Obligatory Role for B Cells in the Development of Angiotensin II-Dependent Hypertension.

Clinical hypertension is associated with raised serum IgG antibodies. However, whether antibodies are causative agents in hypertension remains unknown. We investigated whether hypertension in mice is associated with B-cell activation and IgG production and moreover whether B-cell/IgG deficiency affords protection against hypertension and vascular remodeling. Angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion (0.7 mg/kg per day; 28 days) was associated with (1) a 25% increase in the proportion of splenic B cells expressing the activation marker CD86, (2) an 80% increase in splenic plasma cell numbers, (3) a 500% increase in circulating IgG, and (4) marked IgG accumulation in the aortic adventitia. In B-cell-activating factor receptor-deficient (BAFF-R(-/-)) mice, which lack mature B cells, there was no evidence of Ang II-induced increases in serum IgG. Furthermore, the hypertensive response to Ang II was attenuated in BAFF-R(-/-) (Δ30±4 mm Hg) relative to wild-type (Δ41±5 mm Hg) mice, and this response was rescued by B-cell transfer. BAFF-R(-/-) mice displayed reduced IgG accumulation in the aorta, which was associated with 80% fewer aortic macrophages and a 70% reduction in transforming growth factor-ß expression. BAFF-R(-/-) mice were also protected from Ang II-induced collagen deposition and aortic stiffening (assessed by pulse wave velocity analysis). Finally, like BAFF-R deficiency, pharmacological depletion of B cells with an anti-CD20 antibody attenuated Ang II-induced hypertension by ≈35%. Hence, these studies demonstrate that B cells/IgGs are crucial for the development of Ang II-induced hypertension and vessel remodeling in mice. Thus, B-cell-targeted therapies-currently used for autoimmune diseases-may hold promise as future treatments for hypertension.

M2 macrophage accumulation in the aortic wall during angiotensin II infusion in mice is associated with fibrosis, elastin loss, and elevated blood pressure.

Macrophages accumulate in blood vessels during hypertension. However, their contribution to vessel remodeling is unknown. In the present study, we examined the polarization state of macrophages (M1/M2) in aortas of mice during hypertension and investigated whether antagonism of chemokine receptors involved in macrophage accumulation reduces vessel remodeling and blood pressure (BP). Mice treated with ANG II (0.7 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1), 14 days) had elevated systolic BP (158 ± 3 mmHg) compared with saline-treated animals (122 ± 3 mmHg). Flow cytometry revealed that ANG II infusion increased numbers of CD45(+)CD11b(+)Ly6C(hi) monocytes and CD45(+)CD11b(+)F4/80(+) macrophages by 10- and 2-fold, respectively. The majority of macrophages were positive for the M2 marker CD206 but negative for the M1 marker inducible nitric oxide synthase. Expression of other M2 genes (arginase-1, Fc receptor-like S scavenger receptor, and receptor-1) was elevated in aortas from ANG II-treated mice, whereas M1 genes [TNF and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2] were unaltered. A PCR array to identify chemokine receptor targets for intervention revealed chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) to be upregulated in aortas from ANG II-treated mice, while flow cytometry identified Ly6C(hi) monocytes as the main CCR2-expressing cell type. Intervention with a CCR2 antagonist (INCB3344; 30 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)), 7 days after the commencement of ANG II infusion, reduced aortic macrophage numbers. INCB334 also reduced aortic collagen deposition, elastin loss, and BP in ANG II-treated mice. Thus, ANG II-dependent hypertension in mice is associated with Ly6C(hi) monocyte and M2 macrophage accumulation in the aorta. Inhibition of macrophage accumulation with a CCR2 antagonist prevents ANG II-induced vessel fibrosis and elevated BP, highlighting this as a promising approach for the future treatment of vessel remodeling/stiffening in hypertension.