Abstract 098: Foxp3+ T Regulatory Lymphocytes Counteract Angiotensin Ii-induced Vascular Injury
Objective: T effector lymphocytes contribute to vascular injury in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertension, but the role of T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) is unclear. Ang II-induced hypertension is blunted in T and B lymphocyte-deficient (Rag1-/-) mice, and restored with reconstitution of T cells. We hypothesized that adoptive transfer of FOXP3-deficient Scurfy (Sf) vs. wild-type (WT) T cells will exacerbate Ang II-induced vascular damage in Rag1-/- mice. Methods: Eleven-week old male Rag1-/- mice were injected IV with vehicle, 10 million WT or Sf T cells, 1 million CD4+CD25+ Tregs alone or with Sf T cells, and 2 weeks later were infused or not with Ang II (490 ng/kg/min, SC) for 14 days (n=3-8). Telemetric BP, vascular function and structure, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and fibronectin expression in mesenteric arteries (MA) were determined. Results: Ang II induced a 40 mmHg systolic BP rise in all the groups, but diastolic BP rise was ~10 mmHg greater in WT and Sf T cell-injected mice than in controls (P<0.01). Treg injection alone or with Sf T cells prevented or delayed by 7 days the BP rise, respectively (P<0.05). Ang II did not induce endothelial dysfunction in vehicle or Treg only-injected mice. Adoptive transfer of WT T cells restored Ang II induced-endothelial dysfunction (60±5% vs. 83±4%, P<0.05), which was exaggerated in Sf T cell-injected mice (56±6% vs. 97±7%, P<0.01), but reduced by Treg co-injection (74±4%, P<0.05). Ang II increased ROS production in MA wall (239±32% vs. 119±20%) and perivascular fat (369±39% vs. 84±8%) in Sf T cell-injected mice (P<0.01), but not when co-injected with Tregs. Ang II induced increased vascular stiffness (P<0.01) and media/lumen (M/L, P<0.05) in vehicle (strain at 140 mmHg: 0.60±0.02 vs. 0.80±0.02; M/L: 4.1±0.2 vs. 2.9±0.2%) and Sf T cell-injected mice (strain at 140 mmHg: 0.63±0.01 vs. 0.89±0.04; M/L: 4.7±0.3 vs. 2.9±0.1%). Ang II increased MA fibronectin expression (P<0.01) in vehicle (113±12 vs. 51±14 RFU/μm2) and Sf T cell-injected mice (85±7 vs. 36±9 RFU/μm2). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that Foxp3+ Tregs have a protective role against Ang II-induced vascular dysfunction, remodeling and oxidative stress.