Comparison of 12-lipoxygenase expression in vascular smooth muscle cells from old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats with spontaneously hypertensive rats

Angiotensin II-induced vascular endothelial cells ferroptosis via P53-ALOX12 signal axis

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of angiotensin II-induced ferroptosis in vascular endothelial cells.

METHODS

In vitro, HUVECs were treated with AngII, AT_1/2 R antagonist, P53 inhibitor, or their combinations. MDA and intracellular iron content were evaluated using an ELISA assay. The expression of ALOX12, P53, P21, and SLC7A11 were determined by western blotting in HUVECs and then confirmed through RT-PCR.

RESULTS

As the concentration of Ang II (0, 0.1,1,10,100, and 1000uM for 48 h) increased, the level of MDA and intracellular iron content increased in HUVECs. Compared with the single AngII group, ALOX12, p53, MDA, and intracellular iron content in AT_1/2R antagonist group decreased significantly. In pifithrin-α hydrobromide-treated, ALOX12, P21,MDA, and intracellular iron content decreased significantly as compared to the single AngII group. Similarly, the effect of combined use of blockers is stronger than that of blockers alone.

CONCLUSIONS

AngII can induce ferroptosis of vascular endothelial cells. The mechanism of AngII-induced ferroptosis may be regulated through the signal axis of p53-ALOX12.

Bioactive lipids in hypertension

Hypertension is a major healthcare issue that afflicts one in every three adults worldwide and contributes to cardiovascular diseases, morbidity and mortality. Bioactive lipids contribute importantly to blood pressure regulation via actions on the vasculature, kidney, and inflammation. Vascular actions of bioactive lipids include blood pressure lowering vasodilation and blood pressure elevating vasoconstriction. Increased renin release by bioactive lipids in the kidney is pro-hypertensive whereas anti-hypertensive bioactive lipid actions result in increased sodium excretion. Bioactive lipids have pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory actions that increase or decrease reactive oxygen species and impact vascular and kidney function in hypertension. Human studies provide evidence that fatty acid metabolism and bioactive lipids contribute to sodium and blood pressure regulation in hypertension. Genetic changes identified in humans that impact arachidonic acid metabolism have been associated with hypertension. Arachidonic acid cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and cytochrome P450 metabolites have pro-hypertensive and anti-hypertensive actions. Omega-3 fish oil fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are known to be anti-hypertensive and cardiovascular protective. Lastly, emerging fatty acid research areas include blood pressure regulation by isolevuglandins, nitrated fatty acids, and short chain fatty acids. Taken together, bioactive lipids are key contributors to blood pressure regulation and hypertension and their manipulation could decrease cardiovascular disease and associated morbidity and mortality.

Eicosanoid blood vessel regulation in physiological and pathological states

Arachidonic acid can be metabolized in blood vessels by three primary enzymatic pathways; cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LO), and cytochrome P450 (CYP). These eicosanoid metabolites can influence endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell function. COX metabolites can cause endothelium-dependent dilation or constriction. Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) and thromboxane (TXA2) act on their respective receptors exerting opposing actions with regard to vascular tone and platelet aggregation. LO metabolites also influence vascular tone. The 12-LO metabolite 12S-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (12S-HETE) is a vasoconstrictor whereas the 15-LO metabolite 11,12,15-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12,15-THETA) is an endothelial-dependent hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). CYP enzymes produce two types of eicosanoid products: EDHF vasodilator epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and the vasoconstrictor 20-HETE. The less-studied cross-metabolites generated from arachidonic acid metabolism by multiple pathways can also impact vascular function. Likewise, COX, LO, and CYP vascular eicosanoids interact with paracrine and hormonal factors such as the renin-angiotensin system and endothelin-1 (ET-1) to maintain vascular homeostasis. Imbalances in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell COX, LO, and CYP metabolites in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases result in vascular dysfunction. Restoring the vascular balance of eicosanoids by genetic or pharmacological means can improve vascular function in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, future research is necessary to achieve a more complete understanding of how COX, LO, CYP, and cross-metabolites regulate vascular function in physiological and pathological states.

CCL5 upregulates IL-10 expression and partially mediates the antihypertensive effects of IL-10 in the vascular smooth muscle cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Interleukin (IL)-10 inhibits angiotensin (Ang) II-induced vascular dysfunction and reduces blood pressure in hypertensive pregnant rats. The chemokine CCL5 has also been shown to downregulate Ang II-induced hypertensive mediators in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study investigated the effects of CCL5 on IL-10 expression, as well as its mechanisms of action in the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of SHRs. CCL5 increased IL-10 expression in the VSMCs of SHRs; the s.c. injection of CCL5 (1.5 μg kg(-1), twice a day) for 3 weeks into SHRs with established hypertension upregulated IL-10 expression in both the thoracic aorta and the VSMCs and decreased systolic blood pressure. CCL5-induced the elevation of IL-10 expression, an effect mediated primarily via the activation of an Ang II subtype II receptor (AT2 R). Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH)-1 activity also contributed to the elevation of IL-10 expression via CCL5 in the VSMCs of SHRs. Moreover, CCL5 partially mediated the inhibitory effects of IL-10 on Ang II-induced 12-lipoxygenase (LO) and endothelin (ET)-1 expression in the VSMCs of SHRs. Taken together, this study provides novel evidence that CCL5 plays a role in the upregulation of IL-10 activity in the VSMCs of SHRs.

Activation of the D4 dopamine receptor attenuates proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells through downregulation of AT1a receptor expression

Angiotensin (Ang) II has an important role in the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration and subsequently in the development of vascular diseases, whereas dopamine has the opposite effect. Previous studies have shown an interaction between dopamine and AT(1) receptors in the kidney. The dopamine D(4) receptor is expressed in arteries and has an inhibitory effect on VSMC proliferation. We hypothesized that the D(4) receptor, through its interaction with the AT(1a) receptor, may have an inhibitory effect on Ang II-mediated VSMC proliferation and migration, which could have a pivotal role in hypertension-induced vascular remodeling. In the current study, we found that Ang II markedly induced the proliferation and migration of A10 cells, which was inhibited by the D(4) receptor agonist PD168077. The activation of the D(4) receptor by PD168077 inhibited AT(1a) receptor expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. These effects were attenuated by silencing the D(4) receptor with a D(4) receptor-targeting small interfering RNA. The D(4) receptor-mediated inhibition of AT(1) receptor function involved protein kinase A (PKA). The activation of the D(4) receptor by PD168077 increased PKA activity in A10 cells, and the presence of a PKA inhibitor (PKA inhibitor 14-22, 10(-7) mol l(-1) per 24 h) blocked the inhibitory effect of the D(4) receptor on AT(1) receptor expression and function. The inhibitory effect of the D(4) receptor on AT(1) receptor expression and function was preserved in VSMCs (primary culture) from spontaneously hypertensive rats relative to VSMCs from Wistar-Kyoto rats. In conclusion, our data provide insight into the regulatory role of the D(4) receptor on AT(1a) receptor expression and function in VSMCs and suggest that targeting the action of the D(4) receptor may represent an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.