[Alteration of signal transduction-associated gene expression in rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by blocking angiotensin II receptors].

To investigate the molecular mechanism of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor activation in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts, the expressions of cell signal transduction-associated genes were studied by using cDNA microarray. Cardiac fibroblasts of adult Sprague-Dawley rats (230~250 g) were isolated and cultured. The cells were divided into 4 groups: Ang II, Ang II + losartan, Ang II + PD123319, Ang II + losartan + PD123319. The expressions of Ang II receptors were studied by immunohistochemical staining. Total RNA was extracted and purified. After cDNA synthesis and biotin-16-dUTP labeling, the probes were denatured and hybridized with GEArray Q Series mouse G Protein-coupled Receptors Signaling Pathway Finder Gene Array (MM-025) containing 96 genes associated with 11 pathways. The arrays were scanned with a Uniscand1000 scanner and further analyzed with GEArray Analyzer software. RT-PCR was used to further confirm the results of gene microarray. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of Ang II type 2 (AT2) receptor was evidently induced by Ang II stimulation when Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor was blocked. The results of gene array indicated that blocking AT1 receptor changed 34 genes (more than 2 folds), 30 were down-regulated and 4 were up-regulated. The maximum change was not beyond 20 folds. The following 9 pathways were activated: cAMP/PKA, Ca2+, PKC, PLC, MAPK, PI-3 kinase, NO-cGMP, Rho, NF-kappaB pathways. Blockade of AT2 receptor caused 64 genes changing more than 2 folds (48 were down-regulated and 16 were up-regulated). Eleven pathways were basically activated. The change of the following 7 genes was over 30 folds: Cyp19a1 (37 folds), Il1r2 (42 folds), Cflar (53 folds), Bcl21 (31 folds), Pik3cg (278 folds), Cdkn1a (90 folds), Agt (162 folds). According to the activated extent, the signal transduction pathways in turn were PI-3 kinase, NF-kappaB and JAK-STAT pathways. Blocking both AT1 and AT2 receptors changed 46 genes more than 2 folds (36 were down-regulated and 10 were up-regulated). Eleven pathways were basically activated. The results of RT-PCR of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha confirmed the observations in gene microarray. Our results show that Ang II can induce a high expression of AT2 receptor in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts when AT1 receptor is blocked, and the signal mechanism of AT2 receptor is clearly different from that of AT1 receptor.

[Identification of up-regulated genes induced by angiotensin II in cardiac fibroblasts].

To identify up-regulated genes in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts (CF) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was performed between the CF stimulated by Ang II (tester) and unstimulated CF (driver) to generate subtractive cDNA library. The library was screened with dot blots hybridization to further verify the differentially expressed cDNA clones. Partial positive clones (19 up-regulated genes) were sequenced and BLAST analyzed. Twelve up-regulated genes related to extracellular matrix, cell cycle, intracellular signal transduction, cell cytoskeleton, cell metabolism and 7 new expressed sequence tags (EST) were acquired (GenBank accession number: CN382808, CN382809, CN382810, CN382811, CN382812, CN382813, CN382814). Our data reveal that SSH is a powerful technique of high sensitivity for the detection and cloning of up-regulated genes expressed in CF induced by Ang II, which may be helpful to clarify the mechanism of cardiac remodeling.

Effects of monocyte-endothelium interactions on the expression of type IV collagenases in monocytes.

The adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells is one of the early stages in the development of atherosclerosis. The expression of type IV collagenases, which include matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, in monocytes is hypothesized to play an important role in monocyte infiltration and transformation into foam cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of monocyte-endothelium interactions on the expression levels of type IV collagenases and their specific inhibitors in monocytes, and to investigate the roles of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß in this process. Monocytes were single-cultured or co-cultured with endothelial cells. The expression of the type IV collagenases, MMP-2 and MMP-9, and their specific inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2, in monocytes was determined by immunohistochemistry followed by image analysis. The expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were found to be low in the single-culture monocytes, but increased significantly when the monocytes and endothelial cells were co-cultured. However, treatment with monoclonal TNF-α or IL-1ß antibodies partially inhibited the upregulated expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the co-cultured monocytes. Expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was observed in the single monocyte culture, and a small increase in the expression levels was observed when the monocytes were co-cultured with endothelial cells. Therefore, monocyte-endothlium interactions were shown to increase the expression of type IV collagenases in monocytes, resulting in the loss of balance between MMP-2 and -9 with TIMP-1 and -2. In addition, TNF-α and IL-1ß were demonstrated to play important roles in this process.

Experimental diabetes mellitus down-regulates large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels in cerebral artery smooth muscle and alters functional conductance.

Cerebral vascular dysfunction and associated vascular complications often develop over time in type-2 diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms are not wholly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BKCa) channels in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) were impaired in experimental model of type-2 diabetes, and the changes could account for cerebral vascular complication in type-2 diabetes. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high fat and glucose diet for 8 weeks and then injected with streptozotocin (STZ/30 mg/kg i.p.). Three months after injection of STZ, the alterations of BKCa channels were assessed by using multi-myograph system, patch-clamp, RT-PCR and Western blot. Our results show that the model is characterized by insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidemia and moderate hypertension, which resembles the clinical manifestation of patients with typre-2 diabetes. Inhibition of BKCa channels with 1 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) or 1 microM paxilline (PAX) causes smaller constriction in type-2 diabetic cerebral basilar arteries than control arteries. The contractile efficacy of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is substantially reduced by TEA or PAX pretreatment in control > diabetic basilar artery rings. The response to 5-HT in diabetic basilar artery rings is higher than that of control artery rings after activation of BKCa channels with NS1619. The whole-cell K(+) currents are significantly decreased in type-2 diabetic CASMCs compared to control, and the sensitivity of BKCa channels to voltage, the specific inhibitor and opener are all diminished in diabetic CASMCs. The expression of BKCa channel beta1, but not alpha-subunits is markedly reduced at both of mRNA and protein levels in endothelial-denudated cerebral arteries. In conclusion, type-2 diabetes downregulates BKCa channel beta1-subunits in CASMCs, resulting in reduced activity of BKCa channel, increased vascular tone and blood pressure, thereby contributing to cerebral vascular complication in type-2 diabetes.