Apparent Absence of BMAL1-Dependent Skeletal Muscle–Kidney Cross Talk in Mice
Gene Ryan Crislip,
Stephanie E. Wohlgemuth,
Christopher A. Wolff,
Miguel A. Gutierrez-Monreal,
Collin M. Douglas,
Elnaz Ebrahimi,
Kit-Yan Cheng,
Sarah H. Masten,
Dominique Barral,
Andrew J. Bryant,
Karyn A. Esser,
Michelle L. Gumz
Affiliations
Gene Ryan Crislip
Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Stephanie E. Wohlgemuth
Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Christopher A. Wolff
Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Miguel A. Gutierrez-Monreal
Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Collin M. Douglas
Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Elnaz Ebrahimi
Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Kit-Yan Cheng
Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Sarah H. Masten
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Dominique Barral
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Andrew J. Bryant
Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Karyn A. Esser
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Renal Transplantation, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Michelle L. Gumz
Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
BMAL1 is a core mammalian circadian clock transcription factor responsible for the regulation of the expression of thousands of genes. Previously, male skeletal-muscle-specific BMAL1-inducible-knockout (iMS-BMAL1 KO) mice have been described as a model that exhibits an aging-like phenotype with an altered gait, reduced mobility, muscle weakness, and impaired glucose uptake. Given this aging phenotype and that chronic kidney disease is a disease of aging, the goal of this study was to determine if iMS-BMAL1 KO mice exhibit a renal phenotype. Male iMS-BMAL1 KO and control mice were challenged with a low potassium diet for five days. Both genotypes responded appropriately by conserving urinary potassium. The iMS-BMAL1 KO mice excreted less potassium during the rest phase during the normal diet but there was no genotype difference during the active phase. Next, iMS-BMAL1 KO and control mice were used to compare markers of kidney injury and assess renal function before and after a phase advance protocol. Following phase advance, no differences were detected in renal mitochondrial function in iMS-BMAL1 KO mice compared to control mice. Additionally, the glomerular filtration rate and renal morphology were similar between groups in response to phase advance. Disruption of the clock in skeletal muscle tissue activates inflammatory pathways within the kidney of male mice, and there is evidence of this affecting other organs, such as the lungs. However, there were no signs of renal injury or altered function following clock disruption of skeletal muscle under the conditions tested.
