scholarly journals Protease-Activated Receptor 1 Contributes to Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation

Cardiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 258-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Antoniak ◽  
Jessica C. Cardenas ◽  
Laura J. Buczek ◽  
Frank C. Church ◽  
Nigel Mackman ◽  
...  

Background: Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. It also leads to the activation of coagulation. The coagulation protease thrombin induces cellular responses by activating protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1). We investigated whether PAR-1 contributes to Ang II-induced cardiovascular remodeling and inflammation. Methods and Results: PAR-1+/+ (wild-type; WT) and PAR-1-/- mice were infused with Ang II (600 ng/kg/min) for up to 4 weeks. In WT mice, this dose of Ang II did not cause a significant increase in blood pressure but it did cause pathological changes in both the aorta and the heart. Ang II infusion resulted in vascular remodeling of the aorta, demonstrated by a significant increase in medial wall thickening and perivascular fibrosis. Importantly, both parameters were significantly attenuated by PAR-1 deficiency. Furthermore, perivascular fibrosis around coronary vessels was reduced in Ang II-treated PAR-1-/- mice compared to WT mice. In addition, PAR-1 deficiency significantly attenuated Ang II induction of inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic genes in the aortas compared to WT mice. Finally, PAR-1 deficiency had no effect on Ang II-induced heart hypertrophy. However, the heart function measured by fractional shortening was less impaired in PAR-1-/- mice than in WT mice. Conclusion: Our data indicate that PAR-1 plays a significant role in cardiovascular remodeling mediated by a blood pressure-independent action of Ang II.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8664
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kij ◽  
Anna Bar ◽  
Kamil Przyborowski ◽  
Bartosz Proniewski ◽  
Lukasz Mateuszuk ◽  
...  

Angiotensin II (Ang II) induces hypertension and endothelial dysfunction, but the involvement of thrombin in these responses is not clear. Here, we assessed the effects of the inhibition of thrombin activity by dabigatran on Ang II-induced hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in mice with a particular focus on NO- and 20-HETE-dependent pathways. As expected, dabigatran administration significantly delayed thrombin generation (CAT assay) in Ang II-treated hypertensive mice, and interestingly, it prevented endothelial dysfunction development, but it did not affect elevated blood pressure nor excessive aortic wall thickening. Dabigatran’s effects on endothelial function in Ang II-treated mice were evidenced by improved NO-dependent relaxation in the aorta in response to acetylcholine in vivo (MRI measurements) and increased systemic NO bioavailability (NO2− quantification) with a concomitant increased ex vivo production of endothelium-derived NO (EPR analysis). Dabigatran treatment also contributed to the reduction in the endothelial expression of pro-inflammatory vWF and ICAM-1. Interestingly, the fall in systemic NO bioavailability in Ang II-treated mice was associated with increased 20-HETE concentration in plasma (UPLC-MS/MS analysis), which was normalised by dabigatran treatment. Taking together, the inhibition of thrombin activity in Ang II-induced hypertension in mice improves the NO-dependent function of vascular endothelium and normalises the 20-HETE-depedent pathway without affecting the blood pressure and vascular remodelling.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (5) ◽  
pp. H2131-H2138 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Regan ◽  
P. G. Anderson ◽  
S. P. Bishop ◽  
K. H. Berecek

To determine the role of angiotensin II-receptor blockade on cardiovascular remodeling in a pressure-overload model of cardiac hypertrophy, a subdiaphragmatic aortic band was placed in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Aortic-banded (AB) rats were left untreated or were losartan (Los; 250 mg/l) treated (AB-Los). Sham-operated (S) controls were either left untreated or treated with Los (S-Los). After 4 wk, rats were catheterized for measurement of mean arterial pressures [carotid (CMAP) and femoral (FMAP), in mmHg]. Hearts were perfused on a modified Langendorff system, and minimal coronary resistance (MCR) was determined. Hearts were then perfusion fixed, total and regional heart weights were recorded, and sections were processed for morphology. Changes in coronary artery medial thickness and perivascular fibrosis were assessed by quantitative image analysis. CMAP was significantly higher in AB and AB-Los than in S or S-Los (P < 0.05). There was no difference in FMAP in AB vs. S, but AB-Los and S-Los had lower FMAPs than S. Total heart weight and left ventricular weight-to-body weight ratios were increased in AB and AB-Los compared with S and S-Los (P < 0.05). MCR of AB was greater than S and S-Los. MCR of AB-Los was significantly lower than AB and was not significantly different from S and S-Los. In coronary vessels, medial thickness was greatest in AB, whereas there was no difference among AB-Los, S, and S-Los. Similarly, the increase in perivascular fibrosis was greatest in AB, and there was no difference among AB-Los, S, and S-Los. These data suggest that angiotensin II, independent of increased arterial pressure, is critical for the development of the vascular and fibrotic changes that occur in this model of pressure-overload hypertrophy.


Hypertension ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Chmielewski ◽  
Cristiane Aoqui ◽  
Hans Bluijssen ◽  
Marcus Baumann

Background: Inflammation participates importantly in hypertensive organ damage. Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a crucial role in hypertension and induces inflammation. An essential mediator of inflammation is the transcription factor STAT1 which is activated by interferon but also by Ang II. We hypothesized that activation of STAT1 during Ang II infusion upregulates chemokines, enhances chemotaxis and consequently results in heart fibrosis and vessel dysfunction independent on blood pressure and hypertrophy Methods: C57BL/6, C57BL/6 receiving candesartan (5mg/kg) and STAT1-/- mice received infusion of Ang II 1.5 μg/g/day or placebo for 4 weeks (n=9/group). Blood pressure was measured using tail cuff pletysmography. Expression of chemokines Cxcl10, Cxcl9 and MCP-1 as well as Nos2 were investigated. Small mesenteric arteries (SMA) were mounted in a wire myograph to assess their function. Cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation (CD45 staining) and fibrosis (hydroxyproline assay) were determined. Results: Ang II caused expression of IFNg in C57BL/6 and STAT1-/- in vitro and in vivo. Blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy did not differ between angiotensin treated C57BL/6 and STAT1-/- mice. Ang II increased in C57BL/6 expression of STAT1 dependent genes of chemokines and Nos2 (Cxcl10: 4.8-fold, Cxcl9: 3.4-fold, MCP-1: 6.6-fold, Nos2: 2.6-fold; all P<0.05) whereas this remained abolished in STAT1-/- mice. Ang II lead in STAT1-/- mice as compared to C57BL/6 to decreased cardiac CD45 number/view (C57BL/6-AngII: 27±4 STAT1-/--AngII: 11±5; P<0.05) and reduced cardiac fibrosis (hydroxyproline assay: C57BL/6-AngII: 80.6±11.8μmol/l versus STAT1-/- -AngII: 55.0±8.4μmol/l; P<0.05). Mesenteric arteries of STAT1-/- mice were fully protected against angiotensin induced endothelial dysfunction. Candesartan (AT1 receptor antagonist) inhibited action of Ang II in C57BL/6 and reduced but not reversed expression of chemokines in the heart. Conclusions: Lack of STAT1 revealed protection against Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction. We suggest that STAT1-induced chemokine activation induces chemotaxis into hypertensive target organs and modifies cardiac fibrosis and vascular dysfunction in a blood pressure-independent manner.


2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (10) ◽  
pp. C803-C812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin N. Young ◽  
Anfei Li ◽  
Frederick N. Dong ◽  
Julie A. Horwath ◽  
Catharine G. Clark ◽  
...  

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the brain circumventricular subfornical organ (SFO) mediate the central hypertensive actions of Angiotensin II (ANG II). However, the downstream signaling events remain unclear. Here we tested the hypothesis that angiotensin type 1a receptors (AT1aR), ER stress, and ROS induce activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) during ANG II-dependent hypertension. To spatiotemporally track NF-κB activity in the SFO throughout the development of ANG II-dependent hypertension, we used SFO-targeted adenoviral delivery and longitudinal bioluminescence imaging in mice. During low-dose infusion of ANG II, bioluminescence imaging revealed a prehypertensive surge in NF-κB activity in the SFO at a time point prior to a significant rise in arterial blood pressure. SFO-targeted ablation of AT1aR, inhibition of ER stress, or adenoviral scavenging of ROS in the SFO prevented the ANG II-induced increase in SFO NF-κB. These findings highlight the utility of bioluminescence imaging to longitudinally track transcription factor activation during the development of ANG II-dependent hypertension and reveal an AT1aR-, ER stress-, and ROS-dependent prehypertensive surge in NF-κB activity in the SFO. Furthermore, the increase in NF-κB activity before a rise in arterial blood pressure suggests a causal role for SFO NF-κB in the development of ANG II-dependent hypertension.


Hypertension ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J Fehrenbach ◽  
Meena S Madhur

Hypertension, or an elevated blood pressure, is the primary modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of mortality worldwide. We previously demonstrated that Th17 activation and interleukin 17A (IL-17A)/IL-21 production is integral for the full development of a hypertensive phenotype as well as the renal and vascular damage associated with hypertension. Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein Kinase 2 (ROCK2) serves as a molecular switch upregulating Th17 and inhibiting regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation. We hypothesize that hypertension is characterized by excessive T cell ROCK2 activation leading to increased Th17/Treg ratios and ultimately end-organ damage. We first showed in vitro that KD025, an experimental orally bioavailable ROCK2 inhibitor inhibits Th17 cell proliferation and IL-17A/IL-21 production. To determine if hypertensive stimuli such as endothelial stretch increases T cell ROCK2 expression, we cultured human aortic endothelial cells exposed to 5% (normotensive) or 10% (hypertensive) stretch with circulating human T cells and HLA-DR+ antigen presenting cells. Hypertensive stretch increased T cell ROCK2 expression 2-fold. We then tested the effect of ROCK2 inhibition with KD025 (50mg/kg i.p. daily) in vivo on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension. Treatment with KD025 significantly attenuated the hypertensive response within 1 week of Ang II treatment (systolic blood pressure: 139± 8 vs 108±7mmHg) and this persisted for the duration of the 4 week study reaching blood pressures 20 mmHg lower (135±13mmHg) than vehicle treated mice (158±4mmHg p<0.05 effect of treatment 2-way Repeated Measures ANOVA). Flow cytometric analysis of tissue infiltrating leukocytes revealed that KD025 treatment increased Treg/Th17 ratios in the kidney (0.61±0.03 vs 0.79±0.08, p<0.05 student’s t-test). Thus, T cell ROCK2 may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of hypertension.


1981 ◽  
Vol 241 (3) ◽  
pp. H381-H388 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Brown ◽  
J. Casals-Stenzel ◽  
S. Gofford ◽  
A. F. Lever ◽  
J. J. Morton

Female Wistar rats were infused intravenously with 5% dextrose for 3 days, then with angiotensin II (ANG II) in 5% dextrose at 20 ng . kg-1 . min-1 for 7 days, and finally with dextrose for 2.5 days. ANG II raised mean arterial pressure (MAP) gradually; by the 7th day it was 49.7 mmHg higher than during the dextrose control period in the same rats. Control rats were infused with dextrose for 12.5 days; MAP did not change. Plasma ANG II concentration was measured during infusion. In hypertensive rats on the 7th day of ANG II infusion, it was six times higher than in control rats infused with dextrose. Changes of blood pressure and plasma ANG II concentration were compared in further rats infused with much larger doses of ANG II. Rats receiving 270 ng . kg-1 . min-1 for 1 h had an almost maximal direct pressor response, MAP rising 45.3 mmHg and plasma ANG II rising 32-fold compared with controls. Thus, infusion of ANG II at low dose without direct pressor effect gradually raises blood pressure to a level similar to the maximum direct pressor effect produced by larger doses of ANG II. Sodium balance and food and water intakes were also measured and did not change during prolonged infusion of ANG II at 20 ng . kg-1 . min-1. Thus, the slow pressure effect of ANG II develops at a lower and more nearly physiological plasma concentration of the peptide than do the direct pressor effect and the effects on drinking, eating, and urinary sodium excretion.


Author(s):  
Marzieh Kafami ◽  
Mahmoud Hosseini ◽  
Saeed Niazmand ◽  
Esmaeil Farrokhi ◽  
Mosa Al-Reza Hajzadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although numerous studies have proven that estrogen (Est) has a protective effect on the development of hypertension, more research needs to be done to show its detailed mechanism in a variety of hypertension. The important role of active oxygen species in blood pressure is well defined. We examined whether or not sex hormones change the growth of reactive oxygen species (ROS) ‎in kidneys after central microinjection of angiotensin II (Ang II).‎ Materials and methods Female Wistar rats, 8 weeks old (200 ± 10 g) were used in this study. The animal groups were (1) Sham, (2) Ovariectomy (OVX), (3) Sham-Hypertension (Sham-Hyper), (4) OVX-Hypertension (OVX-Hyper), (5) Sham-Hyper-Est, (6) OVX-Hyper-Est‎;‎ (7) Sham-Hyper-Testosterone (Tst) and (8) OVX-Hyper-Tst. Solutions of 1% NaCl and 0.1 KCl ‎were used and desoxycorticostrone (doca-salt) was injected (45 mg/kg) 3 times a week in Hypertension groups. Estradiol and Tst (2 mg/kg and ‎5 mg/kg‎; daily; subcutaneously) for 4 weeks. Ang II (50 μM, 5 μL) was microinjected by intracerebroventricular ( i.c.v.) infusion and malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiol in the kidneys were measured. Results MDA in the kidneys was increased by Ang II and doca-salt treatments. Both estradiol and Tst decreased the kidney’s MDA. The level of thiol was higher in Hyper ‎groups and reversed after treatment with estradiol and Tst. Conclusions Our findings suggest that central effect of Ang II on blood pressure and kidney ‎disease is accompanied with increased levels of oxidative stress in the kidneys. Indeed sex hormones change the ROS level in the kidneys after central ‎microinjection of Ang II.‎‎


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4525
Author(s):  
Amanda St. Paul ◽  
Cali B. Corbett ◽  
Rachael Okune ◽  
Michael V. Autieri

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western and developing world, and the incidence of cardiovascular disease is increasing with the longer lifespan afforded by our modern lifestyle. Vascular diseases including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke comprise the majority of cardiovascular diseases, and therefore represent a significant medical and socioeconomic burden on our society. It may not be surprising that these conditions overlap and potentiate each other when we consider the many cellular and molecular similarities between them. These intersecting points are manifested in clinical studies in which lipid lowering therapies reduce blood pressure, and anti-hypertensive medications reduce atherosclerotic plaque. At the molecular level, the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is the target, integrator, and effector cell of both atherogenic and the major effector protein of the hypertensive signal Angiotensin II (Ang II). Together, these signals can potentiate each other and prime the artery and exacerbate hypertension and atherosclerosis. Therefore, VSMCs are the fulcrum in progression of these diseases and, therefore, understanding the effects of atherogenic stimuli and Ang II on the VSMC is key to understanding and treating atherosclerosis and hypertension. In this review, we will examine studies in which hypertension and atherosclerosis intersect on the VSMC, and illustrate common pathways between these two diseases and vascular aging.


Author(s):  
Xiao Chun Li ◽  
Ana Paula Oliveira Leite ◽  
Xiaowen Zheng ◽  
Chunling Zhao ◽  
Xu Chen ◽  
...  

The present study used a novel mouse model with proximal tubule-specific knockout of AT 1a receptors in the kidney, PT- Agtr1a −/− , to test the hypothesis that intratubular Ang II (angiotensin II) and AT 1a receptors in the proximal tubules are required for maintaining normal blood pressure and the development of Ang II–induced hypertension. Twenty-six groups (n=6–15 per group) of adult male wild-type, global Agtr1a −/− , and PT- Agtr1a −/− mice were infused with Ang II (1.5 mg/kg per day, IP), or overexpressed an intracellular Ang II fusion protein in the proximal tubules for 2 weeks. Basal telemetry blood pressure were ≈15±3 mm Hg lower in PT- Agtr1a −/− than wild-type mice and ≈13±3 mm Hg higher than Agtr1a −/− mice ( P <0.01). Basal glomerular filtration was ≈23.9% higher ( P <0.01), whereas fractional proximal tubule Na + reabsorption was lower in PT- Agtr1a −/− mice ( P <0.01). Deletion of AT 1a receptors in the proximal tubules augmented the pressure-natriuresis response ( P <0.01) and natriuretic responses to salt loading or Ang III infusion ( P <0.01). Ang II induced hypertension in wild-type, PT- Agtr1a −/− and PT- Nhe3 −/− mice, but the pressor response was ≈16±2 mm Hg lower in PT- Agtr1a −/− and PT- Nhe3 −/− mice ( P <0.01). Deletion of AT 1a receptors or NHE3 (Na + /H + exchanger 3) in the proximal tubules attenuated ≈50% of Ang II–induced hypertension in wild-type mice ( P <0.01), but blocked intracellular Ang II fusion protein-induced hypertension in PT- Agtr1a −/− mice ( P <0.01). Taken together, the results of the present study provide new insights into the critical role of intratubular Ang II/AT 1 (AT 1a )/NHE3 pathways in the proximal tubules in normal blood pressure control and the development of Ang II–induced hypertension.


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