Vascular Effects of ACE Inhibition Independent of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Hypertensive Renovascular Disease

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.

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Abolition of long-term vascular influence of renin-angiotensin system

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1990.259.2.h543 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 259 (2) ◽

pp. H543-H553

Author(s):

R. D. Randall ◽

B. G. Zimmerman

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Vascular Tissue ◽

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Ace Inhibition ◽

Ang Ii ◽

Flow Measurements ◽

Angiotensin System ◽

Renin Angiotensin ◽

Normal Controls

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.

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Evidence for an intrarenal renin-angiotensin system in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.2000.278.6.r1685 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 278 (6) ◽

pp. R1685-R1691 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

J. Anne Brown ◽

Richard K. Paley ◽

Shehla Amer ◽

Stephen J. Aves

Keyword(s):

Rainbow Trout ◽

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Aortic Pressure ◽

Vascular Effects ◽

Angiotensin System ◽

Renin Angiotensin ◽

Molecular Approaches ◽

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

Intrarenal Ras

Physiological and molecular approaches were used to investigate the existence of an intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rainbow trout. Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme by captopril (5 × 10− 4 M) rapidly decreased vascular resistance of the trunk of the trout, perfused at 19 mmHg, resulting in an increased perfusate flow rate and a decreased intrarenal dorsal aortic pressure. A profound diuresis occurred in the in situ perfused kidney and reflected both increased glomerular filtration rates and decreased water reabsorption (osmolyte reabsorption was unchanged). Renal and vascular parameters recovered once captopril treatment was stopped. Diuretic and vascular effects of captopril on the in situ trout kidney concur with an inhibition of known vasoconstrictor and antidiuretic actions of angiotensin II. However, at a higher perfusion pressure (28 mmHg), captopril had no effect on intrarenal aortic pressure or perfusate and urine flow rates, suggesting that the trout intrarenal RAS is activated by low perfusion pressures/flows. Existence of the renal RAS in trout was further supported by evidence for angiotensinogen gene expression in kidney as well as liver.

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Intrarenal mouse renin-angiotensin system during ANG II-induced hypertension and ACE inhibition

AJP Renal Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajprenal.00477.2009 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 298 (1) ◽

pp. F150-F157 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Romer A. Gonzalez-Villalobos ◽

Ryousuke Satou ◽

Naro Ohashi ◽

Laura C. Semprun-Prieto ◽

Akemi Katsurada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Ace Inhibition ◽

Ang Ii ◽

Male Mice ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Angiotensin System ◽

Renin Angiotensin ◽

Induced Hypertension ◽

Angiotensin Type

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.

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Pivotal role of the renin-angiotensin system in Lyon hypertensive rats

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.1997.273.5.r1793 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 273 (5) ◽

pp. R1793-R1799 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Pierre Lantelme ◽

Ming Lo ◽

Laurent Luttenauer ◽

Jean Sassard

Keyword(s):

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Ace Inhibition ◽

Ang Ii ◽

Angiotensin System ◽

Renin Angiotensin ◽

Adult Age ◽

Enhanced Sensitivity ◽

Regional Hemodynamics ◽

Renal Vascular

We assessed the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in Lyon genetically hypertensive (LH) and normotensive (LN) rats by measuring 1) kidney renin and prorenin contents; 2) effects of early, prolonged angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on blood pressure (BP) and regional hemodynamics; and 3) acute and chronic responses to angiotensin II (ANG II) and norepinephrine (NE). At the adult age, LH rats differed from LN rats by elevated BP, left ventricle weight, and vascular resistances, especially in the kidneys, associated with lower kidney renin and prorenin contents. ACE inhibition (perindopril, 3 mg ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ 24 h−1 orally from 3 to 15 wk of age) suppressed the development of hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and the increase in renal vascular resistances. No specific hypersensitivity to ANG II could be disclosed in acute conditions. In perindopril-treated LH rats, a 4-wk infusion of ANG II (200 ng ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1) but not of NE (1,000 ng ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1) restored hypertension, mimicked the hemodynamic alterations seen in untreated LH rats, and produced a brief sodium retention. It is concluded that in LH rats, despite a low basal renin secretion, hypertension and hemodynamic abnormalities 1) are fully dependent on an active RAS and 2) may involve an enhanced sensitivity to the chronic effects of ANG II.

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Role of the renin-angiotensin system in the systemic microvascular inflammation of alveolar hypoxia

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00981.2006 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 292 (5) ◽

pp. H2285-H2294 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Norberto C. Gonzalez ◽

Julie Allen ◽

Eric J. Schmidt ◽

Alfred J. Casillan ◽

Teresa Orth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ace Inhibitor ◽

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Ace Inhibition ◽

Ang Ii ◽

Converting Enzyme ◽

Angiotensin System ◽

Renin Angiotensin ◽

Alveolar Hypoxia ◽

Microvascular Inflammation

Alveolar hypoxia (AH) induces widespread systemic inflammation. Previous studies have shown dissociation between microvascular Po2 and inflammation. Furthermore, plasma from AH rats (PAHR) induces mast cell (MC) activation, inflammation, and vasoconstriction in normoxic cremasters, while plasma from normoxic rats does not produce these responses. These results suggest that inflammation of AH is triggered by a blood-carried agent. This study investigated the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the inflammation of AH. Both an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and an angiotensin II (ANG II) receptor blocker (ANG II RB) inhibited the leukocyte-endothelial adherence produced by AH, as well as the inflammation produced by PAHR in normoxic rat cremasters. MC stabilization with cromolyn blocked the effects of PAHR but not those of topical ANG II on normoxic cremasters, suggesting ANG II generation via MC activation by PAHR. This was supported by the observation that ACE inhibition and ANG II RB blocked the leukocyte-endothelial adherence produced by the MC secretagogue compound 48/80. These results suggest that the intermediary agent contained in PAHR activates MC and stimulates the RAS, leading to inflammation, and imply an RAS role in AH-induced inflammation.

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