Characterization of Dahl salt-sensitive rats with genetic disruption of the A2B adenosine receptor gene: implications for A2B adenosine receptor signaling during hypertension

The A(2B) adenosine receptor (AR) has emerged as a unique member of the AR family with contrasting roles during acute and chronic disease states. We utilized zinc-finger nuclease technology to create A(2B)AR gene (Adora2b)-disrupted rats on the Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) genetic background. This strategy yielded a rat strain (SS-Adora2b mutant rats) with a 162-base pair in-frame deletion of Adora2b that included the start codon. Disruption of A(2B)AR function in SS-Adora2b mutant rats was confirmed by loss of agonist (BAY 60-6583 or NECA)-induced cAMP accumulation and loss of interleukin-6 release from isolated fibroblasts. In addition, BAY 60-6583 produced a dose-dependent increase in glucose mobilization that was absent in SS-Adora2b mutants. Upon initial characterization, SS-Adora2b mutant rats were found to exhibit increased body weight, a transient delay in glucose clearance, and reduced proinflammatory cytokine production following challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, blood pressure was elevated to a greater extent (similar to 15-20 mmHg) in SS-Adora2b mutants as they aged from 7 to 21 weeks. In contrast, hypertension augmented by Ang II infusion was attenuated in SS-Adora2b mutant rats. Despite differences in blood pressure, indices of renal and cardiac injury were similar in SS-Adora2b mutants during Ang II-augmented hypertension. We have successfully created and validated a new animal model that will be valuable for investigating the biology of the A(2B)AR. Our data indicate varying roles for A(2B)AR signaling in regulating blood pressure in SS rats, playing both anti- and prohypertensive roles depending on the pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to blood pressure elevation.