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Kaschina E, Lauer D, Lange C, Unger T. Angiotensin AT 2 receptors reduce inflammation and fibrosis in cardiovascular remodeling. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116062. [PMID: 38369211 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The angiotensin AT2 receptor (AT2R), an important member of the "protective arm" of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), has been recently defined as a therapeutic target in different pathological conditions. The AT2R activates complex signalling pathways linked to cellular proliferation, differentiation, anti-inflammation, antifibrosis, and induction or inhibition of apoptosis. The anti-inflammatory effect of AT2R activation is commonly associated with reduced fibrosis in different models. Current discoveries demonstrated a direct impact of AT2Rs on the regulation of cytokines, transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), and synthesis of the extracellular matrix components. This review article summarizes current knowledge on the AT2R in regard to immunity, inflammation and fibrosis in the heart and blood vessels. In particular, the differential influence of the AT2R on cardiovascular remodeling in preclinical models of myocardial infarction, heart failure and aneurysm formation are discussed. Overall, these studies demonstrate that AT2R stimulation represents a promising therapeutic approach to counteract myocardial and aortic damage in cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kaschina
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research (MRC), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Dilyara Lauer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research (MRC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Lange
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research (MRC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Unger
- CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Belenchia AM, Boukhalfa A, DeMarco VG, Mehm A, Mahmood A, Liu P, Tang Y, Gavini MP, Mooney B, Chen HH, Pulakat L. Cardiovascular Protective Effects of NP-6A4, a Drug with the FDA Designation for Pediatric Cardiomyopathy, in Female Rats with Obesity and Pre-Diabetes. Cells 2023; 12:1373. [PMID: 37408206 PMCID: PMC10216951 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obese and pre-diabetic women have a higher risk for cardiovascular death than age-matched men with the same symptoms, and there are no effective treatments. We reported that obese and pre-diabetic female Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF-F) rats recapitulate metabolic and cardiac pathology of young obese and pre-diabetic women and exhibit suppression of cardio-reparative AT2R. Here, we investigated whether NP-6A4, a new AT2R agonist with the FDA designation for pediatric cardiomyopathy, mitigate heart disease in ZDF-F rats by restoring AT2R expression. METHODS ZDF-F rats on a high-fat diet (to induce hyperglycemia) were treated with saline, NP-6A4 (10 mg/kg/day), or NP-6A4 + PD123319 (AT2R-specific antagonist, 5 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks (n = 21). Cardiac functions, structure, and signaling were assessed by echocardiography, histology, immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and cardiac proteome analysis. RESULTS NP-6A4 treatment attenuated cardiac dysfunction, microvascular damage (-625%) and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (-263%), and increased capillary density (200%) and AT2R expression (240%) (p < 0.05). NP-6A4 activated a new 8-protein autophagy network and increased autophagy marker LC3-II but suppressed autophagy receptor p62 and autophagy inhibitor Rubicon. Co-treatment with AT2R antagonist PD123319 suppressed NP-6A4's protective effects, confirming that NP-6A4 acts through AT2R. NP-6A4-AT2R-induced cardioprotection was independent of changes in body weight, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, or blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac autophagy impairment underlies heart disease induced by obesity and pre-diabetes, and there are no drugs to re-activate autophagy. We propose that NP-6A4 can be an effective drug to reactivate cardiac autophagy and treat obesity- and pre-diabetes-induced heart disease, particularly for young and obese women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M. Belenchia
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Asma Boukhalfa
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | | | - Alexander Mehm
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Abuzar Mahmood
- Department of Neuroscience, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Pei Liu
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Yinian Tang
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | | | - Brian Mooney
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Howard H. Chen
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Lakshmi Pulakat
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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Pulakat L. A role for misaligned gene expression of fetal gene program in the loss of female-specific cardiovascular protection in young obese and diabetic females. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1108449. [PMID: 36909327 PMCID: PMC9995961 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1108449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy, premenopausal women have the advantage of female-specific cardiovascular protection compared to age-matched healthy men. However, pathologies such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cause losing of this female-specific cardiovascular protection in young, obese and diabetic females. Molecular mechanisms underlying this loss of female-specific cardiovascular protection in young, obese and diabetic females are not clearly elucidated. This review takes a close look at the latest advances in our understanding of sex differences in adult cardiac gene expression patterns in health and disease. Based on the emerging data, this review proposes that female biased gene expression patterns in healthy adult hearts of human and pre-clinical models support the existence of active fetal gene program in healthy, premenopausal female heart compared to age-matched healthy male heart. However, the misalignment of gene expression pattern in this female-specific active cardiac fetal gene program caused by pathologies such as obesity and T2DM may contribute to the loss of female-specific cardiovascular protection in young, obese and diabetic females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Pulakat
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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Liu J, Jin B, Lu J, Feng Y, Li N, Wan C, Zhang QY, Jiang CM. Angiotensin II type 2 receptor prevents extracellular matrix accumulation in human peritoneal mesothelial cell by ameliorating lipid disorder via LOX-1 suppression. Ren Fail 2022; 44:1687-1697. [PMID: 36226438 PMCID: PMC9578471 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2022.2133729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that intracellular angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) contributes to peritoneal fibrosis (PF) under high glucose (HG)-based dialysates. It is generally believed that AT2 antagonisticly affects AT1 function. The aim of this study was to explore whether AT2 activation is beneficial for attenuating human peritoneal mesothelial cell (HPMC) injury due to HG. We treated a HPMC line with HG to induce extracellular matrix (ECM) formation. AT2 was increased and blocked using CGP42112A and AT2 siRNA. Lipid deposition was detected, signaling molecules associated with lectin-like oxidized lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) and ECM proteins were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot. The results showed that HG led to AT2 inhibition in HPMCs, inhibition of AT2 further aggravated the expression of ECM proteins, including α-smooth muscle actin, fibroblast specific protein-1 and collagen I, while AT2 decreased the expression of ECM proteins, even during HG stimulation. Interestingly, there was a parallel change in lipid accumulation and ECM formation when AT2 was increased or depressed. Moreover, AT2-mediated decreased ECM production was associated with reduced lipid accumulation in HPMCs and depended on the downregulation of LOX-1. Further analysis showed that HG increased oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) deposition in HPMCs concomitant with an enhanced expression of ECM components, whereas blocking LOX-1 reversed ox-LDL deposition even in the presence of HG. This effect was also accompanied by the remission of ECM accumulation. Our results suggested that AT2 prevented ECM formation in HG-stimulated HPMCs by ameliorating lipid via LOX‐1 suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Jin
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Lu
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Feng
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Nan Li
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng Wan
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing-Yan Zhang
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Chun-Ming Jiang
- Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
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Steckelings UM, Widdop RE, Sturrock ED, Lubbe L, Hussain T, Kaschina E, Unger T, Hallberg A, Carey RM, Sumners C. The Angiotensin AT 2 Receptor: From a Binding Site to a Novel Therapeutic Target. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:1051-1135. [PMID: 36180112 PMCID: PMC9553111 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovered more than 30 years ago, the angiotensin AT2 receptor (AT2R) has evolved from a binding site with unknown function to a firmly established major effector within the protective arm of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and a target for new drugs in development. The AT2R represents an endogenous protective mechanism that can be manipulated in the majority of preclinical models to alleviate lung, renal, cardiovascular, metabolic, cutaneous, and neural diseases as well as cancer. This article is a comprehensive review summarizing our current knowledge of the AT2R, from its discovery to its position within the RAS and its overall functions. This is followed by an in-depth look at the characteristics of the AT2R, including its structure, intracellular signaling, homo- and heterodimerization, and expression. AT2R-selective ligands, from endogenous peptides to synthetic peptides and nonpeptide molecules that are used as research tools, are discussed. Finally, we summarize the known physiological roles of the AT2R and its abundant protective effects in multiple experimental disease models and expound on AT2R ligands that are undergoing development for clinical use. The present review highlights the controversial aspects and gaps in our knowledge of this receptor and illuminates future perspectives for AT2R research. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The angiotensin AT2 receptor (AT2R) is now regarded as a fully functional and important component of the renin-angiotensin system, with the potential of exerting protective actions in a variety of diseases. This review provides an in-depth view of the AT2R, which has progressed from being an enigma to becoming a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Muscha Steckelings
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Robert E Widdop
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Edward D Sturrock
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Lizelle Lubbe
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Tahir Hussain
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Elena Kaschina
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Thomas Unger
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Anders Hallberg
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Robert M Carey
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
| | - Colin Sumners
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark (U.M.S.); Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (R.E.W.); Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (E.D.S., L.L.); Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (T.H.); Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular-Metabolic-Renal (CMR) Research Center, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.K.); CARIM - School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (T.U.); Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.H.); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia (R.M.C.); and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (C.S.)
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6
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Norambuena-Soto I, Lopez-Crisosto C, Martinez-Bilbao J, Hernandez-Fuentes C, Parra V, Lavandero S, Chiong M. Angiotensin-(1-9) in hypertension. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 203:115183. [PMID: 35870482 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensin-(1-9) [Ang-(1-9)] is a peptide of the non-canonical renin-angiotensin system (RAS) synthesized from angiotensin I by the monopeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2). Using osmotic minipumps, infusion of Ang-(1-9) consistently reduces blood pressure in several rat hypertension models. In these animals, hypertension-induced end-organ damage is also decreased. Several pieces of evidence suggest that Ang-(1-9) is the endogenous ligand that binds and activates the type-2 angiotensin II receptor (AT2R). Activation of AT2R triggers different tissue-specific signaling pathways. This phenomenon could be explained by the ability of AT2R to form different heterodimers with other G protein-coupled receptors. Because of the antihypertensive and protective effects of AT2R activation by Ang-(1-9), associated with a short half-life of RAS peptides, several synthetic AT2R agonists have been synthesized and assayed. Some of them, particularly CGP42112, C21 and novokinin, have demonstrated antihypertensive properties. Only two synthetic AT2R agonists, C21 and LP2-3, have been tested in clinical trials, but none of them like an antihypertensive. Therefore, Ang-(1-9) is a promising antihypertensive drug that reduces hypertension-induced end-organ damage. However, further research is required to translate this finding successfully to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Norambuena-Soto
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Lopez-Crisosto
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Martinez-Bilbao
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Hernandez-Fuentes
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Parra
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Network for the Study of High-lethality Cardiopulmonary Diseases (REECPAL), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sergio Lavandero
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mario Chiong
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Ramirez-Perez FI, Woodford ML, Morales-Quinones M, Grunewald ZI, Cabral-Amador FJ, Yoshida T, Brenner DA, Manrique-Acevedo C, Martinez-Lemus LA, Chandrasekar B, Padilla J. Mutation of the 5'-untranslated region stem-loop mRNA structure reduces type I collagen deposition and arterial stiffness in male obese mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 321:H435-H445. [PMID: 34242094 PMCID: PMC8526337 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00076.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Arterial stiffening, a characteristic feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes, contributes to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Currently, no effective prophylaxis or therapeutics is available to prevent or treat arterial stiffening. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying arterial stiffening is vital to identify newer targets and strategies to reduce CVD burden. A major contributor to arterial stiffening is increased collagen deposition. In the 5'-untranslated regions of mRNAs encoding for type I collagen, an evolutionally conserved stem-loop (SL) structure plays an essential role in its stability and post-transcriptional regulation. Here, we show that feeding a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) diet for 28 wk increases adiposity, insulin resistance, and blood pressure in male wild-type littermates. Moreover, arterial stiffness, assessed in vivo via aortic pulse wave velocity, and ex vivo using atomic force microscopy in aortic explants or pressure myography in isolated femoral and mesenteric arteries, was also increased in those mice. Notably, all these indices of arterial stiffness, along with collagen type I levels in the vasculature, were reduced in HFHS-fed mice harboring a mutation in the 5'SL structure, relative to wild-type littermates. This protective vascular phenotype in 5'SL-mutant mice did not associate with a reduction in insulin resistance or blood pressure. These findings implicate the 5'SL structure as a putative therapeutic target to prevent or reverse arterial stiffening and CVD associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In the 5'-untranslated (UTR) regions of mRNAs encoding for type I collagen, an evolutionally conserved SL structure plays an essential role in its stability and posttranscriptional regulation. We demonstrate that a mutation of the SL mRNA structure in the 5'-UTR decreases collagen type I deposition and arterial stiffness in obese mice. Targeting this evolutionarily conserved SL structure may hold promise in the management of arterial stiffening and CVD associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco I Ramirez-Perez
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Makenzie L Woodford
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Zachary I Grunewald
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Tadashi Yoshida
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - David A Brenner
- School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Camila Manrique-Acevedo
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Luis A Martinez-Lemus
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Bysani Chandrasekar
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri.,Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Jaume Padilla
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.,Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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8
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Gavini MP, Mahmood A, Belenchia AM, Beauparlant P, Kumar SA, Ardhanari S, DeMarco VG, Pulakat L. Suppression of Inflammatory Cardiac Cytokine Network in Rats with Untreated Obesity and Pre-Diabetes by AT2 Receptor Agonist NP-6A4. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:693167. [PMID: 34220518 PMCID: PMC8253363 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.693167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity affects over 42% of the United States population and exacerbates heart disease, the leading cause of death in men and women. Obesity also increases pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause chronic tissue damage to vital organs. The standard-of-care does not sufficiently attenuate these inflammatory sequelae. Angiotensin II receptor AT2R is an anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective molecule; however, AT2R agonists are not used in the clinic to treat heart disease. NP-6A4 is a new AT2R peptide agonist with an FDA orphan drug designation for pediatric cardiomyopathy. NP-6A4 increases AT2R expression (mRNA and protein) and nitric oxide generation in human cardiovascular cells. AT2R-antagonist PD123319 and AT2RSiRNA suppress NP-6A4-effects indicating that NP-6A4 acts through AT2R. To determine whether NP-6A4 would mitigate cardiac damage from chronic inflammation induced by untreated obesity, we investigated the effects of 2-weeks NP-6A4 treatment (1.8 mg/kg delivered subcutaneously) on cardiac pathology of male Zucker obese (ZO) rats that display obesity, pre-diabetes and cardiac dysfunction. NP-6A4 attenuated cardiac diastolic and systolic dysfunction, cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, but increased myocardial capillary density. NP-6A4 treatment suppressed tubulointerstitial injury marker urinary β-NAG, and liver injury marker alkaline phosphatase in serum. These protective effects of NP-6A4 occurred in the presence of obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia, and without modulating blood pressure. NP-6A4 increased expression of AT2R (consistent with human cells) and cardioprotective erythropoietin (EPO) and Notch1 in ZO rat heart, but suppressed nineteen inflammatory cytokines. Cardiac miRNA profiling and in silico analysis showed that NP-6A4 activated a unique miRNA network that may regulate expression of AT2R, EPO, Notch1 and inflammatory cytokines, and mitigate cardiac pathology. Seventeen pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines that increase during lethal cytokine storms caused by infections such as COVID-19 were among the cytokines suppressed by NP-6A4 treatment in ZO rat heart. Thus, NP-6A4 activates a novel anti-inflammatory network comprised of 21 proteins in the heart that was not reported previously. Since NP-6A4's unique mode of action suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine network and attenuates myocardial damage, it can be an ideal adjuvant drug with other anti-glycemic, anti-hypertensive, standard-of-care drugs to protect the heart tissues from pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine attack induced by obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abuzar Mahmood
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Anthony M Belenchia
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Paige Beauparlant
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | | | | | - Vincent G DeMarco
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Lakshmi Pulakat
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Tufts Medical Center and Department of Medicine, Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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9
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Ranjit A, Khajehpour S, Aghazadeh-Habashi A. Update on Angiotensin II Subtype 2 Receptor: Focus on Peptide and Nonpeptide Agonists. Mol Pharmacol 2021; 99:469-487. [PMID: 33795351 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.121.000236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the most dominant effector component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that generally acts through binding to two main classes of G protein-coupled receptors, namely Ang II subtype 1 receptor (AT1R) and angiotensin II subtype 2 receptor (AT2R). Despite some controversial reports, the activation of AT2R generally antagonizes the effects of Ang II binding on AT1R. Studying AT2R signaling, function, and its specific ligands in cell culture or animal studies has confirmed its beneficial effects throughout the body. These characteristics classify AT2R as part of the protective arm of the RAS that, along with functions of Ang (1-7) through Mas receptor signaling, modulates the harmful effects of Ang II on AT1R in the activated classic arm of the RAS. Although Ang II is the primary ligand for AT2R, we have summarized other natural or synthetic peptide and nonpeptide agonists with critical evaluation of their structure, mechanism of action, and biologic activity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: AT2R is one of the main components of the RAS and has a significant prospective for mediating the beneficial action of the RAS through its protective arm on the body's homeostasis. Targeting AT2R offers substantial clinical application possibilities for modulating various pathological conditions. This review provided concise information regarding the AT2R peptide and nonpeptide agonists and their potential clinical applications for various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arina Ranjit
- College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA
| | - Sana Khajehpour
- College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA
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10
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Pulakat L, Sumners C. Angiotensin Type 2 Receptors: Painful, or Not? Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:571994. [PMID: 33424587 PMCID: PMC7785813 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.571994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain in response to various types of acute injury can be a protective stimulus to prevent the organism from using the injured part and allow tissue repair and healing. On the other hand, neuropathic pain, defined as ‘pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system’, is a debilitating pathology. The TRPA1 neurons in the Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) respond to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce pain. In acute nerve injury and inflammation, macrophages infiltrating the site of injury undergo an oxidative burst, and generate ROS that promote tissue repair and induce pain via TRPA1. The latter discourages using the injured limb, with a lack of movement helping wound healing. In chronic inflammation caused by diabetes, cancer etc., ROS levels increase systemically and modulate TRPA1 neuronal functions and cause debilitating neuropathic pain. It is important to distinguish between drug targets that elicit protective vs. debilitating pain when developing effective drugs for neuropathic pain. In this context, the connection of the Angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) to neuropathic pain presents an interesting dilemma. Several lines of evidence show that AT2R activation promotes anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive signaling, tissue repair, and suppresses ROS in chronic inflammatory models. Conversely, some studies suggest that AT2R antagonists are anti-nociceptive and therefore AT2R is a drug target for neuropathic pain. However, AT2R expression in nociceptive neurons is lacking, indicating that neuronal AT2R is not involved in neuropathic pain. It is also important to consider that Novartis terminated their phase II clinical trial (EMPHENE) to validate that AT2R antagonist EMA401 mitigates post-herpetic neuralgia. This trial, conducted in Australia, United Kingdom, and a number of European and Asian countries in 2019, was discontinued due to pre-clinical drug toxicity data. Moreover, early data from the trial did not show statistically significant positive outcomes. These facts suggest that may AT2R not be the proper drug target for neuropathic pain in humans and its inhibition can be harmful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Pulakat
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Colin Sumners
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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11
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Golledge J, Krishna SM, Wang Y. Mouse models for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 179:792-810. [PMID: 32914434 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is estimated to cause 200,000 deaths each year. Currently, the only treatment for AAA is surgical repair; however, this is only indicated for large asymptomatic, symptomatic or ruptured aneurysms, is not always durable, and is associated with a risk of serious perioperative complications. As a result, patients with small asymptomatic aneurysms or who are otherwise unfit for surgery are treated conservatively, but up to 70% of small aneurysms continue to grow, increasing the risk of rupture. There is thus an urgent need to develop drug therapies effective at slowing AAA growth. This review describes the commonly used mouse models for AAA. Recent research in these models highlights key roles for pathways involved in inflammation and cell turnover in AAA pathogenesis. There is also evidence for long non-coding RNAs and thrombosis in aneurysm pathology. Further well-designed research in clinically relevant models is expected to be translated into effective AAA drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Golledge
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,The Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, The Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Smriti Murali Krishna
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,The Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, The Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yutang Wang
- Discipline of Life Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
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12
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Sharma N, Belenchia AM, Toedebusch R, Pulakat L, Hans CP. AT2R agonist NP-6A4 mitigates aortic stiffness and proteolytic activity in mouse model of aneurysm. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:7393-7404. [PMID: 32420690 PMCID: PMC7339180 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and experimental studies show that angiotensin II (AngII) promotes vascular pathology via activation of AngII type 1 receptors (AT1Rs). We recently reported that NP-6A4, a selective peptide agonist for AngII type 2 receptor (AT2R), exerts protective effects on human vascular cells subjected to serum starvation or doxorubicin exposure. In this study, we investigated whether NP-6A4-induced AT2R activation could mitigate AngII-induced abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA) using AngII-treated Apoe-/- mice. Male Apoe-/- mice were infused with AngII (1 µg/kg/min) by implanting osmotic pumps subcutaneously for 28 days. A subset of mice was pre-treated subcutaneously with NP-6A4 (2.5 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 14 days prior to AngII, and treatments were continued for 28 days. NP-6A4 significantly reduced aortic stiffness of the abdominal aorta induced by AngII as determined by ultrasound functional analyses and histochemical analyses. NP-6A4 also increased nitric oxide bioavailability in aortic tissues and suppressed AngII-induced increases in monocyte chemotactic protein-1, osteopontin and proteolytic activity of the aorta. However, NP-6A4 did not affect maximal intraluminal aortic diameter or AAA incidences significantly. These data suggest that the effects of AT2R agonist on vascular pathologies are selective, affecting the aortic stiffness and proteolytic activity without affecting the size of AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neekun Sharma
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Anthony M Belenchia
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Ryan Toedebusch
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Lakshmi Pulakat
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chetan P Hans
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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