is independent of hypertension per se. In preliminary data, we found
significant association of human TMEM27 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with diastolic BP (DBP) in
the HyperGEN study. We hypothesize that collectrin is downregulated by Ang II through AT1 receptor
signaling, and is a molecular mechanism linking Ang II, NOS uncoupling, and HTN. Accordingly, our
objective is to precisely delineate the renal tissue-collectrin-NOS axis through which collectrin regulates AP
homeostasis and salt sensitivity; and to determine its influence on AP in human populations that include salt-
sensitive (SS)/-resistant (SR) cohorts. We will comprehensively use in vivo and population genetic approaches
to: 1A) To test the hypothesis that collectrin is downregulated by AT1 receptor signaling and upregulated
through AT2 receptor signaling, and 1B) To test the hypothesis that collectrin in the PT and/or CD maintains
NO and O2•_ balance to control sodium balance and therefore AP; 2) To test the hypothesis that deletion of
endothelial collectrin decreases renal blood flow, and increases peripheral vascular resistance, AP and SSH;
and 3) D...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10167698
- **Project number:** 5R01DK113632-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Thu H. Le
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $345,708
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-10-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10167698

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10167698, Renal Mechanisms of Blood Pressure Regulation and Salt Sensitivity by Collectrin (5R01DK113632-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10167698. Licensed CC0.

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