Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and angiotensin II (Ang II) play an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in part by inducing the cardiac hypertrophic response and oxidative stress. Recently we demonstrated that angiotensin induced hypertensive response is attenuated in mice lacking the gene for TNF-α. In this study, we examined whether Ang II induced cardiac hypertrophy and increased oxidative stress is mediated through TNF-α.
Methods and results:
Male TNF-α (−/−) and age matched control (WT) mice were subcutaneously implanted with osmotic minipumps containing Ang II (1 μg/kg/min) or saline for 14 days. Human recombinant TNF-α was injected in one group of TNF-α (−/−) mice (10 μg/kg/day) for 14 days. In WT+Ang mice, a temporal increase in blood pressure was observed during the study as measured by radio telemetry transmitters. At the end of the study, echocardiography revealed an increase in thickness and dimensions of left ventricle (LV) and decreased fractional shortening (%FS) in WT+Ang mice. Real time RT-PCR showed that Ang II- infusion resulted in an increase in heart/bodyweight ratio and of cardiac hypertrophy markers ANP and BNP, and profibrotic genes Collagen Type I, Collagen Type II, and TGF-β in WT mice. Electron Spin resonance spectroscopy revealed an increase in total ROS, superoxide and peroxynitrite in the WT+ANG mice when compared to control WT mice. However, these changes were all attenuated in TNF-α (−/−)+Ang mice. Ang II infusion also increased significantly the mRNA expression of gp91Phox, NOX-1, NOX-4 and AT1R in the LV of WT mice, but not in TNF-α (−/−) mice. Interestingly, injection of TNF-α in the TNF-α (−/−) mice, treated with Ang II resulted in increased cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
Findings from the present study suggest that TNF-α plays an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress in Ang II-induced hypertension.
Simvastatin Prevents Angiotensin II–Induced Cardiac Alteration and Oxidative Stress
