In a previous study, we showed that Ang II type I receptor (AT1R) expression increased in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbits and in normal rabbits infused with intracerebroventricular (ICV) Angiotensin II (AngII). The present study investigated if oxidative stress plays a role in Ang II induced AT1R upregulation and its relationship to the transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP1) in CHF rabbits and in the CATHa neuronal cell line. In neuronal cell cultures, Ang II significantly increased AT1R mRNA by 153 ± 22%,
P
<0.01; c-Jun mRNA by 90 ± 10%,
P
< 0.01; NADPH oxidase activity by 126 ± 43%,
P
< 0.01 versus untreated cells; Tempol, Apocynin and the AP 1 inhibitor Tanshinone II reversed the increased AT1R, c-Jun expression and NADPH oxidase activity induced by AngII. We examined the effect of ICV Tempol on expression of these proteins in the RVLM of CHF rabbits. Compared to untreated CHF rabbits Tempol significantly decreased AT1R protein expression (0.88±0.16 vs. 1.6±0.29,
P
<0.05), phosphorylated Jnk protein (0.10±0.02 vs. 0.31±0.10,
P
<0.05), and phosphorylated c-Jun (0.02±0.001 vs. 0.14±0.05,
P
<0.05). These data suggest that Ang II induces AT1R upregulation at the transcriptional level by activation of oxidative stress and AP1 in both cultured cells and in intact brain. Antioxidant agents may be beneficial in CHF by decreasing AT1R expression through the Jnk and AP1 pathway.
Ebselen attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis via
the inhibition of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase and activator protein-1 signalling pathway in PC12 cells
