Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) exerts local anti-hypertrophic activity in heart tissue by binding to natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-A. However, patients with cardiac hypertrophy and congestive heart failure have elevated plasma and tissue levels of ANP and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) along with Angiotensin II (Ang II). However, the rationale behind the impaired action of ANP in diseased state is not well understood. In this study, we sought to examine the signaling mechanism by which Ang II modulates local anti-hypertrophic effect through inhibition of
Npr1
gene, which codes for NPR-A, in the heart. Hence,
in vivo
, Wistar male rats (n=8/group) were administered suppressor dose of Ang II (50ng/kg/min) for 14 days through implanted mini-osmotic pumps. Also,
in vitro
, H9C2 (2-1) cardio myofibroblast cells were exposed to Ang II (10
-7
M) for 20 hours. Upon treatment with Ang II, the mRNA and protein expression of
Npr1
(p<0.01) was decreased with significant increase in expression of AT1R (p<0.01) in the heart tissues. In addition, a concomitant decrease in cGMP activity and production in isolated heart tissue membrane preparation was found in Ang II infused rats. Moreover, Ang II infusion causes a suppression of MKP-1 phosphatase; while enhancing the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (p<0.01) and NF-κB (p<0.01) proteins. Similarly, H9C2 cells exhibited the hypertrophic growth with increased expression of AT1R and activation of ERK1/2 proteins on stimulation with Ang II. Furthermore, gene silencing using siRNA-NPR-A prior to Ang II treatment augmented the translocation of NF-κB and activation of ERK1/2 (3-fold). Whereas, pre-treatment with losartan or cGMP analog 8-Br-cGMP, an activator of cGMP-dependent protein kinases, abolished the stimulatory effects of Ang II on AT1R, NF-κB nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of MAPK, but activated the MKP-1 phosphatase. These results suggest that NPRA-cGMP signaling exerts inhibitory effects on Ang II by antagonizing the upstream signaling pathways and by activation of MKP-1 to counter-regulate NF-κB and MAPKs through cGMP dependent mechanism; thereby mediate local anti-hypertrophic activity in cardiac hypertrophy.
Angiotensin II-Induced Ventricular Hypertrophy and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Activation Are Suppressed in Mice Overexpressing Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Circulation
