Oxygen‐derived radicals stimulate renin release of isolated juxtaglomerular cells

Abstract

We assessed effects of reactive oxygen metabolites on renin release of juxtaglomerular cells (JG-cells) prepared in primary culture from mouse kidneys. Renin activity was measured in culture supernatants and cells. Basal renin release was increased by incubation of JG-cells with xanthine/xanthine oxidase from 26 ± 1% up to 58 ± 3% of total activity. This increase was slightly inhibited by superoxide dismutase, and was eliminated by addition of catalase, implicating H₂O₂ as an intermediate product in the stimulatory cascade. H₂O₂ applied exogeneously dose-dependently stimulated renin release up to 55 ± 2%; this effect was also prevented by catalase. We propose that reactive oxygen metabolites stimulate renin release in isolated JG-cells. This could have important implications in inflammatory kidney diseases.