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ABSTRACT: Angiotensin II type I receptor agonistic autoantibodies (AT1-AA) are related to pre-eclampsia and hypertension and have a direct effect of stimulating the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the placenta. TNF-α is a known mediator of apoptosis. However, few studies have reported the role of TNF-α and its relationship within AT1-AA-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. In this study, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with various concentrations of AT1-AA. The apoptosis of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was determined using TUNEL assay and flow cytometry. The level of secreted TNF-α was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and caspase-3 activity was measured by a fluorogenic protease assay kit. AT1 receptor blockade and TNF inhibitor were added to determine whether they could inhibit the apoptotic effect of AT1-AA. Results showed that AT1-AA induced the apoptosis of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. AT1-AA increased TNF secretion and caspase-3 activities. AT1 receptor blockade completely abrogated AT1-AA-induced TNF-α secretion, caspase-3 activation, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. TNF-α receptor inhibitor significantly attenuated AT1-AA-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis. AT1-AA in the plasma of pre-eclamptic patients promoted neonatal rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis through a TNF-caspase signaling pathway.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica 10/2012; · 1.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Angiotensin II (Ang II) is known to induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by activating the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor. Some studies have demonstrated that the autoantibodies against angiotensin AT1 receptor (AT1-AAs) cause functional effects, which is similar to those observed for the natural agonist Ang II. In this study, we investigated the effects of AT1-AAs on cardiomyocytes' structure and function. Male Wistar rats were immunized with synthetic peptides corresponding to the second extracellular loop of AT1 receptor and Freund's adjuvant. The titers of AT1-AAs in rat serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay every week. Hemodynamic analysis and heart weight (HW) indices were measured on the 4th and 8th months after initial immunization, respectively. Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were used to observe the hypertrophic effects of AT1-AAs. Results showed that systolic blood pressure and heart rate were significantly increased, the titers of AT1-AAs were also increased after 4 weeks of initial immunization. Compared with control group, the HW/body weight (BW) and left ventricular weight/BW of immunized rats were increased significantly and cardiac function was enhanced compensatively. The cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes respond to AT1-AAs stimulation with increased (3)H-leucine incorporation and cell surface area in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the AT1-AAs have an agonist effect similar to Ang II in hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes in vivo and in vitro. AT1-AAs are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica 12/2011; 43(12):970-6. · 1.38 Impact Factor
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WenHui Zhang,
Laurence Fievez,
Fan Zhang,
Esteban Cheu,
Nadine Antoine,
Catherine Delguste,
Yong Zhang,
WeiFang Rong,
Fabrice Bureau,
Charles Advenier,
Pascal Gustin
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ABSTRACT: The anti-inflammatory properties of inhaled formoterol and ipratropium bromide, alone or in combination, were investigated in a rat model of chronic pulmonary inflammation with airspace enlargement induced by cadmium inhalation. At the end of the protocol, cadmium-induced increase of airway resistance was prevented by formoterol (4 mg/30 ml) or ipratropium (0.20 mg/20 ml). Formoterol elicited a significant decrease in total cell and neutrophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as on the activity of gelatinase B (MMP-9), an enzyme strongly expressed in alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells. Additionally, a significant attenuation of the lung lesions characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration within the alveoli and the interstitium and a decrease in mean linear intercept were observed. Although ipratropium alone had no effects on the cadmium-induced pulmonary inflammation and emphysema, its combination with an inefficient concentration of formoterol (1 mg/30 ml) showed a synergistic inhibitory effect on neutrophil and total cell counts as well as on the mean linear intercept associated with a synergistic inhibition on the MMP-9 activity. Gelatinase A (MMP-2) activity was not influenced by drug pretreatments. Neither macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) activity nor levels of cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α and GM-CSF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were modified in rats chronically exposed to cadmium. No desensitization of β(2)-adrenoceptors or cholinergic receptors on airway smooth muscles and inflammatory cells during the protocol was observed. In conclusion, formoterol alone or combined with ipratropium bromide partially protects the lungs against the chronic inflammation and airspace enlargement by reducing neutrophilic infiltration possibly via the inhibition of MMP-9 activity.
European journal of pharmacology 11/2010; 647(1-3):178-87. · 2.59 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this study, the anti-inflammatory properties of formoterol and ipratropium bromide, alone or in combination, were investigated in a rat model of acute pulmonary inflammation induced by cadmium inhalation. Airway resistance and inflammatory responses, including matrix metalloproteinease-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinease-9 (MMP-9) activities, were evaluated. Compared to values obtained in rats exposed to cadmium, pretreatment by bronchodilators administered alone significantly prevented the cadmium-induced increase of airway resistance. Formoterol elicited a significant decrease in total cell number, neutrophil and macrophage counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, whereas ipratropium bromide reduced neutrophil numbers. The two compounds administered alone significantly attenuated the lung lesions associated with parenchyma inflammatory cell influx and congestion observed in the cadmium group. The increased MMP-9 activity was significantly attenuated. Although only formoterol induced a decrease protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, both compounds inhibited the pulmonary edema by reducing wet-to-dry weight ratio which returned to values similar to those recorded in the sham group. All the effects of formoterol on the cadmium-induced inflammatory responses were reversed by propranolol. Similar anti-inflammatory effects were obtained in rats pretreated with ilomastat which showed a significant reduction on inflammatory cell infiltration and MMP-9 activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Neither synergistic nor additive effects were obtained when the two bronchodilators were administered in combination. In conclusion, formoterol and ipratropium bromide partially protect the lungs against the inflammation by reducing neutrophilic infiltration. This protective effect is associated with reduced MMP-9 activity known to play an important pro-inflammatory role in acute inflammatory process.
European journal of pharmacology 11/2009; 628(1-3):171-8. · 2.59 Impact Factor
