Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition ameliorates angiotensin II-dependent hypertension and renal vascular dysfunction

Changes in renal hemodynamics have a major impact on blood pressure (BP). Angiotensin (Ang) II has been shown to induce vascular dysfunction by interacting with phosphodiesterase (PDE)1 and PDE5. The predominant PDE isoform responsible for renal vascular dysfunction in hypertension is unknown. Here, we measured the effects of PDE5 (sildenafil) or PDE1 (vinpocetine) inhibition on renal blood flow (RBF), BP, and renal vascular function in normotensive and hypertensive mice. During acute short-term Ang II infusion, sildenafil decreased BP and increased RBF in C57BL/6 (WT) mice. In contrast, vinpocetine showed no effect on RBF and BP. Additionally, renal cGMP levels were significantly increased after acute sildenafil but not after vinpocetine infusion, indicating a predominant role of PDE5 in renal vasculature. Furthermore, chronic Ang II infusion (500 ng·kg^-1·min^-1) increased BP and led to impaired NO-dependent vasodilation in kidneys of WT mice. Additional treatment with sildenafil (100 mg·kg^-1·day^-1) attenuated Ang II-dependent hypertension and improved NO-mediated vasodilation. During chronic Ang II infusion, urinary nitrite excretion, a marker for renal NO generation, was increased in WT mice, whereas renal cGMP generation was decreased and restored after sildenafil treatment, suggesting a preserved cGMP signaling after PDE5 inhibition. To investigate the dependency of PDE5 effects on NO/cGMP signaling, we next analyzed eNOS-KO mice, a mouse model characterized by low vascular NO/cGMP levels. In eNOS-KO mice, chronic Ang II infusion increased BP but did not impair NO-mediated vasodilation. Moreover, sildenafil did not influence BP or vascular function in eNOS-KO mice. These results highlight PDE5 as a key regulator of renal hemodynamics in hypertension.

Chronic p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition improves vascular function and remodeling in angiotensin II-dependent hypertension

Introduction:

An excess of angiotensin II (Ang II) causes hypertension and vascular injury. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (p38-MAPK) plays a substantial role in Ang II-dependent organ damage. Recently, we showed that p38-MAPK activation regulates the pressor response to Ang II. This study evaluates the effect of chronic p38-MAPK inhibition in Ang II-dependent hypertension.

Materials and methods:

C57Bl/6J mice were infused with Ang II for 14 days and either treated with the p38-MAPK inhibitor BIRB796 (50 mg/kg/day) or the vehicle as the control. We assessed vascular function in the aorta and isolated perfused kidneys.

Results:

Chronic p38-MAPK inhibition did not alter blood pressure at the baseline, but attenuated Ang II-induced hypertension significantly (baseline: 122 ± 2 versus 119 ± 4 mmHg; Ang II: 173 ± 3 versus 155 ± 3 mmHg; p < 0.001). In addition, BIRB796 treatment improved vascular remodeling by reducing the aortic media-to-lumen ratio and decreasing the expression of the membrane metalloproteinases (MMP) MMP-1 and MMP-9. Moreover, renal vascular dysfunction induced by chronic Ang II infusion was significantly ameliorated in the BIRP796-treated mice. Acute p38-MAPK inhibition also improved vascular function in the aorta and kidneys of Ang II-treated mice, highlighting the important role of p38-MAPK activation in the pathogenesis of vascular dysfunction.

Conclusions:

Our findings indicated there is an important role for p38-MAPK in regulating blood pressure and vascular injury, and highlighted its potential as a pharmaceutical target.

Angiotensin-(1–7) Modulates Renal Vascular Resistance Through Inhibition of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Apolipoprotein E–deficient (apoE(−/−)) mice fed on Western diet are characterized by increased vascular resistance and atherosclerosis. Previously, we have shown that chronic angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7) treatment ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in apoE(−/−) mice. However, the mechanism of Ang-(1–7) on vasoconstrictor response to Ang II is unknown. To examine Ang-(1–7) function, we used apoE(−/−) and wild-type mice fed on Western diet that were treated via osmotic minipumps either with Ang-(1–7) (82 μg/kg per hour) or saline for 6 weeks. We show that Ang II–induced renal pressor response was significantly increased in apoE(−/−) compared with wild-type mice. This apoE(−/−)-specific response is attributed to reactive oxygen species–mediated p38 mitogen–activated protein kinase activation and subsequent phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC 20 ), causing renal vasoconstriction. Here, we provide evidence that chronic Ang-(1–7) treatment attenuated the renal pressor response to Ang II in apoE(−/−) mice to wild-type levels. Ang-(1–7) treatment significantly decreased renal inducible nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate subunit p47phox levels and, thus, reactive oxygen species production that in turn causes decreased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. The latter has been confirmed by administration of a specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 (5 μmol/L), causing a reduced renal pressor response to Ang II in apoE(−/−) but not in apoE(−/−) mice treated with Ang-(1–7). Moreover, Ang-(1–7) treatment had no effect in Mas(−/−)/apoE(−/−) double-knockout mice confirming the specificity of Ang-(1–7) action through the Mas-receptor. In summary, Ang-(1–7) modulates vascular function via Mas-receptor activation that attenuates pressor response to Ang II in apoE(−/−) mice by reducing reactive oxygen species–mediated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.