ENDOTHELIN-1 PRODUCTION BY RAT INNER MEDULLARY COLLECTING DUCT - EFFECT OF NITRIC-OXIDE, CGMP, AND IMMUNE CYTOKINES

Nitric oxide (NO), guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) inhibit collecting duct sodium reabsorption. Because the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) synthesizes NO and ET-1, we examined NO and cGMP regulation of IMCD ET-1 production. S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP, 6 h) increased NO and cGMP and modestly reduced ET-1 release in cultured rat IMCD. Atrial natriuretic peptide or dibutyryl cGMP (6 h exposure to each) also mildly decreased IMCD ET-1 release. In long-term exposure studies, IMCD cells were incubated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon-gamma (IFN) up to 72 h. IFN/TNF increased NO and cGMP production while reducing ET-1 release by 84%; N-monomethyl-L-arginine inhibited this effect only marginally, suggesting NO was not primarily involved. IFN alone greatly reduced IMCD ET-1 release and ET-1 mRNA levels. These data indicate that short- and long-term increases in NO and cGMP modestly reduce IMCD ET-1 production. Additionally, IFN potently inhibits IMCD ET-1 release by an undetermined mechanism.