Mas Receptor Activation Contributes to the Improvement of Nitric Oxide Bioavailability and Vascular Remodeling During Chronic AT1R (Angiotensin Type-1 Receptor) Blockade in Experimental Hypertension

Angiotensin (1-7) production increases during AT1R (angiotensin type-1 receptor) blockade. The contribution of Ang (1-7) (angiotensin [1-7]) and its receptor (MasR) to the favorable effect of angiotensin receptor blockers on remodeling and function of resistance arteries remains unclear. We sought to determine whether MasR contributes to the improvement of vascular structure and function during chronic AT1R blockade. Spontaneously hypertensive rats were treated with Ang (1-7) or olmesartan ± MasR antagonist A-779, or vehicle, for 14 days. Blood pressure was measured by tail cuff methodology. Mesenteric arteries were dissected and mounted on a pressurized micromyograph to evaluate media-to-lumen ratio (M/L) and endothelial function. Expression of MasR and eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) was evaluated by immunoblotting, plasma nitrate by colorimetric assay, and reactive oxygen species production by dihydroethidium staining. Independently of blood pressure, olmesartan significantly reduced M/L and improved NO bioavailability, A-779 prevented these effects. Likewise, Ang (1-7) significantly reduced M/L and NO bioavailability. MasR expression was significantly increased by Ang (1-7) as well as by olmesartan, and it was blunted in the presence of A-779. Both Ang (1-7) and olmesartan increased eNOS expression and plasma nitrite which were reduced by A-779. Superoxide generation was attenuated by olmesartan and Ang (1-7) and was blunted in the presence of A-779. These MasR-mediated actions were independent of AT2R activation since olmesartan and Ang (1-7) increased MasR expression and reduced M/L in Ang II (angiotensin II)-infused AT2R knockout mice, independently of blood pressure control. A-779 prevented these effects. Hence, MasR activation may contribute to the favorable effects of AT1R antagonism on NO bioavailability and microvascular remodeling, independently of AT2R activation and blood pressure control.

Protein arginine methyltransferase-1 deficiency restrains depression-like behavior of mice by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress via Nrf-2

Current evidence indicates that depression is accompanied by the activation of inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is a histone methyltransferase that methylates Arg3 on histone H4, playing crucial role in regulating various pathological processes. In the study, we attempted to explore the effects of PRMT1 on animal model with depression through a single administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results indicated that PRMT1 knockout (PRMT1^-/-) improved LPS-induced anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, along with up-regulated expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and PSD-95. Furthermore, PRMT1 deficiency significantly improved LPS-induced changes in dendritic spine density in the areas of prefrontal cortex (PFC), CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG), and nucleus accumbens (NAc). In addition, PRMT1 deletion ameliorated the neuroinflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced expression of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which might be through repressing nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. Moreover, oxidative stress induced by LPS was alleviated by PRMT1 knockout in hippocampus of mice at least partly via promoting Nrf-2 expressions. The anti-depressant effects of PRMT1 inhibition were verified in LPS-incubated astrocytes. Importantly, we found that PRMT1 knockout-alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress triggered by LPS were significantly recovered by the suppression of Nrf-2. Therefore, Nrf-2 was markedly involved in PRMT1-regulated depression-like behavior. Taken together, the results indicated that PRMT1 might be an important therapeutic target for developing effective treatment to prevent depressive-like behavior.

Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Plasticity by Protein Arginine Methyltransferases and Their Potential Roles in Neuromuscular Disorders

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the methylation of arginine residues on target proteins, thereby mediating a diverse set of intracellular functions that are indispensable for survival. Indeed, full-body knockouts of specific PRMTs are lethal and PRMT dysregulation has been implicated in the most prevalent chronic disorders, such as cancers and cardiovascular disease (CVD). PRMTs are now emerging as important mediators of skeletal muscle phenotype and plasticity. Since their first description in muscle in 2002, a number of studies employing wide varieties of experimental models support the hypothesis that PRMTs regulate multiple aspects of skeletal muscle biology, including development and regeneration, glucose metabolism, as well as oxidative metabolism. Furthermore, investigations in non-muscle cell types strongly suggest that proteins, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, E2F transcription factor 1, receptor interacting protein 140, and the tumor suppressor protein p53, are putative downstream targets of PRMTs that regulate muscle phenotype determination and remodeling. Recent studies demonstrating that PRMT function is dysregulated in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) suggests that altering PRMT expression and/or activity may have therapeutic value for neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). This review summarizes our understanding of PRMT biology in skeletal muscle, and identifies uncharted areas that warrant further investigation in this rapidly expanding field of research.

Biochemistry and regulation of the protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs)

Many key cellular processes can be regulated by the seemingly simple addition of one, or two, methyl groups to arginine residues by the nine known mammalian protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). The impact that arginine methylation has on cellular well-being is highlighted by the ever growing evidence linking PRMT dysregulation to disease states, which has marked the PRMTs as prominent pharmacological targets. This review is meant to orient the reader with respect to the structural features of the PRMTs that account for catalytic activity, as well as provide a framework for understanding how these enzymes are regulated. An overview of what we understand about substrate recognition and binding is provided. Control of product specificity and enzyme processivity are introduced as necessary but flexible features of the PRMTs. Precise control of PRMT activity is a critical component to eukaryotic cell health, especially given that an arginine demethylase has not been identified. We therefore conclude the review with a comprehensive discussion of how protein arginine methylation is regulated.

Icariin regulates PRMT/ADMA/DDAH pathway to improve endothelial function

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress may affect PRMT/ADMA/DDAH (protein arginine methyltransferases/asymmetric dimethylarginine/dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase) pathway to impair endothelial dysfunction. The present study was carried out to test the effect of icariin on endothelial function and the mechanisms responsible for this.

METHODS

Eighty mice at 12 weeks of age were separated randomly into four groups (n = 20): C57BL/6J control, untreated apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)), two groups of icariin-treated (10 or 30 mg/kg body wt/day, intragastrically) ApoE(-/-). Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were randomly divided into 7 groups: control group, vehicle of icariin (10 μmol/L) group, icariin (10 μmol/L) group, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) (10 μg/mL) group, LPC plus icariin (1 μmol/L) group, LPC plus icariin (3 μmol/L) group, and LPC plus icariin (10 μmol/L) group.

RESULTS

In ApoE(-/-) mice and primary HUVECs, icariin treatment decreased reactive oxygen species production, PRMT I expression, ADMA level, half-maximum effective concentration of ApoE(-/-) mice aortic rings. Icariin increased DDAH II expression, DDAH activity, maximal relaxation value and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in aortic rings from ApoE(-/-) mice (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggest that icariin regulates PRMT/ADMA/DDAH pathway to improve endothelial function.

Rosiglitazone causes cardiotoxicity via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-independent mitochondrial oxidative stress in mouse hearts

This study aims to test the hypothesis that thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone (RSG), a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist, causes cardiotoxicity independently of PPARγ. Energy metabolism and mitochondrial function were measured in perfused hearts isolated from C57BL/6, cardiomyocyte-specific PPARγ-deficient mice, and their littermates. Cardiac function and mitochondrial oxidative stress were measured in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Treatment of isolated hearts with RSG at the supratherapeutic concentrations of 10 and 30 μM caused myocardial energy deficiency as evidenced by the decreases in [PCr], [ATP], ATP/ADP ratio, energy charge with a concomitant cardiac dysfunction as indicated by the decreases in left ventricular systolic pressure, rates of tension development and relaxation, and by an increase in end-diastolic pressure. When incubated with tissue homogenate or isolated mitochondria at these same concentrations, RSG caused mitochondrial dysfunction as evidenced by the decreases in respiration rate, substrate oxidation rates, and activities of complexes I and IV. RSG also increased complexes I- and III-dependent O₂⁻ production, decreased glutathione content, inhibited superoxide dismutase, and increased the levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in mitochondria, consistent with oxidative stress. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) 20 mM prevented RSG-induced above toxicity at those in vitro settings. Cardiomyocyte-specific PPARγ deletion and PPARγ antagonist GW9662 did not prevent the observed cardiotoxicity. Intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg RSG also caused cardiac dysfunction and oxidative stress, 600 mg/kg NAC antagonized these adverse effects. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that RSG at supratherapeutic concentrations causes cardiotoxicity via a PPARγ-independent mechanism involving oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in mouse hearts.

The direct renin inhibitor aliskiren improves vascular remodelling in transgenic rats harbouring human renin and angiotensinogen genes

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic treatment with the direct rennin inhibitor aliskiren improves the remodelling of resistance arteries in dTGR (double-transgenic rats). dTGR (5 weeks) were treated with aliskiren (3 mg/kg of body mass per day) or ramipril (1 mg/kg of body mass per day) for 14 days and compared with age-matched vehicle-treated dTGR. BP (blood pressure) was similarly reduced in both aliskiren-treated and ramipril-treated rats compared with control dTGR (167±1 and 169±2 mmHg compared with 197±4 mmHg respectively; P<0.05). The M/L (media-to-lumen) ratio assessed on pressurized preparations was equally reduced in aliskiren-treated and ramipril-treated rats compared with controls (6.3±0.5 and 6.4±0.2% compared with 9.8±0.4% respectively; P<0.05). Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations were similar among the groups. L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) significantly reduced acetylcholine-induced dilation in drug-treated dTGR. This effect was significantly more prominent in aliskiren-treated rats. eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) expression showed a 2-fold increase only in aliskiren-treated dTGR as compared with controls (P<0.01) and ramipril-treated dTGR (P<0.05). Plasma nitrite, as an index of NO production, was significantly increased in dTGR treated with either aliskiren or ramipril compared with controls. Only aliskiren induced a 2-fold increase in plasma nitrite, which was significantly greater than that induced by ramipril (P<0.05). gp91phox expression and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production in aorta were significantly and similarly reduced by both drugs. In conclusion, equieffective hypotensive doses of aliskiren or ramipril reduced the M/L ratio of mesenteric arteries and improved oxidative stress in dTGR. However, only aliskiren increased further NO production in the vasculature. Hence, in dTGR, direct renin inhibition induces favourable effects similar to that induced by ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibition in improving vascular remodelling through different mechanisms.

Rosiglitazone selectively inhibits K(ATP) channels by acting on the K(IR) 6 subunit

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Rosiglitazone is an anti-diabetic drug acting as an insulin sensitizer. We recently found that rosiglitazone also inhibits the vascular isoform of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels and compromises vasodilatory effects of β-adrenoceptor activation and pinacidil. As its potency for the channel inhibition is in the micromolar range, rosiglitazone may be used as an effective K(ATP) channel inhibitor for research and therapeutic purposes. Therefore, we performed experiments to determine whether other isoforms of K(ATP) channels are also sensitive to rosiglitazone and what their sensitivities are.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

K(IR) 6.1/SUR2B, K(IR) 6.2/SUR1, K(IR) 6.2/SUR2A, K(IR) 6.2/SUR2B and K(IR) 6.2ΔC36 channels were expressed in HEK293 cells and were studied using patch-clamp techniques.

KEY RESULTS

Rosiglitazone inhibited all isoforms of K(ATP) channels in excised patches and in the whole-cell configuration. Its IC(50) was 10 µmol·L(-1) for the K(IR) 6.1/SUR2B channel and ∼45 µmol·L(-1) for K(IR) 6.2/SURx channels. Rosiglitazone also inhibited K(IR) 6.2ΔC36 channels in the absence of the sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) subunit, with potency (IC(50) = 45 µmol·L(-1) ) almost identical to that for K(IR) 6.2/SURx channels. Single-channel kinetic analysis showed that the channel inhibition was mediated by augmentation of the long-lasting closures without affecting the channel open state and unitary conductance. In contrast, rosiglitazone had no effect on K(IR) 1.1, K(IR) 2.1 and K(IR) 4.1 channels, suggesting that the channel inhibitory effect is selective for K(IR) 6.x channels.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These results suggest a novel K(ATP) channel inhibitor that acts on the pore-forming K(IR) 6.x subunit, affecting the channel gating.

Protective role of vascular smooth muscle cell PPARγ in angiotensin II-induced vascular disease

AIMS

Vascular peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) activation improves vascular remodelling and endothelial function in hypertensive rodents. The goal of this study was to determine that vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) PPARγ exerts a vascular protective role beyond its metabolic effects.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We generated a model of adult inducible VSMC-specific Pparγ inactivation to test the hypothesis that PPARγ counteracts angiotensin (Ang) II-induced vascular remodelling and endothelial dysfunction. Inducible VSMC Pparγ knockout mice were generated by crossing Pparγ floxed mice with mice expressing a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase Smooth muscle (Sm) myosin heavy chain promoter control. Eight-to-ten-week-old SmPparγ(-/-) and control mice were infused with a nonpressor dose of Ang II for 7 days. Blood pressure was unaffected. Mesenteric arteries showed eutrophic remodelling in Ang II-infused control mice and hypertrophic remodelling in Ang II-infused SmPparγ(-/-) mice. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was reduced in SmPparγ(-/-) mice and further impaired by Ang II infusion, and was unaffected by an inhibitor of NO synthase, suggesting a defect of NO-mediated relaxation. SmPparγ deletion increased the sensitivity to Ang II-induced contraction. SmPparγ(-/-) mice exhibited enhanced Ang II-induced vascular NADPH oxidase activity and adhesion molecule ICAM-1 and chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression. The antioxidant Superoxide dismutase 3 expression was decreased by SmPparγ deletion. Ang II infusion increased the expression of CD3 T-cell co-receptor chain δ and decreased Adiponectin in perivascular adipose tissue of SmPparγ(-/-) mice.

CONCLUSION

Inducible Pparγ inactivation in VSMCs exacerbated Ang II-induced vascular remodelling and endothelial dysfunction via enhanced vascular oxidative stress and inflammation, revealing the protective role of VSMC PPARγ in angiotensin II-induced vascular injury.

Rosiglitazone inhibits vascular KATP channels and coronary vasodilation produced by isoprenaline

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Rosiglitazone is an anti-diabetic drug improving insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. However, several recent clinical trials suggest that rosiglitazone can increase the risk of cardiovascular ischaemia, although other studies failed to show such risks. Therefore, the effects of rosiglitazone on the coronary circulation and any potential vascular targets need to be elucidated. Here, we show that the vascular isoform of the ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP) ) channel is inhibited by rosiglitazone, impairing physiological regulation of the coronary circulation.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The K(IR) 6.1/SUR2B channel was expressed in HEK293 cells and studied in whole-cell and inside-out patch configurations. The Langendorff heart preparation was used to evaluate rosiglitazone in the coronary circulation of wild-type (WT) and K(IR) 6.1-null (Kcnj8(-/-) ) mice.

KEY RESULTS

K(IR) 6.1/SUR2B channels in HEK cells were inhibited by rosiglitazone in a membrane-delimited manner. This effect was markedly enhanced by sub-micromolar concentrations of glibenclamide and the IC(50) for rosiglitazone fell to 2µM, a therapeutically achievable concentration. In the Langendorff heart preparation rosiglitazone inhibited, concentration-dependently, the coronary vasodilation induced by isoprenaline, without affecting basal coronary tone. Effects of rosiglitazone on coronary perfusion were attenuated by more than 50% in the Kcnj8(-/-) mice, supporting the involvement of K(ATP) channels in this effect of rosiglitazone on the coronary circulation.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These results indicate that the vascular K(ATP) channel is one of the targets of rosiglitazone action, through which this drug may compromise coronary responses to circulating vasodilators and perhaps also to metabolic stress.