(Hypertension. 2000;35:1069.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Scientific Contributions |
From the Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitaliér de lUniversité de Montréal (CHUM) (B.-S. T., S.D.S., P.H., D.D.), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and The Clinical Research Institute of Montreal (R.M.T.).
Correspondence to Denis deBlois, Centre de Recherche, CHUMHôtel-Dieu, 3840 St Urbain St, Room 7-132B, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1T8, Canada. E-mail debloisd{at}pharmco.umontreal.ca
| Abstract |
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Key Words: angiotensin II muscle, smooth, vascular losartan enalapril
| Introduction |
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The regression of vascular hypertrophy is a potential therapeutic target for the reduction of complications associated with hypertension. In SHR, aortic hypertrophy is associated with increased vascular mass and DNA content.9 10 SHR SMC show enhanced growth in vitro and in vivo10 11 and an increased propensity to undergo apoptosis in response to growth factor withdrawal in vitro.12 Recently, we reported that blockade of the Ang II pathway in SHR induces a transient increase in aortic SMC apoptosis at the onset of vascular hypertrophy regression, an effect that is not secondary to blood pressure reduction.13 Although the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril are equipotent in reducing SMC number in the SHR aorta, SMC apoptosis occurs significantly earlier with losartan (at 1 week) than with enalapril (at 2 weeks).13 Inhibition of SMC DNA synthesis is also observed, but it is sustained and temporally dissociated because it occurs after the early time window of SMC apoptosis. AT1 receptor blockade in vivo increases Ang II plasma levels14 and allows unopposed activation of AT2 receptors, whereas suppression of Ang II production by ACE inhibitors reduces activation of both AT1 and AT2 receptors. Thus, we hypothesized that Ang II acting through AT2 receptors may be involved in SMC apoptosis stimulation in response to AT1 receptor blockade but not in response to ACE inhibition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of AT2 receptordependent cell deletion by apoptosis in the cardiovascular system in vivo.
| Methods |
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10 days before study. Food and
water were administered ad libitum. Rats (n=5 to 8 per group) were
treated for 1 to 2 weeks with the selective AT1
antagonist valsartan (30 mg/kg per day; gift of Novartis,
Toronto, Canada) in the drinking water, the selective
AT2 antagonist PD123319 (30 mg/kg per
day; gift of Parke-Davis, Ann Arbor, Mich) by continuous subcutaneous
infusion with an osmotic minipump (Alzet, model 4 ML1 or 4 ML2), or a
combination of both drugs. PD123319 was dissolved in saline (pH 3.0,
adjusted with 0.1 mol/L sodium citrate). A subgroup of rats received
enalapril (30 mg/kg per day PO, Sigma Chemical Co) in combination or
not with PD123319 for 2 weeks. Control animals received vehicle. All
animal manipulations were conducted according to institutional
guidelines. Systolic blood pressure was determined in conscious, restrained rats by the tail-cuff method as we described previously.13 Rats were killed, and the aorta media was prepared for the following measurements as we described previously13 : vascular cross-sectional area, SMC number (using the 3-dimensional dissector method), DNA synthesis (in vivo 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA during the last 2 hours before death), and the oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation index (indicative of apoptosis). To examine aortic gene expression for AT1 and AT2 receptors, 4 untreated SHR were killed, and the thoracic aortas were isolated, dissected, and cut longitudinally into 2 halves. One half was immediately frozen; the other was denuded of endothelium as described above before freezing. Total mRNA was extracted, and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used as we described previously,15 with minor modifications. Briefly, RT was performed in a reaction volume of 30 µL containing 4.55 µg RNA, 1.5 µL of 10 mmol/L dNTP, 6 µL of BRL 5x buffer, 0.6 µL Oligo (dT)1218 primer (0.5 µg/µL), 1.5 µL of 200 U/µL M-MLVRT, 0.9 µL rRNasin (RNAse inhibitor) 40 U/µL, and 3 µL of DTT 0.1 mol/L at 37°C for 1 hour. The reaction was inactivated at 95°C for 5 minutes. After first-strand synthesis of RNA, 2 µL cDNA was amplified with specific primers as described previously.15 The amplification profile involved denaturation at 95°C for 60 seconds, annealing at 57°C for 60 seconds, and extension at 72°C for 60 seconds for 30 cycles. After amplification, PCR products were electrophoresed on a 1.5% agarose gel for 1 hour at 9 V/cm gel. Bands corresponding to RT-PCR products were visualized by UV light after agarose gel electrophoresis, and their intensities were measured by densitometry.
Statistics
Values are presented as mean±SEM. Data from treated
groups were compared with those of the control group by ANOVA and an
unpaired Students t test with Bonferroni correction for
multiple comparisons. A value of P<0.05 was considered
statistically significant.
| Results |
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Study With Valsartan
In rats treated with valsartan alone, high blood pressure was
significantly reduced after 1 and 2 weeks (170±3 and 164±3
mm Hg, respectively) as compared with control animals (191±3 and
189±4 mm Hg, respectively). Cotreatment with PD123319 did not
affect the antihypertensive effect of valsartan (165±3 mm Hg at
2 weeks). PD123319 alone did not significantly affect blood pressure
(178±3 mm Hg at 2 weeks). Final body weights were not
significantly affected by valsartan (223±10 g), PD123319 (258±7 g),
or valsartan+PD123319 (225±10 g), as compared with control animals
(245±7 g). Within 2 weeks, PD123319 alone did not affect SMC DNA
fragmentation (Figure 2A) and DNA
synthesis (Figure 2B) or final SMC number (Figure 2C),
medial cross-sectional area (Figure 2D), and aortic mass
(5.24±0.29 mg/mm per gram x10-3 vs control
values: 5.14±0.17 mg/mm per gram x10-3). In
contrast, administration of valsartan alone significantly increased SMC
DNA fragmentation (2.7-fold at 1 week only) and reduced aortic SMC
number (by 33% at 2 weeks), suggesting SMC death by apoptosis.
Valsartan-induced SMC apoptosis at 1 week was followed at 2
weeks by a significant reduction of SMC DNA synthesis, medial
cross-sectional area, and aortic mass (18% reduction). However,
coadministration of PD123319 prevented valsartan-induced changes in DNA
fragmentation, DNA synthesis, SMC number, medial cross-sectional area,
and aortic mass (5.03±0.25 mg/mm per gram
x10-3 at 2 weeks). The total radioactivity in
aortic smooth muscle homogenates was not different between
treated and untreated animals (eg, 46±3 cpm/10 mg protein in the
valsartan group at 2 weeks vs 50±7 cpm/10 mg protein in the control
group), thus ruling out differences in tissue uptake of
3H-thymidine. Ang II plasma levels (485±84 pg/mL
in the control group) were increased significantly after 2 weeks in the
valsartan group (2916±457 pg/mL) or valsartan+PD123310 group
(3195±540 pg/mL). PD123319 alone did not affect Ang II levels (561±76
pg/mL).
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Study With Enalapril
We showed previously that SMC DNA fragmentation is increased but
that DNA synthesis and aortic hypertrophy are not yet
reduced after a 2-week treatment with enalapril in the SHR
aorta.13 We examined whether coadministration of PD123319
affects the induction of SMC apoptosis at 2 weeks of enalapril
therapy. Valsartan-treated rats were used as positive controls. In this
study, high blood pressure was significantly and similarly reduced by
enalapril (143±1 mm Hg) and valsartan (144±1 mm Hg)
versus control animals (191±2 mm Hg) at 2 weeks. The
antihypertensive effect of enalapril at 2 weeks was not prevented by
PD123319 cotreatment (143±1 mm Hg). The significant
antihypertensive effects of each treatment were also similar at 1 week
(data not shown). Final body weights were not significantly affected by
valsartan (275±5 g), enalapril (272±7 g), or enalapril+PD123319
(277±13 g) as compared with control animals (270±4 g). Treatment with
enalapril alone caused a significant 2-fold increase in SMC DNA
fragmentation (Figure 3). In contrast to
valsartan, however, the enalapril-induced increase in DNA fragmentation
was not prevented by coadministration of PD123319. As in our previous
study,13 enalapril administration for 2 weeks did not
reduce SMC DNA synthesis (123±2 vs 127±4 cpm/100 µg in control
animals), aortic DNA content (0.92±0.05 vs 1.05±0.06 µg/mm in
control animals), or aortic mass (4.7±0.1 vs 5.2±0.1 mg/mm per gram
x10-3 in control animals). Consistent
with the data described above, valsartan administration for 2 weeks
significantly reduced SMC DNA synthesis (25%), aortic DNA content
(39%), and aortic mass (17%), whereas DNA fragmentation was no longer
elevated at that time point. Ang II plasma levels were markedly reduced
after 2 weeks of enalapril (87±11 pg/mL) or enalapril+PD123319 (83±13
pg/mL).
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| Discussion |
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The significant new finding is that PD123319 blocked the proapoptotic and growth-inhibitory effects of valsartan, suggesting a role for AT2 receptors in regulating SMC fate in vivo. The lack of effect of PD123319 administered alone suggests that AT2 receptors do not elicit tonic proapoptotic or antigrowth effects on SMC under basal conditions in the aorta of young adult SHR. This is in contrast to late gestation, when SMC DNA replication is stimulated by AT2 blockade.16 Interestingly, cotreatment with valsartan and PD123319 did not affect SMC DNA replication and apoptosis. These data suggesting that basal AT1 and AT2 receptor activity do not regulate SMC growth-survival are possibly related to the short treatment period examined. Alternatively, AT1 receptors may downregulate the AT2 pathway, which suggests that the countervailing influence of these 2 receptors is an important determinant of SMC fate. The latter interpretation is more consistent with the known role of AT1 receptors in Ang IIdependent vascular disorders.1 2 17 Such a paradigm also may explain the significant antigrowth effect of AT2 receptors in aortic SMC before birth,16 because AT2 receptors predominate over AT1 receptors at that time.18 Possible nonspecific effects of PD123319 cannot be ruled out. It should be mentioned, however, that the present dose of PD123319 results in plasma antagonist concentrations that are widely regarded as highly specific for AT2 receptors (250 nmol/L).19 Ang II plasma levels were markedly elevated by valsartan but not affected by PD123319. Therefore, the simplest explanation for the present results is that AT1 receptor blockade rapidly reduced aortic SMC accumulation by favoring Ang IIdependent AT2 receptor activity, with proapoptotic and antigrowth consequences. Consistent with this, PD123319 did not block SMC apoptosis induced by enalapril (that is, in a model in which Ang II production was markedly reduced). That ACE inhibitors and AT1 antagonists elicit convergent effects in part through different pathways has been documented in rat models of cardiovascular remodeling.20 21 22 In these studies, increased activity of the kinin B2 receptor pathway has been implicated in the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors. It should be mentioned that although both B2 and AT2 receptors stimulate endothelial production of nitric oxide,2 23 a known stimulant of SMC apoptosis,3 24 only ACE inhibitors prevent kinin degradation and B2 receptor desensitization.25 26 These added effects may help increase SMC apoptosis with enalapril. Reduced Ang II levels during ACE inhibition may contribute further by correcting endothelial dysfunction in SHR.27 In contrast, AT2 receptors are able to stimulate SMC apoptosis independent of endothelial cells.2
Reducing arterial wall tension stimulates SMC apoptosis in rabbit vessels, suggesting that blood pressuredependent apoptotic pathways are possible.28 However, we previously reported that blood pressure reduction with hydralazine does not induce aortic SMC apoptosis in SHR.13 In the present study, PD123319 suppressed apoptosis, even though the antihypertensive effect of valsartan was not affected. Thus, the causal relation between blood pressure and SMC apoptosis is complex and modulated by endocrine factors. As previously observed,13 apoptosis induction and growth suppression were temporally dissociated during treatment. Because PD123319 blocked both events, it is not possible to determine whether growth suppression was secondary to apoptosis induction or, alternatively, a primary effect of AT2 stimulation. That AT2 receptors suppress growth-associated signaling pathways and ultimately DNA replication, however, is supported by several in vitro studies.2 Previous reports have shown contrasting effects of PD123319 on vascular mass regulation in vivo. Some5 6 7 but not all8 29 groups observed that PD123319 administration for 10 weeks attenuates aortic mass in SHR or rats given long-term infusions of Ang II. None of these studies examined the balance between SMC DNA replication and apoptosis. It is known, however, that long-term Ang II infusion stimulates SMC DNA replication through AT1 receptors.29 30 Interestingly, short-term Ang II infusion in normotensive rats was recently shown to induce SMC apoptotic activity through both AT1 and AT2 receptors, although effects on SMC number or DNA replication were not determined.31 In contrast, the present results clearly show that short-term treatment with PD123319 in SHR potently suppresses the induction of SMC apoptosis, the inhibition of SMC growth, and the rapid regression of SMC number and vascular mass induced by an AT1 receptor antagonist. The discrepancies with the studies mentioned above may reflect differences in experimental models and/or schedule of drug administration. For instance, the documented suppression of endothelial cell growth by AT2 receptors32 raises the possibility that long-term blockade of this receptor with PD123319 may alter endothelial cell behavior in vivo, an important determinant of vascular mass.33 Our RT-PCR data in vessels with or without endothelium suggest that AT2 receptors are expressed in SHR aortic endothelial cells, as previously shown in smaller rat vessels.34 Thus, a role for endothelial AT2 receptors in the present model may not be ruled out. In the short time period examined, however, we consider a direct effect on AT2 receptors in SMC more likely because of the rapidity of the responses observed. Whether the present observations are vessel specific remains to be determined. Aortic hypertrophy is important in isolated systolic hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy,35 although arterioles are the major site of increased vascular resistance in hypertension.36
In conclusion, this study in SHR provides the first evidence that AT2 receptors induce arterial SMC deletion by apoptosis in vivo. AT2 receptors also reduced SMC growth and vascular mass but did not affect blood pressure during AT1 receptor blockade. In comparison, enalapril-induced apoptosis was not affected by AT2 receptor blockade, suggesting different mechanism(s) of action for ACE inhibitors and AT1 antagonists. Although the therapeutic significance of these findings remains to be established, we speculate that AT2-mediated SMC apoptosis may contribute to the potent inhibitory effects of AT1 antagonists on vascular hypertrophic remodeling in cardiovascular disorders.
| Acknowledgments |
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Received November 22, 1999; first decision December 8, 1999; accepted December 17, 1999.
| References |
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