Angiotensin II regulates catalase expression and promotes fibroblast phe-notype transformation through ERK1/2 pathway / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To explore the effect of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 ( ERK1/2) on the vascular adventitial remodeling in a hypertension rat model .METHODS:The rats were randomly divided into control group , mini-pump infusion of saline group and mini-pump infusion of angiotensin II ( Ang II) group as the hypertension model .The sys-tolic pressure and vascular morphology of the rats were examined .Adventitial fibroblasts were treated with Ang II , PD98059 ( ERK1/2 inhibitor) and Ang II+PD98059.The catalase ( CAT) expression in the cells was detected by Western blotting . RESULTS:Compared with control group and mini-pump infusion of saline group , the systolic pressure and carotid media thickness (stained by HE) in mini-pump infusion of Ang II group were significantly increased (P<0.01).Meanwhile, ar-tery morphology in mini-pump infusion of Ang II group had obviously changed with a significant occurrence of pathological vascular remodeling .The result of Western blotting showed that the expression of CAT in the adventitial fibroblasts treated with Ang II+PD98059 was much higher than that in the cells treated with Ang II alone (P<0.05), indicating that down-regulation of CAT induced by Ang II was restored by ERK 1/2 signaling pathway .CONCLUSION:Ang II down-regulates CAT through ERK1/2 pathway and promotes cell phenotype transformation , which lead to pathological vascular remodeling .