(Hypertension. 1999;34:279-284.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Scientific Contributions |
Prevention of Renal Damage by Angiotensin II Blockade, Accompanied by Increased Renal Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Experimental Hypertensive Rats
From the Department of Geriatric Medicine (Keiko M., R.M., A.M., N.T., Y.Y., T. Nishii, J.H., T.O.), Division of Gene Therapy Science (R.M.), and the Division of Biochemistry, Biochemical Research Center (Kunio M., T. Nakamura), Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Correspondence to Ryuichi Morishita, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita 565, Japan. E-mail morishit{at}geriat.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Abstract—Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a unique growth factor that has many protective functions against renal damage. Our previous study demonstrated that HGF stimulated the growth of endothelial and epithelial cells without the replication of mesangial cells. Moreover, angiotensin (Ang) II significantly decreased local HGF production in mesangial cells. Therefore, we examined the effects of Ang II blockade on renal HGF expression and renal damage in experimental hypertensive rats. An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (cilazapril; 10 mg · kg-1 · d-1), an Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist (E-4177; 30 mg · kg-1 · d-1), hydralazine (8 mg · kg-1 · d-1), and vehicle were administered to 16-week-old stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) for 3 weeks. Renal damage was evaluated with a computer analysis system, and renal HGF mRNA was measured by Northern blot analysis. Blood pressure of SHR-SP was significantly decreased by all drug treatments compared with vehicle. Moreover, cilazapril, E-4177, and hydralazine significantly decreased the thickening and necrosis of blood vessels compared with vehicle. Similarly, degeneration and necrosis of glomeruli were also markedly improved by cilazapril and E-4177 (P<0.01). We next examined the effects of Ang II blockade on renal HGF expression in SHR-SP. Renal HGF mRNA was markedly decreased in SHR-SP compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats, although Ang II blockade by cilazapril and E-4177 but not hydralazine significantly increased renal HGF mRNA in SHR-SP. Ang II blockade significantly increased renal HGF (a protective growth factor for tubular epithelial cells); thus, we examined tubular histological appearance. Degeneration and necrosis of tubules were significantly improved by cilazapril and E-4177 treatment (P<0.01). In addition, cell infiltration into the glomeruli and hemorrhage were also significantly reduced in SHR-SP treated with cilazapril or E-4177. The present data demonstrated the prevention of renal damage by Ang II blockade in SHR-SP, which was accompanied by a significant increase in renal HGF mRNA. Given the strong mitogenic activity and antiapoptotic actions of HGF on endothelial and epithelial cells, we believe that increased local HGF production by the blockade of Ang II may improve renal function in hypertension.
Key Words: mesangium • kidney tubules • hypertension, renal • angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors • angiotensin II
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  P. Biswas, A. Roy, R. Gong, A. Yango, E. Tolbert, J. Centracchio, and L. D. Dworkin Hepatocyte growth factor induces an endothelin-mediated decline in glomerular filtration rate Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, January 1, 2005; 288(1): F8 - F15. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Yang, C. Dai, and Y. Liu Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Therapy and Angiotensin II Blockade Synergistically Attenuate Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in Mice J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., October 1, 2002; 13(10): 2464 - 2477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W.-H. Chow, G. Gridley, J. F. Fraumeni, and B. Jarvholm Obesity, Hypertension, and the Risk of Kidney Cancer in Men N. Engl. J. Med., November 2, 2000; 343(18): 1305 - 1311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. B Strawn, R. H Dean, and C. M Ferrario Novel mechanisms linking angiotensin II and early atherogenesis Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, March 1, 2000; 1(1): 11 - 17. [PDF]
|
|