scholarly journals Role of neurons and glia in the CNS actions of the renin-angiotensin system in cardiovascular control

2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (5) ◽  
pp. R444-R458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette D. de Kloet ◽  
Meng Liu ◽  
Vermalí Rodríguez ◽  
Eric G. Krause ◽  
Colin Sumners

Despite tremendous research efforts, hypertension remains an epidemic health concern, leading often to the development of cardiovascular disease. It is well established that in many instances, the brain plays an important role in the onset and progression of hypertension via activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Further, the activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and of glial cell-mediated proinflammatory processes have independently been linked to this neural control and are, as a consequence, both attractive targets for the development of antihypertensive therapeutics. Although it is clear that the predominant effector peptide of the RAS, ANG II, activates its type-1 receptor on neurons to mediate some of its hypertensive actions, additional nuances of this brain RAS control of blood pressure are constantly being uncovered. One of these complexities is that the RAS is now thought to impact cardiovascular control, in part, via facilitating a glial cell-dependent proinflammatory milieu within cardiovascular control centers. Another complexity is that the newly characterized antihypertensive limbs of the RAS are now recognized to, in many cases, antagonize the prohypertensive ANG II type 1 receptor (AT1R)-mediated effects. That being said, the mechanism by which the RAS, glia, and neurons interact to regulate blood pressure is an active area of ongoing research. Here, we review the current understanding of these interactions and present a hypothetical model of how these exchanges may ultimately regulate cardiovascular function.

Hypertension ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge F Giani ◽  
Tea Djandjoulia ◽  
Nicholas Fetcher ◽  
Sebastien Fuchs ◽  
Dale M Seth ◽  
...  

Introduction: The responses to chronic angiotensin (Ang) II infusions of gene-targeted mice lacking kidney angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), in terms of intrarenal Ang II accumulation, hypertension, sodium and water retention are all blunted or absent. The objective of this study was to determine if these reduced responses were associated with changes in the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS). METHODS: Mice lacking intrarenal ACE (ACE10/10) were generated by targeted homologous recombination placing the expression of ACE only in macrophages. As a result, these mice have normal circulating ACE levels, but no kidney ACE. Wild-type (WT) mice of the same background (C57Bl/J) served as controls. Mice were subjected to sham-operation or subcutaneous infusion of Ang II for two weeks (n=6-10, 400 ng/kg/min via osmotic minipump). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was followed by telemetry. At the end of the experiment, the kidneys were collected for analysis. Ang II content was measured by RIA. Renal abundance of ACE, angiotensinogen (AGT) and Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1R) were determined by Western Blot in total kidney homogenates. Results: At baseline, the MAP of WT and ACE 10/10 mice was similar 110 ± 4 mmHg vs. 109 ± 3 mmHg respectively (p>0.05). However, when subjected to chronic Ang II infusions, the hypertensive response was blunted in ACE 10/10 mice (129 ± 6 mmHg) vs. WT (146 ± 5 mmHg; P<0.05). Also, intrarenal Ang II accumulation was lower in ACE10/10 mice (724 ± 81 fmol/g) vs. WT (1130 ± 105 fmol/g, p<0.05). In non-treated mice, intrarenal RAS components analysis revealed that the absence of ACE in ACE10/10 mice was accompanied by a significant reduction in AGT (0.41 ± 0.06) and increased AT1R expression (1.32 ± 0.05) when compared to WT (normalized to 1.00, p<0.05 in both instances). Importantly, after chronic Ang II infusions, AGT, ACE and AT1R expression increased in WT (1.36, 1.26 and 1.17 fold increase respectively compared to non-treated WT, p<0.05) but not in the ACE10/10 mice (1.19, 1.06, 0.89 fold increase respectively compared to non-treated ACE10/10, p>0.05). Conclusion: The blunted hypertension and Ang II accumulation of mice devoid of kidney ACE in response to Ang II infusions is associated with a failed induction of renal AGT and the AT1R.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (2) ◽  
pp. H543-H553
Author(s):  
R. D. Randall ◽  
B. G. Zimmerman

Rabbits were bilaterally nephrectomized for 24 h or received an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor chronically (5 days) before an acute experiment. Conductance responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation (SNS) (0.25, 0.75, and 2.25 Hz) and norepinephrine (NE) administration (0.2, 0.6, and 1.8 micrograms ia) were determined from simultaneous blood pressure and iliac blood flow measurements. Conductance responses to SNS were significantly reduced in nephrectomized (44, 26, and 20%) and chronic ACE inhibition (39, 31, and 24%) groups compared with normal controls, whereas conductance responses to NE were unchanged. Continuous infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II) for 24 h restored the depressed responses to SNS in nephrectomized and chronic ACE inhibition groups compared with normal controls but did not change conductance responses to NE. Acute ACE inhibition did not affect the conductance responses to SNS or NE compared with controls. Vascular tissue ACE activity was inhibited to a similar degree (50%) in both acute and chronic ACE inhibition groups compared with normal rabbits. Sodium depletion increased the conductance responses to SNS (30 and 24% at 0.25 and 0.75 Hz, respectively), but responses to NE were not affected. Chronic ACE inhibition significantly attenuated the conductance responses to SNS and slightly decreased responses to NE in sodium-depleted rabbits. Thus, in the anesthetized rabbit, the renin-angiotensin system potentiates the effect of SNS, presumably by ANG II acting at a prejunctional site, and this effect of ANG II appears to be long term in nature. Therefore, the renin-angiotensin system exerts a physiological role in the control of blood pressure in addition to the ability of this system to support arterial pressure in pathophysiological states.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (5) ◽  
pp. H2523-H2531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Miller ◽  
Laura E. Norton ◽  
Michael P. Murphy ◽  
Michael C. Dalsing ◽  
Joseph L. Unthank

Recent clinical and animal studies have shown that collateral artery growth is impaired in the presence of vascular risk factors, including hypertension. Available evidence suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) promote collateral growth in both hypertensive humans and animals; however, the specific mechanisms are not established. This study evaluated the hypothesis that collateral growth impairment in hypertension is mediated by excess superoxide produced by NAD(P)H oxidase in response to stimulation of the ANG II type 1 receptor. After ileal artery ligation, mesenteric collateral growth did not occur in untreated, young, spontaneously hypertensive rats. Significant luminal expansion occurred in collaterals of spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with the superoxide dismutase mimetic tempol, the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor apocynin, and the ACEI captopril, but not ANG II type 1 (losartan) or type 2 (PD-123319) receptor blockers. The ACEI enalapril produced equivalent reduction of arterial pressure as captopril but did not promote luminal expansion. This suggests the effects of captopril on collateral growth might result from its antioxidant properties. RT-PCR demonstrated that ANG II type 1 receptor and angiotensinogen expression was reduced in collaterals of untreated rats. This local suppression of the renin angiotensin system provides a potential explanation for the lack of effect of enalapril and losartan on collateral growth. The results demonstrate the capability of antioxidant therapies, including captopril, to reverse impaired collateral artery growth and the novel finding that components of the local renin angiotensin system are naturally suppressed in collaterals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (5) ◽  
pp. R895-R906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Oakes ◽  
Robert M. Fuchs ◽  
Jason D. Gardner ◽  
Eric Lazartigues ◽  
Xinping Yue

Cigarette smoking is the single most important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases (CVPD). Although cigarette smoking has been in constant decline since the 1950s, the introduction of e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems 10 yr ago has attracted former smokers as well as a new generation of consumers. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and it is currently unclear whether e-cigarettes are “safer” than regular cigarettes or whether they have the potential to reverse the health benefits, notably on the cardiopulmonary system, acquired with the decline of tobacco smoking. Of great concern, nicotine inhalation devices are becoming popular among young adults and youths, emphasizing the need for awareness and further study of the potential cardiopulmonary risks of nicotine and associated products. This review focuses on the interaction between nicotine and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), one of the most important regulatory systems on autonomic, cardiovascular, and pulmonary functions in both health and disease. The literature presented in this review strongly suggests that nicotine alters the homeostasis of the RAS by upregulating the detrimental angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin (ANG)-II/ANG II type 1 receptor axis and downregulating the compensatory ACE2/ANG-(1–7)/Mas receptor axis, contributing to the development of CVPD.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maki Urushihara ◽  
Yukiko Kinoshita ◽  
Shuji Kondo ◽  
Shoji Kagami

The intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has several pathophysiologic functions not only in blood pressure regulation but also in the development of glomerulonephritis (GN). Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the biologically active product of the RAS. Locally produced Ang II induces inflammation, renal cell growth, mitogenesis, apoptosis, migration, and differentiation, regulates the gene expression of bioactive substances, and activates multiple intracellular signaling pathways, leading to tissue damage. Activation of the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor pathway results in the production of proinflammatory mediators, cell proliferation, and extracellular matrix synthesis, which facilitates glomerular injury. Previous studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or AT1 receptor blockers have beneficial effects in experimental GN models and humans with various types of GN, and that these effects are more significant than their suppressive effects on blood pressure. In this paper, we focus on intrarenal RAS activation in the pathophysiology of experimental models of GN.


2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (1) ◽  
pp. H25-H32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Durand ◽  
Shane A. Phillips ◽  
Michael E. Widlansky ◽  
Mary F. Otterson ◽  
David D. Gutterman

Increased intraluminal pressure can reduce endothelial function in resistance arterioles; however, the mechanism of this impairment is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of local renin-angiotensin system inhibition on the pressure-induced blunting of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in human adipose arterioles. Arterioles (100–200 μm) were dissected from fresh adipose surgical specimens, cannulated onto glass micropipettes, pressurized to an intraluminal pressure of 60 mmHg, and constricted with endothelin-1. Vasodilation to ACh was assessed at 60 mmHg and again after a 30-min exposure to an intraluminal pressure of 150 mmHg. The vasodilator response to ACh was significantly reduced in vessels exposed to 150 mmHg. Exposure of the vessels to the superoxide scavenger polyethylene glycol-SOD (100 U/ml), the ANG II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan (10−6 mol/l), or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (10−5 mol/l) prevented the pressure-induced reduction in ACh-dependent vasodilation observed in untreated vessels. High intraluminal pressure had no effect on papaverine-induced vasodilation or ANG II sensitivity. Increased intraluminal pressure increased dihydroethidium fluorescence in cannulated vessels, which could be prevented by polyethylene glycol-SOD or losartan treatment and endothelial denudation. These data indicate that high intraluminal pressure can increase vascular superoxide and reduce nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation via activation of the vascular renin-angiotensin system. This study provides evidence showing that the local renin-angiotensin system in the human microvasculature may be pressure sensitive and contribute to endothelial dysfunction after acute bouts of hypertension.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. F839-F845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Monica Bivol ◽  
Rolf Kristian Berge ◽  
Bjarne Magnus Iversen

The tetradecythioacetic acid (TTA) is a modified fatty acid known to exhibit pleiotropic effects. First, we compared the effect of TTA on the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C)-hypertensive rats. Second, we examined mechanisms involved in the blood pressure reduction. TTA had minor effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in young SHR up to 8 wk of age. In 2K1C we confirmed the blood pressure-lowering effect of TTA (SBP: 173 ± 4 before vs. 138 ± 3 mmHg after TTA, P < 0.001). No effect on SBP was seen in Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) controls. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was low in SHR and WKY controls and TTA did not change it. PRA decreased from 22.9 ± 1.3 to 16.2 ± 2.2 ng·ml−1·h−1 ( P = 0.02) in 2K1C. Plasma ANG II concentration declined from 101 ± 3 to 81 ± 5 fmol/l after TTA treatment ( P = 0.005). In the clipped kidney, tissue ANG I concentration decreased from 933 ± 68 to 518 ± 60 fmol/g tissue ( P = 0.001), and ANG II decreased from 527 ± 38 to 149 ± 21 fmol/g tissue ( P < 0.001) after TTA treatment. In the nonclipped kidney, TTA did not change ANG I and moderately reduced ANG II levels. The renal blood flow response to injection of ANG II into the nonclipped kidney was blunted compared with controls and normalized with TTA treatment (10 ± 2 before vs. 20 ± 2%, P < 0.001). The results indicate that TTA downregulates the renin-angiotensin system in high renin animals but has no effect in low renin models.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (1) ◽  
pp. F150-F157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romer A. Gonzalez-Villalobos ◽  
Ryousuke Satou ◽  
Naro Ohashi ◽  
Laura C. Semprun-Prieto ◽  
Akemi Katsurada ◽  
...  

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition (ACEi) ameliorates the development of hypertension and the intrarenal ANG II augmentation in ANG II-infused mice. To determine if these effects are associated with changes in the mouse intrarenal renin-angiotensin system, the expression of angiotensinogen (AGT), renin, ACE, angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) mRNA (by quanitative RT-PCR) and protein [by Western blot (WB) and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC)] were analyzed. C57BL/6J male mice (9–12 wk old) were distributed as controls ( n = 10), ANG II infused (ANG II = 8, 400 ng·kg−1·min−1 for 12 days), ACEi only (ACEi = 10, lisinopril, 100 mg/l), and ANG II infused + ACEi (ANG II + ACEi = 11). When compared with controls (1.00), AGT protein (by WB) was increased by ANG II (1.29 ± 0.13, P < 0.05), and this was not prevented by ACEi (ACEi + ANG II, 1.31 ± 0.14, P < 0.05). ACE protein (by WB) was increased by ANG II (1.21 ± 0.08, P < 0.05), and it was reduced by ACEi alone (0.88 ± 0.07, P < 0.05) or in combination with ANG II (0.80 ± 0.07, P < 0.05). AT1R protein (by WB) was increased by ANG II (1.27 ± 0.06, P < 0.05) and ACEi (1.17 ± 0.06, P < 0.05) but not ANG II + ACEi [1.15 ± 0.06, not significant (NS)]. Tubular renin protein (semiquantified by IHC) was increased by ANG II (1.49 ± 0.23, P < 0.05) and ACEi (1.57 ± 0.15, P < 0.05), but not ANG II + ACEi (1.10 ± 0.15, NS). No significant changes were observed in AGT, ACE, or AT1R mRNA. In summary, reduced responses of intrarenal tubular renin, ACE, and the AT1R protein to the stimulatory effects of chronic ANG II infusions, in the presence of ACEi, are associated with the effects of this treatment to ameliorate augmentations in blood pressure and intrarenal ANG II content during ANG II-induced hypertension.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 1133-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Medina ◽  
Amy C Arnold

Abstract Despite decades of research and numerous treatment approaches, hypertension and cardiovascular disease remain leading global public health problems. A major contributor to regulation of blood pressure, and the development of hypertension, is the renin-angiotensin system. Of particular concern, uncontrolled activation of angiotensin II contributes to hypertension and associated cardiovascular risk, with antihypertensive therapies currently available to block the formation and deleterious actions of this hormone. More recently, angiotensin-(1–7) has emerged as a biologically active intermediate of the vasodilatory arm of the renin-angiotensin system. This hormone antagonizes angiotensin II actions as well as offers antihypertensive, antihypertrophic, antiatherogenic, antiarrhythmogenic, antifibrotic and antithrombotic properties. Angiotensin-(1–7) elicits beneficial cardiovascular actions through mas G protein-coupled receptors, which are found in numerous tissues pivotal to control of blood pressure including the brain, heart, kidneys, and vasculature. Despite accumulating evidence for favorable effects of angiotensin-(1–7) in animal models, there is a paucity of clinical studies and pharmacokinetic limitations, thus limiting the development of therapeutic agents to better understand cardiovascular actions of this vasodilatory peptide hormone in humans. This review highlights current knowledge on the role of angiotensin-(1–7) in cardiovascular control, with an emphasis on significant animal, human, and therapeutic research efforts.


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