Abstract MP57: Chronic Inhibition Of Brain Rhomboid-like Protein 2 (irhom2) Activity Decreases Arterial Blood Pressure In Salt-sensitive Hypertension In Mice

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We previously reported that ADAM17 (aka tumor necrosis factor-α convertase) is critical for the development of hypertension in experimental models and patients. Recent studies highlighted that ADAM17’s formation of TNF-α relies on prior maturation of this sheddase, controlled by the rhomboid-like protein 2 (iRhom2) specifically in microglia. Genetic deletion of iRhom2 in mice shows significant attenuation of TNF-α and ADAM17 activity in a tissue specific manner. Here, we hypothesized that silencing iRhom2 activity specifically in the brain would decrease blood pressure (BP) in the DOCA-salt model of hypertension, in mice. Uninephrectomized mice were implanted subcutaneously (sc) with DOCA-pellets (50 mg) and provided with 1% saline in drinking water. In addition, mice were chronically implanted with an icv cannula connected to a sc osmotic minipump for delivery of: (1) iRhom2-siRNA (9.6 μg/kg/day), (2) scrambled siRNA (SCR 0.2 μg/kg/day), (3) ADAM17 antibody (ADAM17-Ab; 23.8 μg/kg/day) or (4) artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) for 2 weeks while BP was recorded by telemetry. DOCA-salt treatment led to a significant increase in BP in the control groups (SCR: 156 ±3 mmHg and aCSF: 161 ±1 mmHg; n=3/group; p<0.001) compared to baseline values (122 ±2 mmHg; n=12). ICV infusion of iRhom2-siRNA or ADAM17 neutralizing antibody for 2-weeks in DOCA-salt-treated mice resulted in a significant attenuation of BP (iRhom2-siRNA: 152 ±2 mmHg and ADAM17-Ab: 151 ±2 mmHg n=3/group, p<0.001). These data suggest that: 1) Selective silencing of iRhom2 from microglia is as potent as ADAM17 neutralization throughout the brain in lowering BP and 2) iRhom2 is a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of salt-sensitive hypertension.