Abstract
Type 1 diabetes provokes a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent accumulation of superoxide anion in the renal medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL). We hypothesized that this phenomenon involves PKC-dependent NAD(P)H oxidase activation. The validity of this hypothesis was explored using mTAL suspensions prepared from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and from sham (vehicle-treated) rats. Superoxide production was 5-fold higher in mTAL suspensions from diabetic rats compared with suspensions from sham rats. The NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor apocynin caused an 80% decrease in superoxide production by mTAL from diabetic rats (P<0.05 vs untreated) without altering superoxide production by sham mTAL. NAD(P)H oxidase activity was >2-fold higher in mTAL from diabetic rats than in sham mTAL (P<0.05). Pretreatment with calphostin C (broad-spectrum PKC inhibitor) or rottlerin (PKCdelta inhibitor) reduced NAD(P)H oxidase activity by approximately 80% in both groups; however, PKCalpha/beta or PKCbeta inhibition did not alter NAD(P)H oxidase activity in either group. Protein levels of Nox2, Nox4, and p47phox were significantly higher in diabetic mTAL than in mTAL from sham rats. In summary, elevated superoxide production by mTAL from diabetic rats was normalized by NAD(P)H oxidase inhibition. PKC-dependent, PKCdelta-dependent, and total NAD(P)H oxidase activity was greater in mTAL from diabetic rats compared with sham. Protein levels of Nox2, Nox4, and p47phox were increased in mTAL from diabetic rats. We conclude that increased superoxide production by the mTAL during diabetes involves a PKCdelta-dependent increase in NAD(P)H oxidase activity in concert with increased protein levels of catalytic and regulatory subunits of the enzyme.