TY - GEN A1 - Alter, Markus L. A1 - Ott, Ina A1 - von Websky, Karoline A1 - Tsuprykov, Oleg A1 - Sharkovska, Yuliya A1 - Krause-Relle, Katharina A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Henze, Andrea A1 - Kretschmer, Axel A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Additional stimulation of sGC on top of standard treatment with ARB`s may offer a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy resistant to ARB treatment alone T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Background Riociguat is the first of a new class of drugs, the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators. Riociguat has a dual mode of action: it sensitizes sGC to the body’s own NO and can also increase sGC activity in the absence of NO. The NO-sGC-pathway is impaired in many cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and diabetic nephropathy (DN). DN leads to high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is still a high unmet medical need. The urinary albumin excretion rate is a predictive biomarker for these clinical events. Therefore, we investigated the effect of riociguat, alone and in combination with the angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARB) telmisartan on the progression of DN in diabetic eNOS knock out mice, a new model closely resembling human pathology. Methods Seventy-six male eNOS knockout C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups after receiving intraperitoneal high-dose streptozotocin: telmisartan (1 mg/kg), riociguat (3 mg/kg), riociguat+telmisartan (3 and 1 mg/kg), and vehicle. Fourteen mice were used as non-diabetic controls. After 12 weeks, urine and blood were obtained and blood pressure measured. Glucose concentrations were highly increased and similar in all diabetic groups. Results Riociguat, alone (105.2 ± 2.5 mmHg; mean±SEM; n = 14) and in combination with telmisartan (105.0 ± 3.2 mmHg; n = 12), significantly reduced blood pressure versus diabetic controls (117.1 ± 2.2 mmHg; n = 14; p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively), whereas telmisartan alone (111.2 ± 2.6 mmHg) showed a modest blood pressure lowering trend (p = 0.071; n = 14). The effects of single treatment with either riociguat (97.1 ± 15.7 µg/d; n = 13) or telmisartan (97.8 ± 26.4 µg/d; n = 14) did not significantly lower albumin excretion on its own (p = 0.067 and p = 0.101, respectively). However, the combined treatment led to significantly lower urinary albumin excretion (47.3 ± 9.6 µg/d; n = 12) compared to diabetic controls (170.8 ± 34.2 µg/d; n = 13; p = 0.004), and reached levels similar to non-diabetic controls (31.4 ± 10.1 µg/d, n = 12). Conclusion Riociguat significantly reduced urinary albumin excretion in diabetic eNOS knock out mice that were refractory to treatment with ARB’s alone. Patients with diabetic nephropathy refractory to treatment with ARB’s have the worst prognosis among all patients with diabetic nephropathy. Our data indicate that additional stimulation of sGC on top of standard treatment with ARB`s may offer a new therapeutic approach for patients with diabetic nephropathy resistant to ARB treatment. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 855 KW - pulmonary hypertension KW - diabetic nephropathy KW - diabetic control KW - telmisartan KW - guanylate cyclase Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-428250 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 855 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Hoffmann, Linda Sarah A1 - Kretschmer, Axel A1 - Lawrenz, Bettina A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter T1 - Chronic activation of heme free Guanylate Cyclase leads to renal protection in Dahl salt-sensitive rats T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - The nitric oxide (NO)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)/cyclic guanosine monophasphate (cGMP)-signalling pathway is impaired under oxidative stress conditions due to oxidation and subsequent loss of the prosthetic sGC heme group as observed in particular in chronic renal failure. Thus, the pool of heme free sGC is increased under pathological conditions. sGC activators such as cinaciguat selectively activate the heme free form of sGC and target the disease associated enzyme. In this study, a therapeutic effect of long-term activation of heme free sGC by the sGC activator cinaciguat was investigated in an experimental model of salt-sensitive hypertension, a condition that is associated with increased oxidative stress, heme loss from sGC and development of chronic renal failure. For that purpose Dahl/ss rats, which develop severe hypertension upon high salt intake, were fed a high salt diet (8% NaCl) containing either placebo or cinaciguat for 21 weeks. Cinaciguat markedly improved survival and ameliorated the salt-induced increase in blood pressure upon treatment with cinaciguat compared to placebo. Renal function was significantly improved in the cinaciguat group compared to the placebo group as indicated by a significantly improved glomerular filtration rate and reduced urinary protein excretion. This was due to anti-fibrotic and antiinflammatory effects of the cinaciguat treatment. Taken together, this is the first study showing that long-term activation of heme free sGC leads to renal protection in an experimental model of hypertension and chronic kidney disease. These results underline the promising potential of cinaciguat to treat renal diseases by targeting the disease associated heme free form of sGC. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 489 KW - signal-transduction system KW - nitric-oxide KW - oxidative stress KW - independent activation KW - endothelial dysfunction KW - pulmonary-hypertension KW - cardiovascular-disease KW - therapeutic target KW - heart-failure KW - cyclic-GMP Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-408088 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 489 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Alter, Markus L. A1 - Kretschmer, Axel A1 - Von Websky, Karoline A1 - Tsuprykov, Oleg A1 - Reichetzeder, Christoph A1 - Simon, Alexandra A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Early urinary and plasma biomarkers for experimental diabetic Nephropathy JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: As the prevalence of diabetes rises, its complications such as diabetic nephropathy affect an increaseing number of patients. Consequently, the need for biomarkers in rodent models which reflect the stage and course of diabetic nephropathy is high. This article focuses on Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), osteopontin (OPN), nephrin, and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in urine, and kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1, clusterin, and tissue inhibitior of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 1 in plasma in uni-nephrectomized rats with streptocotozin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus, a common animal model to explore renal impairment in the setting of diabetes mellitus. Methods: 23 male Wistar rats were uni-nephrectomized and subsequently divided into two study groups. The diabetic group received streptozotocin (STZ) via tail-vein injection, the non-diabetic group received citrate buffer without STZ. Subsequently, blood glucose, body weight, and blood pressure were checked regularly. After 18 weeks, animals were placed in metabolic cages, blood and urine obtained and subsequently organs were harvested after sacrifice. Results: Blood glucose levels were highly increased in diabetic animals throughout the experiment, whereas systolic blood pressure did not differ between the study groups. At study end, classical biomarkers such as urinary albumin and protein and plasma cystatin c were only slightly but not significantly different between groups indicating a very early disease state. In contrast, urinary excretion of H-FABP, OPN, nephrin, and NGAL were highly increased in diabetic animals with a highly significant p-value (p<0.01 each) compared to non-diabetic animals. In plasma, differences were found for calbindin, KIM-1, clusterin, TIMP-1, and OPN. These findings were confirmed by means of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) analysis. Conclusions: In summary, our study revealed elevated levels of new plasma and urinary biomarkers (urinary osteopontin, urinary nephrin, urinary NGAL, urinary H-FABP, plasma KIM-1, plasma TIMP-1) in uni-nephrectomized diabetic rats, an established rat model of diabetic nephropathy. These biomarkers appeared even before the classical biomarkers of diabetic nephropathy such as albuminuria and urinary protein excretion. The new biomarkers might offer advantage to urinary albumin and plasma cystatin c with respect to early detection. KW - diabetic nephropathy KW - urinary biomarker KW - blood biomarker KW - heart-type fatty acid binding protein KW - osteopontin KW - nephrin KW - neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin KW - kidney injury molecule 1 KW - clusterin KW - tissue inhibitior of metalloproteinases 1 Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2011.111010 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 58 IS - 7-8 SP - 659 EP - 671 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ott, Ina M. A1 - Alter, Markus L. A1 - von Websky, Karoline A1 - Kretschmer, Axel A1 - Tsuprykov, Oleg A1 - Sharkovska, Yuliya A1 - Krause-Relle, Katharina A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Henze, Andrea A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Effects of Stimulation of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase on Diabetic Nephropathy in Diabetic eNOS Knockout Mice on Top of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockade JF - PLOS ONE N2 - The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its complications, such as diabetic nephropathy (DN), is rising worldwide and prevention and treatment are therefore becoming increasingly important. Therapy of DN is particularly important for patients who do not adequately respond to angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) treatment. Novel approaches include the stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) as it is reported to have beneficial effects on cardiac and renal damage. We aimed to investigate the effects of the sGC stimulator riociguat and ARB telmisartan on kidney function and structure in a hypertensive model of diabetic nephropathy. Seventy-six diabetic male eNOS knockout C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided after having received streptozotocin: telmisartan (1 mg/kg/d), riociguat (3 mg/kg/d), riociguat+telmisartan (3+1 mg/kg/d), and vehicle. Fourteen mice were used as non-diabetic controls. Treatment duration was 11 weeks. Glucose concentrations were increased and similar in all diabetic groups. Telmisartan insignificantly reduced blood pressure by 5.9 mmHg compared with diabetic controls (111.2 +/- 2.3 mmHg vs. 117.1 +/- 2.2 mmHg; p = 0.071). Treatment with riociguat both alone and in combination with telmisartan led to a significant reduction of blood pressure towards diabetic vehicle (105.2 +/- 2.5 mmHg and 105.0 +/- 3.2 mmHg, respectively, vs. 117.1 +/- 2.2 mmHg). Combined treatment also significantly decreased albuminuria compared with diabetic controls (47.3 +/- 9.6 mu g/24 h vs. 170.8 +/- 34.2 mu g/24 h; p = 0.002) reaching levels similar to those of non-diabetic controls (34.4 +/- 10.6 mu g/24 h), whereas the reduction by single treatment with either telmisartan (97.8 +/- 26.4 mu g/24 h) or riociguat (97.1 +/- 15.7 mu g/24 h) was not statistically significant. The combination treatment led to a significant (p < 0.01) decrease of tissue immunoreactivity of malondialdehyde, as consequence of reduced oxidative stress. In conclusion, stimulation of sGC significantly reduced urinary albumin excretion in diabetic eNOS knockout mice treated already with ARB. Thus, this new drug class on top of standard ARBs administration may offer a new therapeutic approach for patients resistant to ARB treatment. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0042623 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 7 IS - 8 PB - PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE CY - SAN FRANCISCO ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tsuprykov, Oleg A1 - Chaykovska, Lyubov A1 - Kretschmer, Axel A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Pfab, Thiemo A1 - Krause-Relle, Katharina A1 - Reichetzeder, Christoph A1 - Kalk, Philipp A1 - Adamski, Jerzy A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Endothelin-1 overexpression improves renal function in eNOS knockout mice JF - Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology N2 - Background/Aims: To investigate the renal phenotype under conditions of an activated renal ET-1 system in the status of nitric oxide deficiency, we compared kidney function and morphology in wild-type, ET-1 transgenic (ET+/+), endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS-/-) and ET+/+eNOS-/- mice. Methods: We assessed blood pressure, parameters of renal morphology, plasma cystatin C, urinary protein excretion, expression of genes associated with glomerular filtration barrier and tissue remodeling, and plasma metabolites using metabolomics. Results: eNOS-/- and ET+/+eNOS-/- mice developed hypertension. Osteopontin, albumin and protein excretion were increased in eNOS-/- and restored in ET+/+eNOS-/- animals. All genetically modified mice developed renal interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. Genes involved in tissue remodeling (serpinel, TIMP1, Collal, CCL2) were up-regulated in eNOS-/-, but not in ET+/+eNOS-/- mice. Plasma levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitines, amino acids, diacyl phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines and hexoses were descreased in eNOS-/- and were in the normal range in ET+/+eNOS-/- mice. Conclusion: eNOS-/- mice developed renal dysfunction, which was partially rescued by ET-1 overexpression in eNOS-/- mice. The metabolomics results suggest that ET-1 overexpression on top of eNOS knockout is associated with a functional recovery of mitochondria (rescue effect in 13-oxidation of fatty acids) and an increase in antioxidative properties (normalization of monounsaturated fatty acids levels). (C) 2015 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel KW - Chronic kidney disease KW - Endothelial nitric oxide synthase KW - Endothelin KW - Mice KW - Nitric oxide Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1159/000438516 SN - 1015-8987 SN - 1421-9778 VL - 37 IS - 4 SP - 1474 EP - 1490 PB - Karger CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vignon-Zellweger, Nicolas A1 - Relle, Katharina A1 - Kienlen, Elodie A1 - Alter, Markus L. A1 - Seider, Patrick A1 - Sharkovska, Juliya A1 - Heiden, Susi A1 - Kalk, Philipp A1 - Schwab, Karima A1 - Albrecht-Kuepper, Barbara A1 - Theuring, Franz A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Endothelin-1 overexpression restores diastolic function in eNOS knockout mice JF - Journal of hypertension N2 - Background The cardiac nitric oxide and endothelin-1 (ET-1) systems are closely linked and play a critical role in cardiac physiology. The balance between both systems is often disturbed in cardiovascular diseases. To define the cardiac effect of excessive ET-1 in a status of nitric oxide deficiency, we compared left ventricular function and morphology in wild-type mice, ET-1 transgenic (ET+/+) mice, endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS(-/-)) mice, and ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice. Methods and results eNOS(-/-) and ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice developed high blood pressure compared with wild-type and ET+/+ mice. Left ventricular catheterization showed that eNOS(-/-) mice, but not ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-), developed diastolic dysfunction characterized by increased end-diastolic pressure and relaxation constant tau. To elucidate the causal molecular mechanisms driving the rescue of diastolic function in ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice, the cardiac proteome was analyzed. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry offers an appropriate hypothesis-free approach. ET-1 overexpression on an eNOS(-/-) background led to an elevated abundance and change in posttranslational state of antioxidant enzymes (e. g., peroxiredoxin-6, glutathione S-transferase mu 2, and heat shock protein beta 7). In contrast to ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice, eNOS(-/-) mice showed an elevated abundance of proteins responsible for sarcomere disassembly (e. g., cofilin-1 and cofilin-2). In ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice, glycolysis was favored at the expense of fatty acid oxidation. Conclusion eNOS(-/-) mice developed diastolic dysfunction; this was rescued by ET-1 transgenic overexpression. This study furthermore suggests that cardiac ET-1 overexpression in case of eNOS deficiency causes specifically the regulation of proteins playing a role in oxidative stress, myocytes contractility, and energy metabolism. KW - cardiovascular diseases KW - endothelin KW - nitric oxide Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0b013e3283450770 SN - 0263-6352 SN - 1473-5598 VL - 29 IS - 5 SP - 961 EP - 970 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sharkovska, Yuliya A1 - Kalk, Philipp A1 - Lawrenz, Bettina A1 - Godes, Michael A1 - Hoffmann, Linda Sarah A1 - Wellkisch, Kathrin A1 - Geschka, Sandra A1 - Relle, Katharina A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter T1 - Nitric oxide-independent stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase reduces organ damage in experimental low- renin and high-renin models N2 - Objectives The nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cGMP signal transduction pathway is impaired in different cardiovascular diseases, including pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and arterial hypertension. Riociguat is a novel stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). However, little is known about the effects of sGC stimulators in experimental models of hypertension. We thus investigated the cardio-renal protective effects of riociguat in low- renin and high-renin rat models of hypertension. Methods The vasorelaxant effect of riociguat was tested in vitro on isolated saphenous artery rings of normal and nitrate tolerant rabbits. The cardiovascular in-vivo effects of sGC stimulation were evaluated in hypertensive renin-transgenic rats treated with the nitric oxide-synthase inhibitor N- nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (high-renin model) and in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy (low-renin model). Results In both animal models, riociguat treatment improved survival and normalized blood pressure. Moreover, in the L-NAME study part, riociguat reduced cardiac target organ damage as indicated by lower plasma ANP, lower relative left ventricular weight and lower cardiac interstitial fibrosis, and reduced renal target organ damage as indicated by lower plasma creatinine and urea, less glomerulosclerosis and less renal interstitial fibrosis. In the 5/6 nephrectomy study part, riociguat reduced cardiac target organ damage as indicated by lower plasma ANP, lower relative left ventricular weight, lower myocyte diameter and lower arterial media/lumen ratio, and reduced renal target organ damage as indicated by improved creatinine clearance and less renal interstitial fibrosis. Conclusion We demonstrate for the first time that the novel sGC stimulator riociguat shows in two independent models of hypertension a potent protection against cardiac and renal target organ damage. J Hypertens 28: 1666-1675 (c) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Y1 - 2010 UR - http://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/pages/default.aspx U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/Hjh.0b013e32833b558c SN - 0263-6352 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Schlossmann, Jens A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Renal effects of soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators and activators: A review of the preclinical evidence JF - Current opinion in pharmacology N2 - Direct stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is emerging as a potential new approach for the treatment of renal disorders. sGC catalyzes the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), deficiency of which is implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, new classes of drugs sGC stimulators and activators are being investigated in preclinical models under conditions where nitric oxide is deficient. In preclinical models with different etiologies of CKD, the sGC stimulators BAY 41-2272, BAY 41-8543, BAY 60-4552, riociguat and vericiguat and the sGC activators cinaciguat, ataciguat, BI 703704 and GSK2181236A have shown consistently renoprotective effects. Clinical trials are required to confirm these findings in humans, and to ascertain whether these agents could provide a future alternative to guideline-recommended treatments. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2014.12.014 SN - 1471-4892 SN - 1471-4973 VL - 21 SP - 95 EP - 104 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geschka, Sandra A1 - Kretschmer, Axel A1 - Sharkovska, Yuliya A1 - Evgenov, Oleg V. A1 - Lawrenz, Bettina A1 - Hucke, Andreas A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter T1 - Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulation prevents fibrotic tissue remodeling and improves survival in salt-sensitive dahl rats JF - PLoS one N2 - Background: A direct pharmacological stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is an emerging therapeutic approach to the management of various cardiovascular disorders associated with endothelial dysfunction. Novel sGC stimulators, including riociguat (BAY 63-2521), have a dual mode of action: They sensitize sGC to endogenously produced nitric oxide (NO) and also directly stimulate sGC independently of NO. Little is known about their effects on tissue remodeling and degeneration and survival in experimental malignant hypertension. Methods and Results: Mortality, hemodynamics and biomarkers of tissue remodeling and degeneration were assessed in Dahl salt-sensitive rats maintained on a high salt diet and treated with riociguat (3 or 10 mg/kg/d) for 14 weeks. Riociguat markedly attenuated systemic hypertension, improved systolic heart function and increased survival from 33% to 85%. Histological examination of the heart and kidneys revealed that riociguat significantly ameliorated fibrotic tissue remodeling and degeneration. Correspondingly, mRNA expression of the pro-fibrotic biomarkers osteopontin (OPN), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the myocardium and the renal cortex was attenuated by riociguat. In addition, riociguat reduced plasma and urinary levels of OPN, TIMP-1, and PAI-1. Conclusions: Stimulation of sGC by riociguat markedly improves survival and attenuates systemic hypertension and systolic dysfunction, as well as fibrotic tissue remodeling in the myocardium and the renal cortex in a rodent model of pressure and volume overload. These findings suggest a therapeutic potential of sGC stimulators in diseases associated with impaired cardiovascular and renal functions. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021853 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 6 IS - 7 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Geschka, Sandra A1 - Kretschmer, A. A1 - Sharkovska, J. A1 - Evgenov, O. V. A1 - Lawrenz, Bettina A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulation prevents fibrotic tissue Remodelling and improves survival in salt-sensitive dahl rats T2 - Journal of vascular research Y1 - 2011 SN - 1018-1172 VL - 48 IS - 4 SP - 171 EP - 171 PB - Karger CY - Basel ER -