Menores niveles tisulares de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina I homologa (ECA-2) y angiotensina-(1-9) están asociados a mayor remodelamiento de la pared aórtica de ratas hipertensas / Lower tissue levels of homologous angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE-2) and angiotensin 1-9 are associated to increased remodeling of the aortic wall of hypertensive rats

Antecedentes: Recientemente hemos propuesto en un modelo experimental de infarto al miocardio una significativa interregulación entre los niveles de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina I (ECA) y su homóloga (ECA-2), junto con que angiotensina (Ang)-(1-9) más que Ang-(1-7) actuaría como uncontrarregulador de Ang II. Sin embargo tal relación no se ha investigado en el remodelado aórtico hipertensivo. Objetivo: Determinar la expresión de ECA y ECA-2, los niveles de Angs I, II, (1-7) y (1-9) y los parámetros de remodelado de la pared aórtica de ratas hipertensas. Métodos: Ratas normotensas Lewis (n=18) fueron randomizadas a hipertensión (HTA) por sobrecarga de presión (modelo Goldblatt, GB, 2 riñones-1 pinzado, n=9). Ratas pseudo-operadas se usaron como controles (S, n=9). A las 6 semanas post cirugía, se determinó la masa cardíaca relativa (MCR) y la presión arterial sistólica (PAS). En la aorta torácica se determinó el grosor de la túnica media (GTM), área de la TM (ATM), niveles de mRNA de ECA y ECA-2, factor de crecimiento transformante tipo beta (TGF-beta), inhibidor del activador de plasminógeno (PAI-1) y de la proteína quimioatractante de monocitos (MCP-1) por RT-PCR. La actividad y niveles proteicos de ECA y ECA-2 por fluorimetría y Western blot y los niveles de Angs I, II, (1-7) y (1-9) por HPLC y radioinmunoensayo. Resultados: La MCR y la PAS aumentaron significativamente (p<0,05) en el grupo GB respecto a su control S. Las ratas hipertensas mostraron un aumento significativo (p<0.05) del GTM (18 por ciento), ATM (31 por ciento), niveles de mRNA de ECA (164 por ciento), TGF-beta (105 por ciento), PAI-1(51 por ciento), MCP-1 (53 por ciento) junto con mayor actividad (89 por ciento), niveles proteicos de ECA (130 por ciento) y Ang II (48 por ciento). Esos efectos se asociaron a una significativa disminución del mRNA, los niveles proteicos y actividad...

Background: In experimental models of myocardial infarction we have recently proposed a significantinter-regulation between levels of Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) and its homologous, ACE-2; in addition, we have proposed that Angiotensin 1-9 (Ang-(1-9)) rather than Ang-(1-7) counter regulates Ang II. These relations have not been investigated in hypertensive aortic wall remodeling. Aim: To measure de expression of ACE and ACE-2, the aortic wall levels of Ang I, Ang II, Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9), along with parameters of aortic wall remodeling in hypertensive rats. Methods: 18 Lewis rats were randomized to Goldblatt (2 kidneys, 1 clamped) induced hypertension (n=9) or sham operation (controls, n=9). Six weeks after surgery, relative cardiac mass (RCM), systolic blood pressure (SBP), medial layer aortic wall thickness (MLT) and ML area (MLA) were measured. The aortic wall levels of ACE and ACE-2, tissue growth factor beta (TGF- beta), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) were determined by RT-PCR. Activity and protein levels of ACE and ACE-2 were measured by fluorometry and Western Blot and ANG I, Ang II, Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) levels were determined using HPLC and radioimmunoassay. Results: RCM and SBP increased significantly in hypertensive as opossed to sham operated rats...

Purine nucleotides reduce superoxide production by nitric oxide synthase in a murine sepsis model

Sepsis involves a systemic inflammatory response of multiple endogenous mediators, resulting in many of the injurious and sometimes fatal physiological symptoms of the disease. This systemic activation leads to a compromised vascular response and endothelial dysfunction. Purine nucleotides interact with purinoceptors and initiate a variety of physiological processes that play an important role in maintaining cardiovascular function. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of ATP on vascular function in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model of sepsis. LPS induced a significant increase in aortic superoxide production 16 h after injection. Addition of ATP to the organ bath incubation solution reduced superoxide production by the aortas of endotoxemic animals. Reactive Blue, an antagonist of the P2Y receptor, blocked the effect of ATP on superoxide production, and the nonselective P2Y agonist MeSATP inhibited superoxide production. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition by L-NAME blocked vascular relaxation and reduced superoxide production in LPS-treated animals. In the presence of L-NAME there was no ATP effect on superoxide production. A vascular reactivity study showed that ATP increased maximal relaxation in LPS-treated animals compared to controls. The presence of ATP induced increases in Akt and endothelial NOS phosphorylated proteins in the aorta of septic animals. ATP reduces superoxide release resulting in an improved vasorelaxant response. Sepsis may uncouple NOS to produce superoxide. We showed that ATP through Akt pathway phosphorylated endothelial NOS and “re-couples” NOS function.

Changes of inducible nitric oxide synthase in aortic cells during the development of hypertension: effect of angiotensin II

Nitric oxide (NO) generation by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), may play a role in blood vessel tone regulation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced iNOS activity and subsequent nitrite production by cultured aortic VSMC, from SHR with an established chronic blood pressure elevation (adult SHR) or during the period preceding the development of hypertension (young SHR) and from age-matched normotensive Wistar (W) rats were compared. Angiotensin II (Ang II) effect was also evaluated. Both basal LPS-induced iNOS activity and nitrite accumulation were significantly lower in young SHR VSMC compared to young W rat cells. In contrast, adult hypertensive and normotensive rat cells did not differ in NO generation. Besides, young SHR cells exhibited a significant smaller iNOS activity and nitrites than adult SHR cells. After 24 h-incubation with Ang II, both variables were markedly reduced in all groups. The proportional reduction of iNOS activity and nitrites by Ang II was not different between hypertensive and normotensive rat cells, at any age. However, this Ang II inhibitory effect was greater in both adult SHR and W cells than in VSMC from young rats. In conclusion, a reduced LPS-induced iNOS activity and NO generation was observed in VSMC form spontaneously hypertensive rats before the raise of blood pressure, but not in adult hypertensive rat cells. Additionally, an inhibitory effect of angiotensin II on these variables is described. We can speculate that the impairment in vascular smooth muscle NO production precedes the development of hypertension in SHR and may play a pathophysiologic role in the early blood pressure elevation in genetically hypertensive rats.

Bi-directional actions of estrogen on the renin-angiotensin system

Estrogen stimulates the renin-angiotensin system by augmenting both tissue and circulating levels of angiotensinogen and renin. We show, however, that angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in the circulation and in tissues is reduced in two animal models of postmenopausal chronic hormone replacement. We observed a reduction of ACE activity in association with a significant increase in plasma angiotensin I (Ang I) and hyperreninemia in ovariectomized monkeys treated with Premarin (conjugated equine estrogen) replacement for 30 months. Plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) levels were not increased in monkeys treated with estrogen, suggesting that the decrease in ACE curtailed the formation of the peptide. The Ang II/Ang I ratio, an in vivo index of ACE activity, was significantly reduced by estrogen treatment, further supporting the biochemical significance of estrogen's inhibition of ACE. In ovariectomized transgenic hypertensive (mRen2)27 rats submitted to estrogen replacement treatment for 3 weeks, ACE activity in plasma and tissue (aorta and kidney) and circulating Ang II levels were reduced, whereas circulating levels of angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7) were increased. Ang-(1-7), the N-terminal fragment of Ang II, is a novel vasodilator and antihypertensive peptide. Thus, the net balance of these effects of estrogen on the renin-angiotensin vasoconstrictor/vasodilator system is to promote the antihypertensive effect.

Differentially-altered vascular guanylate cyclase isoforms in experimental hypertensive rats

Pathophysiological implications of the vascular nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP pathway were investigated in various rat models of hypertension. The expression of brain and endothelial constitutive NO synthases (bNOS, ecNOS) was determined by Western blot analysis, and the biochemical activity of soluble and particulate guanylate cyclases (GC) was assessed by the amount of cGMP generated in the thoracic aortae of rats with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt, two-kidney, one dip (2K1C), and spontaneous hypertension (SHR). Plasma nitrite/ nitrate levels were decreased in DOCA-salt and 2K1C hypertension, and increased in SHR. The vascular expression of bNOS as well as that of ecNOS was decreased along with tissue nitrite/nitrate contents in DOCA-salt and 2K1C hypertension. The expression of both bNOS and ecNOS was increased in SHR with concomitant changes of tissue nitrite/nitrate contents. The activity of soluble GC was decreased, and that of particulate GC was increased in DOCA-salt hypertension. The soluble GC activity was increased, while the particulate GC activity was not affected in 2K1C hypertension. The soluble GC activity was not significantly changed, but the particulate GC activity was decreased in SHR. These results indicate that the high blood pressure is associated with differentially-altered vascular NO/cGMP pathway in different models of hypertension.