Endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) is increased in patients with sickle cell disease and may contribute to the development of sickle cell nephropathy. The current study was designed to determine whether ET‐1 acting via the ET_A receptor contributes to renal injury in a mouse model of sickle cell disease.

Adult, humanized HbSS (homozygous for sickle Hb) mice had increased ET‐1 mRNA expression in both the cortex and the glomeruli compared with mice heterozygous for sickle and Hb A (HbAS controls). In the renal cortex, ET_A receptor mRNA expression was also elevated in HbSS (sickle) mice although ET_B receptor mRNA expression was unchanged. Ligand binding assays confirmed that sickle mice had increased ET_A receptors in the renal vascular tissue when compared with control mice.

In response to PKC stimulation, reactive oxygen species production by isolated glomeruli from HbSS sickle mice was increased compared with that from HbSA controls, an effect that was prevented by 1 week in vivo treatment with the selective ET_A antagonist, ABT‐627. Protein and nephrin excretion were both elevated in sickle mice, effects that were also significantly attenuated by ABT‐627. Finally, ET_A receptor antagonism caused a significant reduction in mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase subunits, which may contribute to nephropathy in sickle cell disease.

These data support a novel role for ET‐1 in the progression of sickle nephropathy, specifically via the ET_A receptor, and suggest a potential role for ET_A receptor antagonism in a treatment strategy.