Inhibition of HDAC enhances STAT acetylation, blocks NF-κB, and suppresses the renal inflammation and fibrosis in<i>Npr1</i>haplotype male mice

Abstract

Guanylyl cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor-A (GC-A/NPRA) plays a critical role in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid volume homeostasis. Mice lacking functional <i>Npr1</i> (coding for GC-A/NPRA) exhibit hypertension and congestive heart failure. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely less clear. The objective of the present study was to determine the physiological efficacy and impact of all-<i>trans</i>-retinoic acid (ATRA) and sodium butyrate (NaBu) in ameliorating the renal fibrosis, inflammation, and hypertension in <i>Npr1</i> gene-disrupted haplotype (1-copy; +/-) mice (50% expression levels of NPRA). Both ATRA and NaBu, either alone or in combination, decreased the elevated levels of renal proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines and lowered blood pressure in <i>Npr1</i>^+/- mice compared with untreated controls. The treatment with ATRA-NaBu facilitated the dissociation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 and 2 from signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and enhanced its acetylation in the kidneys of <i>Npr1</i>^+/- mice. The acetylated STAT1 formed a complex with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, thereby inhibiting its DNA-binding activity and downstream proinflammatory and profibrotic signaling cascades. The present results demonstrate that the treatment of the haplotype <i>Npr1</i>^+/- mice with ATRA-NaBu significantly lowered blood pressure and reduced the renal inflammation and fibrosis involving the interactive roles of HDAC, NF-κB (p65), and STAT1. The current findings will help in developing the molecular therapeutic targets and new treatment strategies for hypertension and renal dysfunction in humans.