Abstract 052: Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) Reduces Blood Pressure and Improves Endothelin Type B Receptor (ETBR)-Mediated Microvascular Dilation in Hypertensive Pregnant Rats

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder (HTN-Preg) with an imbalance between anti-angiogenic soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and angiogenic PlGF, but the vascular targets involved are unclear. We have shown downregulation of endothelial ET B R in Preg rats with reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP), and studies have shown increased plasma sFlt-1 in RUPP rats. We tested if raising PIGF/sFlt-1 ratio by infusing PIGF (10 μg/kg/day) in RUPP rats would improve BP and microvascular ET B R signaling, and vice versa, if lowering PIGF/sFlt-1 ratio by infusing sFlt-1 (10 μg/kg/day) in Preg rats increases BP and reduces ET B R signaling. On day 19, BP was recorded and mesenteric microvessels were isolated for measurement of diameter and [Ca 2+ ] i (fura-2 340/380 ratio). BP was in PlGF-RUPP 105±2 < RUPP 126±1 and in sFlt-Preg 125±4 > Norm-Preg 97±5 mmHg. ET-1 vasoconstriction was in PlGF-RUPP 62.6±3.0 < RUPP 83.4±5.3 and in sFlt-Preg 76.1±4.7 > Norm-Preg 52.1±3.2%. ET-1 caused parallel increases in microvascular [Ca 2+ ] i that was in PlGF-RUPP 0.87±0.02 < RUPP 0.92±0.01 and in sFlt-Preg 0.93±0.02 > Norm-Preg 0.85±0.01. Endothelium removal or microvessel treatment with ET B R antagonist BQ-788 enhanced ET-1 vasoconstriction and [Ca 2+ ] i in Norm-Preg and PlGF-RUPP, but not RUPP or sFlt-Preg. The ET B R agonists sarafotoxin 6c (S6c) and IRL-1620 caused relaxation that was in PlGF-RUPP 42.9±10.8, 38.0±11.2% > RUPP 4.7±3.4, 7.5±2.3% and in sFlt-Preg 3.1±1.0, 5.4±1.6% < Norm-Preg 29.9±7.8, 28.0±9.1%. L-NAME partially reduced ACh- and ET B R-induced relaxation in Norm-Preg, PlGF-RUPP, but not RUPP or sFlt-Preg, suggesting that PlGF improves the decreased NO-dependent and ET B R-mediated vasorelaxation in HTN-Preg. Basal, ACh-, S6c-, and IRL-1620-induced nitrate/nitrite production was enhanced in mesenteric arteries of PIGF-RUPP and Norm-Preg vs. RUPP rats. Western blots and immunohistochemistry revealed greater levels of endothelial ET B R in PlGF-RUPP and Norm-Preg vs. RUPP and sFlt-Preg. Thus improving PlGF/sFlt-1 balance reduces BP and ET-1 vasoconstriction, and enhances ET B R-mediated NO-dependent vasodilation in RUPP rats, and could be a new approach in the management of HTN-Preg.

Abstract 293: Endothelial Type B Endothelin Receptor is a Critical Microvascular Target in Placental Ischemia and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Mediated Hypertensive Pregnancy

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder (HTN-Preg) with unclear mechanism, and a role of cytokines and endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been suggested. We have recently shown downregulation of endothelial type B ET-1 receptor (ET B R) in Preg rats with reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP). To test if cytokines are a possible mechanism linking RUPP to downregulation of ET B R, day 14-Preg rats were either nontreated or infused with TNFα (200 ng/kg/day), and RUPP rats were either nontreated or infused with the TNFα decoy receptor etanercept (0.4 mg/kg/day) for 5 days by osmotic minipump. On day 19, BP was recorded and mesenteric microvessels were isolated for simultaneous measurement of diameter and [Ca 2+ ] i (fura-2 340/380 ratio). BP was in TNFα-Preg (127±8) > Preg (97±5mmHg) and in etanercept-RUPP (113±2) < RUPP (124±3mmHg). ET-1 vasoconstriction was in TNFα-Preg (86.1±4.7) > Preg (58.1±5.2%), and in etanercept-RUPP (65.9±5.0) < RUPP (86.2±3.7%). ET-1 caused parallel increases in microvascular [Ca 2+ ] i that were in TNFα-Preg (0.90±0.01) > Preg (0.86±0.01), and in etanercept-RUPP (0.85±0.01) < RUPP (0.92±0.01). Endothelium removal or microvessel treatment with ET B R antagonist BQ-788 enhanced ET-1 vasoconstriction and [Ca 2+ ] i in Preg and etanercept-RUPP, but not in TNFα-Preg or RUPP. ET B R-mediated relaxation with IRL-1620 was in TNFα-Preg (4.11±6.1) < Preg (28.8±4.2%), and in etanercept-RUPP (20.2±4.6) > RUPP (10.17±2.9%). The NOS inhibitor L-NAME partially reduced ACh-induced and ET B R-mediated relaxation in Preg and etanercept-RUPP, but not TNFα-Preg or RUPP, suggesting decreased NO-dependent and ET B R-mediated vasorelaxation in HTN-Preg. Addition of the K + channel blocker teraethylammonium (non specific), or apamin (SK Ca ) plus TRAM-34 (IK Ca ) abolished the remaining ET B R-mediated relaxation in all groups, suggesting equal role of EDHF. Thus similar to RUPP, increasing TNFα in Preg rats increases ET-1 microvascular constriction and decreases ET B R-mediated NO-dependent vasodilation, and counteracting TNFα reduces BP and ET-1 vasoconstriction, and enhances ET B R-mediated vasodilation in RUPP rats. The results support that endothelial ET B R is a major microvascular target in placental ischemia and TNFα-mediated HTN-Preg.

Attenuation by sphingosine-1-phosphate of rat microvessel acute permeability response to bradykinin is rapidly reversible

To evaluate the hypothesis that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and cAMP attenuate increased permeability of individually perfused mesenteric microvessels through a common Rac1-dependent pathway, we measured the attenuation of the peak hydraulic conductivity ( Lp) in response to the inflammatory agent bradykinin (BK) by either S1P or cAMP. We varied the extent of exposure to each agent (test) and measured the ratio Lptest/ LpBK alone for each vessel (anesthetized rats). S1P (1 μM) added at the same time as BK (concurrent, no pretreatment) was as effective to attenuate the response to BK ( Lp ratio: 0.14 ± 0.05; n = 5) as concurrent plus pretreatment with S1P for 30 min ( Lp ratio: 0.26 ± 0.06; n = 11). The same pretreatment with S1P, but with no concurrent S1P, caused no inhibition of the BK response ( Lp ratio 1.07 ± 0.11; n = 8). The rapid on and off action of S1P demonstrated by these results was in contrast to cAMP-dependent changes induced by rolipram and forskolin (RF), which developed more slowly, lasted longer, and resulted in partial inhibition when given either as pretreatment or concurrent with BK. In cultured endothelium, there was no Rac activation or peripheral cortactin localization at 1 min with RF, but cortactin localization and Rac activation were maximal at 1 min with S1P. When S1P was removed, Rac activation returned to control within 2 min. Because of such differing time courses, S1P and cAMP are unlikely to act through fully common effector mechanisms.