Caracterização do sistema renina-angiotensina local no tecido gengival humano sadio e com doença periodontal / Characterization of the local human renin-angiotensin system in healthy and periodontally-affected ginvgival tissue

A doença periodontal (DP) compreende um grupo de lesões que afetam os tecidos periodontais de proteção (gengivite) e suporte (periodontite), envolvendo a participação de células residentes, células estruturais e mediadores inflamatórios. Pesquisas recentes do laboratório mostraram a existência de um Sistema Renina-Angiotensina (SRA) local no tecido gengival de ratos e sugeriram que o SRA pode participar do início e da progressão da DP. Portanto, os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar no tecido gengival humano com saúde clínica (SG, n=12), com gengivite (G, n = 10) e com periodontite (P, n=12): 1) a existência e eventuais diferenças na expressão e localização dos componentes do SRA local; 2) in vitro, a funcionalidade deste possível SRA local quanto à formação de peptídeos do SRA. Após a coleta dos tecidos gengivais, foram utilizadas as seguintes técnicas: contagem celular de infiltrado inflamatório, reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa (qPCR), imunoistoquímica, ensaio fluorimétrico para medida da atividade da enzima conversora de Ang I (ECA) e cromatografia líquida de alto desempenho de fase reversa (HPLC). Os dados foram analisados por meio de ANOVA a 1 e 2 critérios e adotado nível de significância de 5%. Houve expressão gênica de RNAm sem diferenças estatísticas entre as três condições testadas para angiotensinogênio, renina, ECA, ECA2, receptor de Ang I tipo 1(AT1) e receptor do tipo MAS. Houve imunomarcação para os receptores de angiotensina AT1 e AT2 sem diferenças estatísticas entre as três condições testadas. Os testes fluorimétricos mostraram maior atividade da ECA nas amostras afetadas por gengivite em comparação às amostras com saúde gengival (p<0,05). Nos ensaios de HPLC, quando os homogenatos de tecido gengival foram incubados com Ang I, houve formação de Ang 1-7, Ang 1-9 e Ang II. Para as formações de Ang 1-7 e Ang II não houve diferenças estatísticas entre as três condições clínicas, enquanto que para Ang 1-9 houve maior...

Periodontal disease (PD) comprises a group of lesions that affect protection (gingivitis) and support periodontal tissues (periodontitis) involving the participation of resident and structural cells as well as inflammatory mediators. Recent research in our laboratory showed the existence of a local gingival renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rats and suggested that it might participate in the initiation and progression of PD. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate in human gingival tissue under three conditions, clinically healthy (HG, n = 12), gingivitis (G) and periodontitis (P): 1) the existence and differences in the expression and localization of the local RAS components; 2) the in vitro functionality of this local RAS regarding the formation of RAS peptides. After surgical procedure the human gingival tissue was analyzed using the following techniques: inflammatory cells counting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunohistochemistry, fluorimetric tests to measure Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data were submitted to 1 and 2 way ANOVA with significance level established at 5%. There was genic expression (mRNA) for angiotensinogen, renin, ACE, ACE2, AT1 and Mas receptors, without statistically significant difference between all the three conditions analyzed. There was positive immunostaining for AT1 and AT2 receptors in all three conditions without statistically significant difference. Fluorimetric assays showed increased ACE activity in the samples affected by gingivitis as compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). In HPLC assays there was release of Ang-1-7, Ang-1-9 and Ang II after incubation of gingival tissue homogenates with Ang I. The formation of Ang-1-7 and Ang II was not statistically significant different between the three conditions whereas in periodotitis group there was an increase in Ang-1-9 formation when compared to...

Caracterização do sistema renina-angiotensina local no tecido gengival humano sadio e com doença periodontal / Characterization of the local human renin-angiotensin system in healthy and periodontally-affected ginvgival tissue

A doença periodontal (DP) compreende um grupo de lesões que afetam os tecidos periodontais de proteção (gengivite) e suporte (periodontite), envolvendo a participação de células residentes, células estruturais e mediadores inflamatórios. Pesquisas recentes do laboratório mostraram a existência de um Sistema Renina-Angiotensina (SRA) local no tecido gengival de ratos e sugeriram que o SRA pode participar do início e da progressão da DP. Portanto, os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar no tecido gengival humano com saúde clínica (SG, n=12), com gengivite (G, n = 10) e com periodontite (P, n=12): 1) a existência e eventuais diferenças na expressão e localização dos componentes do SRA local; 2) in vitro, a funcionalidade deste possível SRA local quanto à formação de peptídeos do SRA. Após a coleta dos tecidos gengivais, foram utilizadas as seguintes técnicas: contagem celular de infiltrado inflamatório, reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa (qPCR), imunoistoquímica, ensaio fluorimétrico para medida da atividade da enzima conversora de Ang I (ECA) e cromatografia líquida de alto desempenho de fase reversa (HPLC). Os dados foram analisados por meio de ANOVA a 1 e 2 critérios e adotado nível de significância de 5%. Houve expressão gênica de RNAm sem diferenças estatísticas entre as três condições testadas para angiotensinogênio, renina, ECA, ECA2, receptor de Ang I tipo 1(AT1) e receptor do tipo MAS. Houve imunomarcação para os receptores de angiotensina AT1 e AT2 sem diferenças estatísticas entre as três condições testadas. Os testes fluorimétricos mostraram maior atividade da ECA nas amostras afetadas por gengivite em comparação às amostras com saúde gengival (p<0,05). Nos ensaios de HPLC, quando os homogenatos de tecido gengival foram incubados com Ang I, houve formação de Ang 1-7, Ang 1-9 e Ang II. Para as formações de Ang 1-7 e Ang II não houve diferenças estatísticas entre as três condições clínicas, enquanto que para Ang 1-9 houve maior...

Periodontal disease (PD) comprises a group of lesions that affect protection (gingivitis) and support periodontal tissues (periodontitis) involving the participation of resident and structural cells as well as inflammatory mediators. Recent research in our laboratory showed the existence of a local gingival renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rats and suggested that it might participate in the initiation and progression of PD. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate in human gingival tissue under three conditions, clinically healthy (HG, n = 12), gingivitis (G) and periodontitis (P): 1) the existence and differences in the expression and localization of the local RAS components; 2) the in vitro functionality of this local RAS regarding the formation of RAS peptides. After surgical procedure the human gingival tissue was analyzed using the following techniques: inflammatory cells counting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunohistochemistry, fluorimetric tests to measure Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data were submitted to 1 and 2 way ANOVA with significance level established at 5%. There was genic expression (mRNA) for angiotensinogen, renin, ACE, ACE2, AT1 and Mas receptors, without statistically significant difference between all the three conditions analyzed. There was positive immunostaining for AT1 and AT2 receptors in all three conditions without statistically significant difference. Fluorimetric assays showed increased ACE activity in the samples affected by gingivitis as compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). In HPLC assays there was release of Ang-1-7, Ang-1-9 and Ang II after incubation of gingival tissue homogenates with Ang I. The formation of Ang-1-7 and Ang II was not statistically significant different between the three conditions whereas in periodotitis group there was an increase in Ang-1-9 formation when compared to...

Maternal undernutrition and the offspring kidney: from fetal to adult life

Maternal dietary protein restriction during pregnancy is associated with low fetal birth weight and leads to renal morphological and physiological changes. Different mechanisms can contribute to this phenotype: exposure to fetal glucocorticoid, alterations in the components of the renin-angiotensin system, apoptosis, and DNA methylation. A low-protein diet during gestation decreases the activity of placental 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, exposing the fetus to glucocorticoids and resetting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the offspring. The abnormal function/expression of type 1 (AT1R) or type 2 (AT2R) AngII receptors during any period of life may be the consequence or cause of renal adaptation. AT1R is up-regulated, compared with control, on the first day after birth of offspring born to low-protein diet mothers, but this protein appears to be down-regulated by 12 days of age and thereafter. In these offspring, AT2R expression differs from control at 1 day of age, but is also down-regulated thereafter, with low nephron numbers at all ages: from the fetal period, at the end of nephron formation, and during adulthood. However, during adulthood, the glomerular filtration rate is not altered, due to glomerulus and podocyte hypertrophy. Kidney tubule transporters are regulated by physiological mechanisms; Na+/K+-ATPase is inhibited by AngII and, in this model, the down-regulated AngII receptors fail to inhibit Na+/K+-ATPase, leading to increased Na+ reabsorption, contributing to the hypertensive status. We also considered the modulation of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors during nephrogenesis, since organogenesis depends upon a tight balance between proliferation, differentiation and cell death.

Angiotensin II receptor blocker attenuates overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic podocytes

VEGF expressed in glomerular podocytes, is known to increase vascular permeability to macromolecules. Angiotensin II can stimulate the release of VEGF, and the protective effects of angiotensin II antagonist against diabetic glomerular injury suggest that the angiotensin II-induced VEGF is an important pathogenetic mechanism in the development of proteinuria during diabetic nephropathy although this mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, the changes of VEGF expression was examined in the experimental diabetic nephropathy to determine whether these changes were modified by renoprotective intervention by blockers of angiotensin II receptors. The streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats were treated with L-158,809, a blocker of angiotensin II receptors, for 12 weeks. Age-matched rats with L-158,809 served as controls. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to assess and quantify gene and protein expression of VEGF. A progressive increase in urinary protein excretion was observed in diabetic rats. Glomerular VEGF expression was significantly higher in diabetic rats than in the control groups, with a significant reduction in glomerular VEGF expression and proteinuria in L-158,809- treated diabetic rats. VEGF mRNA was also significantly higher in diabetic kidneys than in the control groups, with a significant reduction in VEGF mRNA in L-158,809-treated diabetic kidneys. These results demonstrates that VEGF expression is significantly increased in diabetic podocytes, and angiotensin II receptor antagonist attenuated these changes in VEGF expression and prevented the development of proteinuria in vivo. Attenuation of increased VEGF expression in podocytes could contribute to the renoprotective effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonists in diabetic nephropathy.

Acute AT1 receptor blockade does not improve the depressed baroreflex in rats with chronic renal hypertension

To assess the role of angiotensin II in the sensitivity of the baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) in normotensive rats (N = 6) and chronically hypertensive rats (1K1C, 2 months, N = 7), reflex changes of HR were evaluated before and after (15 min) the administration of a selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist (losartan, 10 mg/kg, iv). Baseline values of mean arterial pressure (MAP) were higher in hypertensive rats (195 ± 6 mmHg) than in normotensive rats (110 ± 2 mmHg). Losartan administration promoted a decrease in MAP only in hypertensive rats (16 percent), with no changes in HR. During the control period, the sensitivity of the bradycardic and tachycardic responses to acute MAP changes were depressed in hypertensive rats (~70 percent and ~65 percent, respectively) and remained unchanged after losartan administration. Plasma renin activity was similar in the two groups. The present study demonstrates that acute blockade of AT1 receptors with losartan lowers the MAP in chronic renal hypertensive rats without reversal of baroreflex hyposensitivity, suggesting that the impairment of baroreflex control of HR is not dependent on an increased angiotensin II level

Angiotensin-(1-7) increases osmotic water permeability in isolated toad skin

Angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) increased osmotic water permeability in the isolated toad skin, a tissue with functional properties similar to those of the distal mammalian nephron. Concentrations of 0.1 to 10 ÁM were effective, with a peak at 20 min. This effect was similar in magnitude to that of frog skin angiotensin II (Ang II) and oxytocin but lower than that of human Ang II and arginine-vasotocin. The AT2 angiotensin receptor antagonist PD 123319 (1.0 ÁM) fully inhibited the response to 0.1 ÁM Ang-(1-7) but had no effect on the response to Ang II at the same concentration. The specific receptor antagonist of Ang-(1-7), A-779, was ineffective in blocking the response to Ang-(1-7) and to frog skin Ang II. The AT1 receptor subtype antagonist losartan, which blocked the response to frog skin Ang II, was ineffective in blocking the response to Ang-(1-7). The present results support the view of an antidiuretic action of Ang-(1-7) in the mammalian nephron

Bloqueadores dos receptores da angiotensina II / Angiotensin II receptor blockaders

Os autores realçam como grande marco da farmacologia clínica da ICC e da HAS a descoberta e aplicaçäo clínica dos bloqueadores AT-1 da Angiotensina II. Vislumbram a possível ampla aplicaçäo na cardiologia, já que estudos recentes e sérios como o ELITE apontam vantagens em relaçäo aos IECA.

Atrial natriuretic peptide modulates the effect of angiotensin II on the concentration of free calcium in the cytosol of Mandin-Darby canine kidney cells

The effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on intracellular free calcium concentration [ Ca²+]i was investigated in Mandin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells in culture. Changes in [Ca²+]i were monitored fluorometrically with the Ca²+ -sensitive probel fura -2/AM at 37ºC using Perkin-Elmer LS-5 spectrofluorimeter (excitation 340/380 nm,slite 3 nm; emission 520 nm, slit 10 nm). MDCK cells exhibited a mean baseline [Ca²+]i of 98 ñ 10 nM. the addition of increasing concentrations of SNG II (1 pM to 1 µM) to the cell suspension led to a progressive increase in [Ca²+]i to 2-3 times basal levels. In contrast, addition of 1 µM ANP to the cell suspension led to a very rapid 60 percent decrease in [Ca²+]i. The addition of 1 pM to 1 µM ANG II immediately after 1 µM ANP caused an increase in [Ca²+]i which never exceded the basal level in the absence of ANP. The data indicate that ANG II increases cell [Ca²+]i as expected, and provide the new observation that ANP reduces [Ca²+]i in these cells. Further more, ANP reduces the increase in [Ca²+]i elicited by ANG II, thus modulating the effect of ANG II on [Ca²+]i