Influence of dual-specificity protein phosphatase 5 on mechanical properties of rat cerebral and renal arterioles

Impact of knockout of dual-specificity protein phosphatase 5 on structural and mechanical properties of rat middle cerebral arteries: implications for vascular aging

Vascular aging influences hemodynamics, elevating risks for vascular diseases and dementia. We recently demonstrated that knockout (KO) of Dusp5 enhances cerebral and renal hemodynamics and cognitive function. This improvement correlates with elevated pPKC and pERK1/2 levels in the brain and kidneys. Additionally, we observed that Dusp5 KO modulates the passive mechanical properties of cerebral and renal arterioles, associated with increased myogenic tone at low pressure, enhanced distensibility, greater compliance, and reduced stiffness. The present study evaluates the structural and mechanical properties of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in Dusp5 KO rats. We found that vascular smooth muscle cell layers and the collagen content in the MCA wall are comparable between Dusp5 KO and control rats. The internal elastic lamina in the MCA of Dusp5 KO rats exhibits increased thickness, higher autofluorescence intensity, smaller fenestrae areas, and fewer fenestrations. Despite an enhanced myogenic response and tone of the MCA in Dusp5 KO rats, other passive mechanical properties, such as wall thickness, cross-sectional area, wall-to-lumen ratio, distensibility, incremental elasticity, circumferential wall stress, and elastic modulus, do not significantly differ between strains. These findings suggest that while Dusp5 KO has a limited impact on altering the structural and mechanical properties of MCA, its primary role in ameliorating hemodynamics and cognitive functions is likely attributable to its enzymatic activity on cerebral arterioles. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific enzymatic mechanisms and explore potential clinical applications in the context of vascular aging.

Role of Dusp5 KO on Vascular Properties of Middle Cerebral Artery in Rats

Vascular aging influences hemodynamics, elevating risks for vascular diseases and dementia. We recently demonstrated that knockout (KO) of Dusp5 enhances cerebral and renal hemodynamics and cognitive function. This improvement correlates with elevated pPKC and pERK1/2 levels in the brain and kidneys. Additionally, we observed that Dusp5 KO modulates the passive mechanical properties of cerebral and renal arterioles, associated with increased myogenic tone at low pressure, enhanced distensibility, greater compliance, and reduced stiffness. The present study evaluates the structural and mechanical properties of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in Dusp5 KO rats. We found that vascular smooth muscle cell layers and the collagen content in the MCA wall are comparable between Dusp5 KO and control rats. The internal elastic lamina in the MCA of Dusp5 KO rats exhibits increased thickness, higher autofluorescence intensity, smaller fenestrae areas, and fewer fenestrations. Despite an enhanced myogenic response and tone of the MCA in Dusp5 KO rats, other passive mechanical properties, such as wall thickness, cross-sectional area, wall-to-lumen ratio, distensibility, incremental elasticity, circumferential wall stress, and elastic modulus, do not significantly differ between strains. These findings suggest that while Dusp5 KO has a limited impact on altering the structural and mechanical properties of MCA, its primary role in ameliorating hemodynamics and cognitive functions is likely attributable to its enzymatic activity on cerebral arterioles. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific enzymatic mechanisms and explore potential clinical applications in the context of vascular aging.

Amyloid beta accumulation in TgF344-AD rats is associated with reduced cerebral capillary endothelial Kir2.1 expression and neurovascular uncoupling

Alzheimer's disease (AD) exerts a tremendous socio-economic burden worldwide. Although reduced cerebral blood flow is an early and persistent symptom that precedes the loss of cognitive function in AD, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain unclear. The present study investigated whether capillary endothelial inward rectifier potassium 2 (Kir2.1) expression is reduced in TgF344-AD (AD) rats and contributes to neurovascular uncoupling and cognitive deficits in AD. Three- to fourteen-month-old AD rats expressing mutant human APP and PS1 and age-matched wild-type (WT) F344 rats were studied. AD rats exhibited higher amyloid beta (Aβ) expression in the brain as early as 3 months of age and amyloid plaques by 4 months of age. Functional hyperemic responses induced by whisker stimulation were impaired at 4 months of age, which were exacerbated in 6-month- and 14-month-old AD rats. The expression of Kir2.1 protein was significantly lower in the brains of 6-month-old AD versus WT rats, and Kir2.1 coverage was lower in the cerebral microvasculature of AD than in WT rats. Aβ1-42 reduced the Kir2.1 expression in cultured capillary endothelial cells. Cerebral parenchymal arterioles with attached capillaries exhibited a reduced vasodilator in response to 10 mM K+ applied to capillaries, and constricted less following administration of a Kir2.1 channel blocker, compared to WT vessels. These results indicate that capillary endothelial Kir2.1 expression is reduced and contributes to impaired functional hyperemia in AD rats at early ages, perhaps secondary to elevated Aβ expression.

Longitudinal characterization of cerebral hemodynamics in the TgF344-AD rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global healthcare crisis. The TgF344-AD rat is an AD model exhibiting age-dependent AD pathological hallmarks. We confirmed that AD rats developed cognitive deficits at 6 months without alteration of any other major biophysical parameters. We longitudinally characterized cerebral hemodynamics in AD rats at 3, 4, 6, and 14 months. The myogenic responses of the cerebral arteries and arterioles were impaired at 4 months of age in the AD rats. Consistent with the ex vivo results, the AD rat exhibited poor autoregulation of surface and deep cortical cerebral blood flow 2 months preceding cognitive decline. The dysfunction of cerebral hemodynamics in AD is exacerbated with age associated with reduced cerebral perfusion. Further, abolished cell contractility contributes to cerebral hemodynamics imbalance in AD. This may be attributed to enhanced ROS production, reduced mitochondrial respiration and ATP production, and disrupted actin cytoskeleton in cerebral vascular contractile cells.

Enhanced Cerebral Hemodynamics and Cognitive Function Via Knockout of Dual-Specificity Protein Phosphatase 5

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) are neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies suggest that cerebral hypoperfusion is an early symptom of AD/ADRD. Dual-specificity protein phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) has been implicated in several pathological conditions, including pulmonary hypertension and cancer, but its role in AD/ADRD remains unclear. The present study builds on our previous findings, demonstrating that inhibition of ERK and PKC leads to a dose-dependent dilation of the middle cerebral artery and penetrating arteriole, with a more pronounced effect in Dusp5 KO rats. Both ERK and PKC inhibitors resulted in a significant reduction of myogenic tone in vessels from Dusp5 KO rats. Dusp5 KO rats exhibited stronger autoregulation of the surface but not deep cortical cerebral blood flow. Inhibition of ERK and PKC significantly enhanced the contractile capacity of vascular smooth muscle cells from both strains. Finally, a significant improvement in learning and memory was observed in Dusp5 KO rats 24 hours after initial training. Our results suggest that altered vascular reactivity in Dusp5 KO rats may involve distinct mechanisms for different vascular beds, and DUSP5 deletion could be a potential therapeutic target for AD/ADRD. Further investigations are necessary to determine the effects of DUSP5 inhibition on capillary stalling, blood-brain barrier permeability, and neurodegeneration in aging and disease models.

Impact of impaired cerebral blood flow autoregulation on cognitive impairment

Although the causes of cognitive impairment are multifactorial, emerging evidence indicates that cerebrovascular dysfunction plays an essential role in dementia. One of the most critical aspects of cerebrovascular dysfunction is autoregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF), mainly mediated by the myogenic response, which is often impaired in dementia individuals with comorbidities, such as diabetes and hypertension. However, many unsolved questions remain. How do cerebrovascular networks coordinately modulate CBF autoregulation in health and disease? Does poor CBF autoregulation have an impact on cognitive impairment, and what are the underlying mechanisms? This review summarizes the cerebral vascular structure and myogenic (a three-phase model), metabolic (O2, CO2, adenosine, and H+), and endothelial (shear stress) factors in the regulation of CBF; and the consequences of CBF dysautoregulation. Other factors contributing to cerebrovascular dysfunction, such as impaired functional hyperemia and capillary abnormalities, are included as well. Moreover, this review highlights recent studies from our lab in terms of novel mechanisms involved in CBF autoregulation and addresses a hypothesis that there is a three-line of defense for CBF autoregulation in the cerebral vasculature.

From 1901 to 2022, how far are we from truly understanding the pathogenesis of age-related dementia?

From the first described AD case in 1901 to the current year 2022, understanding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia has undergone a long and tortuous journey. Many mechanisms of AD etiology have been proposed and studied. However, current medications and FDA-approved treatments cannot cure AD and AD-related dementias (AD/ADRD). Recently, brain hypoperfusion associated with neurovascular dysfunction was recognized as one of the causal factors in the development of AD dementia. Arteriosclerotic changes were observed in the first AD case. A recent study reported that the functional hyperemic response to whisker stimulation was reduced in 9-12 months old atherosclerotic mice. Interestingly, they found that evoked hemodynamic responses were not altered in age-matched AD mice or AD mice with superimposed atherosclerosis using 2D-optical imaging spectroscopy in chronic studies. However, functional hyperemia was impaired in AD mice using the same approach in an acute study. It is essential to scrutinize the available data critically since different genetic backgrounds, ages, sexes of studied animal models, and different approaches used for the same function even structural examination may provide opposite information. We certainly are closer to truly understanding the pathogenesis of dementia. We expect positive results from using aducanumab (Aduhelm®) as the first FDA-approved anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody as a treatment for AD/ADRD. We hope to identify and develop new drugs targeting other potential contributing mechanisms such as the cerebral vascular pathways.

Contribution of cerebral microvascular mechanisms to age-related cognitive impairment and dementia

Cognitive impairment and dementia are significant health burdens worldwide. Aging, hypertension, and diabetes are the primary risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). There are no effective treatments for AD/ADRD to date. An emerging body of evidence indicates that cerebral vascular dysfunction and hypoperfusion precedes the development of other AD pathological phenotypes and cognitive impairment. However, vascular contribution to dementia is not currently well understood. This commentary highlights the emerging concepts and mechanisms underlying the microvascular contribution to AD/ADRD, including hypotheses targeting the anterograde and retrograde cerebral vascular pathways, as well as the cerebral capillaries and the venous system. We also briefly discuss vascular endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular senescence that may contribute to impaired cerebral blood flow autoregulation, neurovascular uncoupling, and dysfunction of cerebral capillaries and the venous system.

Luseogliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, reverses cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairments in 18-mo-old diabetic animals

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading risk factor for age-related dementia, but the mechanisms involved are not well understood. We previously discovered that hyperglycemia induced impaired myogenic response (MR) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation in 18-mo-old DM rats associated with blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage, impaired neurovascular coupling, and cognitive impairment. In the present study, we examined whether reducing plasma glucose with a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) luseogliflozin can ameliorate cerebral vascular and cognitive function in diabetic rats. Plasma glucose and HbA1c levels of 18-mo-old DM rats were reduced, and blood pressure was not altered after treatment with luseogliflozin. SGLT2i treatment restored the impaired MR of middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and parenchymal arterioles and surface and deep cortical CBF autoregulation in DM rats. Luseogliflozin treatment also rescued neurovascular uncoupling, reduced BBB leakage and cognitive deficits in DM rats. However, SGLT2i did not have direct constrictive effects on vascular smooth muscle cells and MCAs isolated from normal rats, although it decreased reactive oxygen species production in cerebral vessels of DM rats. These results provide evidence that normalization of hyperglycemia with an SGLT2i can reverse cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairments in rats with long-standing hyperglycemia, possibly by ameliorating oxidative stress-caused vascular damage.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that luseogliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, improved CBF autoregulation in association with reduced vascular oxidative stress and AGEs production in the cerebrovasculature of 18-mo-old DM rats. SGLT2i also prevented BBB leakage, impaired functional hyperemia, neurodegeneration, and cognitive impairment seen in DM rats. Luseogliflozin did not have direct constrictive effects on VSMCs and MCAs isolated from normal rats. These results provide evidence that normalization of hyperglycemia with an SGLT2i can reverse cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairments in rats with long-standing hyperglycemia, possibly by ameliorating oxidative stress-caused vascular damage.

The adducin saga: pleiotropic genomic targets for precision medicine in human hypertension-vascular, renal, and cognitive diseases

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for stroke, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, vascular cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Previous genetic studies have nominated hundreds of genes linked to hypertension, and renal and cognitive diseases. Some have been advanced as candidate genes by showing that they can alter blood pressure or renal and cerebral vascular function in knockout animals; however, final validation of the causal variants and underlying mechanisms has remained elusive. This review chronicles 40 years of work, from the initial identification of adducin (ADD) as an ACTIN-binding protein suggested to increase blood pressure in Milan hypertensive rats, to the discovery of a mutation in ADD1 as a candidate gene for hypertension in rats that were subsequently linked to hypertension in man. More recently, a recessive K572Q mutation in ADD3 was identified in Fawn-Hooded Hypertensive (FHH) and Milan Normotensive (MNS) rats that develop renal disease, which is absent in resistant strains. ADD3 dimerizes with ADD1 to form functional ADD protein. The mutation in ADD3 disrupts a critical ACTIN-binding site necessary for its interactions with actin and spectrin to regulate the cytoskeleton. Studies using Add3 KO and transgenic strains, as well as a genetic complementation study in FHH and MNS rats, confirmed that the K572Q mutation in ADD3 plays a causal role in altering the myogenic response and autoregulation of renal and cerebral blood flow, resulting in increased susceptibility to hypertension-induced renal disease and cerebral vascular and cognitive dysfunction.

DUSP5-mediated inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation suppresses pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with structural remodeling of pulmonary arteries (PAs) because of excessive proliferation of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The peptide hormone angiotensin II (ANG II) contributes to pulmonary vascular remodeling, in part, through its ability to trigger extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) activation. Here, we demonstrate that the ERK1/2 phosphatase, dual-specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5), functions as a negative regulator of ANG II-mediated SMC proliferation and PH. In contrast to wild-type controls, Dusp5 null mice infused with ANG II developed PH and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy. PH in Dusp5 null mice was associated with thickening of the medial layer of small PAs, suggesting an in vivo role for DUSP5 as a negative regulator of ANG II-dependent SMC proliferation. Consistent with this, overexpression of DUSP5 blocked ANG II-mediated proliferation of cultured human pulmonary artery SMCs (hPASMCs) derived from patients with idiopathic PH or from failed donor controls. Collectively, the data support a role for DUSP5 as a feedback inhibitor of ANG II-mediated ERK signaling and PASMC proliferation and suggest that disruption of this circuit leads to adverse cardiopulmonary remodeling.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) serve critical roles in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, but their functions in the cardiovascular system remain poorly defined. Here, we provide evidence that DUSP5, which resides in the nucleus and specifically dephosphorylates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), blocks pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. In response to angiotensin II infusion, mice lacking DUSP5 develop pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular cardiac hypertrophy. These findings illustrate DUSP5-mediated suppression of ERK signaling in the lungs as a protective mechanism.

Arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, arteriolosclerosis, and Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis: what is the difference?

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in contemporary times. Arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, arteriolosclerosis, and Monckeberg's arteriosclerosis are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different vascular pathologies. The objective of this study is to review the concepts of atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis (MMCS). The term arteriosclerosis is more generic, meaning the stiffening and consequent loss of elasticity of the arterial wall, and encompasses the other terms. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease secondary to lesions in the intimal layer and whose main complication is acute and chronic obstruction of the arterial lumen. Arteriolosclerosis refers to thickening of arterioles, particularly in association with systemic arterial hypertension. MMCS refers to non-obstructive calcification in the internal elastic lamina or the tunica media of muscular arteries. Vascular calcifications, which include atherosclerotic lesions and MMCS, have been studied as a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

20-HETE-promoted cerebral blood flow autoregulation is associated with enhanced pericyte contractility

We previously reported that deficiency in 20-HETE or CYP4A impaired the myogenic response and autoregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in rats. The present study demonstrated that CYP4A was coexpressed with alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and most pericytes along parenchymal arteries (PAs) isolated from SD rats. Cell contractile capabilities of cerebral VSMCs and pericytes were reduced with a 20-HETE synthesis inhibitor, HET0016, but restored with 20-HETE analog WIT003. Similarly, intact myogenic responses of the middle cerebral artery and PA of SD rats decreased with HET0016 and were rescued by WIT003. The myogenic response of the PA was abolished in SS and was restored in SS.BN5 and SS.Cyp4a1 rats. HET0016 enhanced CBF and impaired its autoregulation in the surface and deep cortex of SD rats. These results demonstrate that 20-HETE has a direct effect on cerebral mural cell contractility that may play an essential role in controlling cerebral vascular function.

Role of γ-adducin in actin cytoskeleton rearrangements in podocyte pathophysiology

We recently reported that the enhanced susceptibility to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the fawn-hooded hypertensive (FHH) rat is caused, at least in part, by a mutation in γ-adducin (ADD3) that attenuates renal vascular function. The present study explored whether Add3 contributes to the modulation of podocyte structure and function using FHH and FHH.Add3 transgenic rats. The expression of ADD3 on the membrane of primary podocytes isolated from FHH was reduced compared with FHH.Add3 transgenic rats. We found that F-actin nets, which are typically localized in the lamellipodia, replaced unbranched stress fibers in conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes transfected with Add3 Dicer-substrate short interfering RNA (DsiRNA) and primary podocytes isolated from FHH rats. There were increased F/G-actin ratios and expression of the Arp2/3 complexes throughout FHH podocytes in association with reduced synaptopodin and RhoA but enhanced Rac1 and CDC42 expression in the renal cortex, glomeruli, and podocytes of FHH rats. The expression of nephrin at the slit diaphragm and the levels of focal adhesion proteins integrin-α3 and integrin-β1 were decreased in the glomeruli of FHH rats. Cell migration was enhanced and adhesion was reduced in podocytes of FHH rats as well as in immortalized mouse podocytes transfected with Add3 DsiRNA. Mean arterial pressures were similar in FHH and FHH.Add3 transgenic rats at 16 wk of age; however, FHH rats exhibited enhanced proteinuria associated with podocyte foot process effacement. These results demonstrate that reduced ADD3 function in FHH rats alters baseline podocyte pathophysiology by rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton at the onset of proteinuria in young animals.

Genetic susceptibility of hypertension-induced kidney disease

Hypertension is the second leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after diabetes mellitus. The significant differences in the incidence of hypertensive ESRD between different patient populations worldwide and patients with and without family history indicate that genetic determinants play an important role in the onset and progression of this disease. Recent studies have identified genetic variants and pathways that may contribute to the alteration of renal function. Mechanisms involved include affecting renal hemodynamics (the myogenic and tubuloglomerular feedback responses); increasing the production of reactive oxygen species in the tubules; altering immune cell function; changing the number, structure, and function of podocytes that directly cause glomerular damage. Studies with hypertensive animal models using substitution mapping and gene knockout strategies have identified multiple candidate genes associated with the development of hypertension and subsequent renal injury. Genome-wide association studies have implicated genetic variants in UMOD, MYH9, APOL-1, SHROOM3, RAB38, and DAB2 have a higher risk for ESRD in hypertensive patients. These findings provide genetic evidence of potential novel targets for drug development and gene therapy to design individualized treatment of hypertension and related renal injury.

Duration and magnitude of bidirectional fluctuation in blood pressure: the link between cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment following spinal cord injury

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a significantly increased risk for cognitive impairment that is associated with cerebrovascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction. The sub-acute stage following high thoracic SCI is characterized by increased fibrosis and stiffness of cerebral arteries. However, a more prolonged duration after SCI exacerbates cerebrovascular injury by damaging endothelium. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with reduced expression of transient receptor potential cation channel 4 that mediates the production of nitric oxide and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids following shear stress and the response to carbachol and other endothelium-dependent vasodilators. Reduced expression of CD31 in cerebral arteries also suggests the loss of endothelial cell integrity following chronic SCI. Repetitively transient hypertension and intermittent hypotension contribute to cerebrovascular endothelial dysfunction in the animals with a sub-acute stage of high thoracic SCI. The increase in vascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction ultimately reduce cerebral blood flow, which promotes cerebral hypoperfusion and cognitive dysfunction in the chronic phase of SCI. In conclusion, the duration and magnitude of fluctuations in blood pressure after SCI play a vital role in the onset and progress of cerebrovascular dysfunction, which promotes the development of cognitive impairment.

Reduced pericyte and tight junction coverage in old diabetic rats are associated with hyperglycemia-induced cerebrovascular pericyte dysfunction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the primary pathological factors that contributes to aging-related cognitive impairments, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We recently reported that old DM rats exhibited impaired myogenic responses of the cerebral arteries and arterioles, poor cerebral blood flow autoregulation, enhanced blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage, and cognitive impairments. These changes were associated with diminished vascular smooth muscle cell contractile capability linked to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced ATP production. In the present study, using a nonobese T2DN DM rat, we isolated parenchymal arterioles (PAs), cultured cerebral microvascular pericytes, and examined whether cerebrovascular pericyte in DM is damaged and whether pericyte dysfunction may play a role in the regulation of cerebral hemodynamics and BBB integrity. We found that ROS and mitochondrial superoxide production were elevated in PAs isolated from old DM rats and in high glucose (HG)-treated α-smooth muscle actin-positive pericytes. HG-treated pericytes displayed decreased contractile capability in association with diminished mitochondrial respiration and ATP production. Additionally, the expression of advanced glycation end products, transforming growth factor-β, vascular endothelial growth factor, and fibronectin were enhanced, but claudin 5 and integrin β1 was reduced in the brain of old DM rats and HG-treated pericytes. Further, endothelial tight junction and pericyte coverage on microvessels were reduced in the cortex of old DM rats. These results demonstrate our previous findings that the impaired cerebral hemodynamics and BBB leakage and cognitive impairments in the same old DM model are associated with hyperglycemia-induced cerebrovascular pericyte dysfunction.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that the loss of contractile capability in pericytes in diabetes is associated with enhanced ROS and reduced ATP production. Enhanced advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in diabetes accompany with reduced pericyte and endothelial tight junction coverage in the cortical capillaries of old diabetic rats. These results suggest our previous findings that the impaired cerebral hemodynamics, BBB leakage, and cognitive impairments in old DM model are associated with hyperglycemia-induced cerebrovascular pericyte dysfunction.

Impaired renal hemodynamics and glomerular hyperfiltration contribute to hypertension-induced renal injury

Recently, we reported a mutation in γ-adducin (ADD3) was associated with an impaired myogenic response of the afferent arteriole and hypertension-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in fawn hooded hypertensive (FHH) rats. However, the mechanisms by which altered renal blood flow (RBF) autoregulation promotes hypertension-induced renal injury remain to be determined. The present study compared the time course of changes in renal hemodynamics and the progression of CKD during the development of DOCA-salt hypertension in FHH 1^BN congenic rats [wild-type (WT)] with an intact myogenic response versus FHH 1^BN Add3KO (Add3KO) rats, which have impaired myogenic response. RBF was well autoregulated in WT rats but not in Add3KO rats. Glomerular capillary pressure rose by 6 versus 14 mmHg in WT versus Add3KO rats when blood pressure increased from 100 to 150 mmHg. After 1 wk of hypertension, glomerular filtration rate increased by 38% and glomerular nephrin expression decreased by 20% in Add3KO rats. Neither were altered in WT rats. Proteinuria doubled in WT rats versus a sixfold increase in Add3KO rats. The degree of renal injury was greater in Add3KO than WT rats after 3 wk of hypertension. RBF, glomerular filtration rate, and glomerular capillary pressure were lower by 20%, 28%, and 19% in Add3KO rats than in WT rats, which was associated with glomerular matrix expansion and loss of capillary filtration area. The results indicated that impaired RBF autoregulation and eutrophic remodeling of preglomerular arterioles increase the transmission of pressure to glomeruli, which induces podocyte loss and accelerates the progression of CKD in hypertensive Add3KO rats.

Aging exacerbates impairments of cerebral blood flow autoregulation and cognition in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading risk factor for aging-related dementia; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The present study, utilizing a non-obese T2DN diabetic model, demonstrates that the myogenic response of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and parenchymal arteriole (PA) and autoregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the surface and deep cortex were impaired at both young and old ages. The impaired CBF autoregulation was more severe in old than young DM rats, and in the deep than the surface cortex. The myogenic tone of the MCA was enhanced at perfusion pressure in the range of 40-100 mmHg in young DM rats but was reduced at 140-180 mmHg in old DM rats. No change of the myogenic tone of the PA was observed in young DM rats, whereas it was significantly reduced at 30-60 mmHg in old DM rats. Old DM rats had enhanced blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage and neurodegeneration, reduced vascular density, tight junction, and pericyte coverage on cerebral capillaries in the CA3 region in the hippocampus. Additionally, DM rats displayed impaired functional hyperemia and spatial learning and short- and long-term memory at both young and old ages. Old DM rats had impaired non-spatial short-term memory. These results revealed that impaired CBF autoregulation and enhanced BBB leakage plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of age- and diabetes-related dementia. These findings will lay the foundations for the discovery of anti-diabetic therapies targeting restoring CBF autoregulation to prevent the onset and progression of dementia in elderly DM.

Vascular-Cognitive Impairment following High-Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury Is Associated with Structural and Functional Maladaptations in Cerebrovasculature

Individuals living with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) often exhibit impairments in cognitive function, which impede their rehabilitation and transition into the community. Although a number of clinical studies have demonstrated the impact of impaired cardiovascular control on cognitive impairment, the mechanistic understanding of this deleterious relationship is still lacking. The present study investigates whether chronic disruption of cardiovascular control following experimental SCI results in cerebrovascular decline and vascular cognitive impairment. Fourteen weeks following a high thoracic SCI (at the third thoracic segment), rats were subjected to a battery of in vivo and in vitro physiological assessments, cognitive-behavioral tests, and immunohistochemical approaches to investigate changes in cerebrovascular structure and function in the middle cerebral artery (MCA). We show that in the MCA of rats with SCI, there is a 55% (SCI vs. control: 13.4 ± 1.9% vs. 29.63 ± 2.8%, respectively) reduction in the maximal vasodilator response to carbachol, which is associated with reduced expression of endothelial marker cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) and transient receptor potential cation channel 4 (TRPV 4) channels. Compared with controls, MCAs in rats with SCI were found to have 50% (SCI vs. control: 1.5 ± 0.2 vs. 1 ± 0.1 a.u., respectively) more collagen 1 in the media of vascular wall and 37% (SCI vs. control: 30.5 ± 2.9% vs. 42.0 ± 4.0%, respectively) less distensibility at physiological intraluminal pressure. Further, the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the hippocampus was reduced by 32% in the SCI group (SCI vs. control: 44.3 ± 4.5 mL/100 g/min vs. 65.0 ± 7.2 mL/100 g/min, respectively) in association with impairment of short-term memory based on a novel object recognition test. There were no changes in the sympathetic innervation of the vasculature and passive structure in the SCI group. Chronic experimental SCI is associated with structural alterations and endothelial dysfunction in cerebral arteries that likely contribute to significantly reduced CBF and vascular cognitive impairment.