The Role of Losartan as a Potential Neuroregenerative Pharmacological Agent after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

Background: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) remains a major cause of delayed cerebral ischaemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), making it a life-threatening type of stroke with high morbidity and mortality. Endothelin-1 is known as key player mediating a strong vasocontractile effect. Interestingly, losartan restores the impaired vasorelaxative ET(B₁) receptor function in a non-competitive direct fashion. With this study, we aimed to investigate a potential losartan-dependent vasodilatory effect vice versa by inhibiting NO release through L-NAME, thus pushing forward concepts to alleviate vasospasm and possibly prevent ischaemia and neurodegeneration. Methods: Cerebral vasospasm was induced by the use of an established double-injection rat model. Sprague-Dawley rats were culled on Day 3 after the ictus, and the vasospastic basilar artery was harvested for isometric investigations of the vessel tone. Ring segments were preincubated with and without L-NAME and/or losartan. Results: Preincubation with L-NAME induced dose-dependent vasoconstriction via endothelin-1 in the non-SAH cohort, which was dose-dependently reduced by losartan. After SAH and dose-dependent endothelin-1 administration, maximal contraction was achieved in the control group without losartan. Furthermore, this maximal contraction was significantly decreased in the losartan group and was reversed by L-NAME. Conclusions: After SAH, losartan was shown to positively influence the ET(B₁) receptor pathway in a non-competitive direct agonistic and indirect fashion. Losartan alleviated the maximum contraction triggered by endothelin-1. This effect was resolved due to NO inhibition by L-NAME. Considering this spasmolytic effect of losartan besides its already well-known effects (attenuating cerebral inflammation, restoring cerebral autoregulation and reducing epileptogenic activity) and alleviating early brain injury, losartan seems to have potential as a promising pharmacological agent after SAH.

Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on resistance artery endothelial function in stage 4 chronic kidney disease

Background

Recent studies have raised concern about the safety of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents because of evidence of increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. In the present study, we investigated the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) on endothelial function of gluteal subcutaneous resistance arteries isolated from 17 stage 4 patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate 21.9±7.4 mL/min per 1.73 m²) aged 63±13 years.

Methods and Results

Arteries were mounted on a pressurized myograph. EPO impaired endothelium‐dependent relaxation in a concentration‐dependent manner. The maximal response to acetylcholine with EPO at 1, 10, and 20 IU/mL was reduced by 12%, 34%, and 43%, respectively, compared with the absence of EPO (P<0.001). EPO‐induced endothelial dysfunction was significantly associated with carotid stiffness and history of cardiovascular events. EPO had no effect on norepinephrine‐induced vasoconstriction or sodium nitroprusside–induced relaxation. ABT‐627, an endothelin type A receptor antagonist, and tempol, a superoxide dismutase mimetic, partially reversed the altered endothelial function in the presence of EPO (P<0.01). Increased expression of endothelin‐1 was found in the vessel wall after incubation with EPO.

Conclusions

EPO alters endothelial function of resistance arteries in CKD patients via a mechanism involving in part oxidative stress and signaling through an endothelin type A receptor. EPO‐induced endothelial dysfunction could contribute to deleterious effects of EPO described in large interventional trials.