Renal concentrating defect in mice lacking group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2

Eicosanoids regulate various cellular functions that are important in physiological and pathophysiological processes. Arachidonic acid is released from membranes by phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity. Activated macrophages derived from mice lacking the 85-kDa group IV cytosolic PLA(2) (cPLA(2)) have a markedly reduced release of prostaglandin E-2 and leukotrienes B-4 and C-4. Under basal conditions and after furosemide, urinary prostaglandin E-2 excretion is reduced in cPLA(2)-knockout (cPLA(2)(-/-)) mice. Serum creatinine, Na+, K+, and Ca2+ concentrations, glomerular filtration rate, and fractional excretion of Na+ and K+ are not different in cPLA(2)(-/-) and cPLA(2)(-/-) mice. Maximal urinary concentration is lower in 48-h water-deprived cPLA(2)(-/-) mice compared with cPLA(2)(+/+) animals (1,934 +/- 324 vs. 3,541 +/- 251 mmol/kgH(2)O). Plasma osmolality is higher (337 +/- 5 vs. 319 +/- 3 mmol/kgH(2)O) in cPLA(2)(-/-) mice that lose a greater percentage of their body weight (20 +/- 2 vs. 13 +/- 1%) compared with cPLA(2)(+/+) mice after water deprivation. Vasopressin does not correct the concentrating defect. There is progressive reduction in urinary osmolality with age in cPLA(2)(-/-) mice. Membrane-associated aquaporin-1 (AQP1) expression, identified by immunocytochemical techniques, is reduced markedly in proximal tubules of older cPLA(2)(-/-) animals but is normal in thin descending limbs. However, Western blot analysis of kidney cortical samples revealed an equivalent AQP1 signal intensity in cPLA(2)(+/+) and cPLA(2)(-/-) animals. Young cPLA(2)(-/-) mice have normal proximal tubule AQP1 staining. Collecting duct AQP2, -3, and -4 were normally expressed in the cPLA(2)(-/-) mice. Thus mice lacking cPLA(2) develop an age-related defect in renal concentration that may be related to abnormal trafficking and/or folding of AQP1 in the proximal tubule, implicating cPLA(2) in these processes.