Increased renal vasodilator prostanoids prevent hypertension in mice lacking the angiotensin subtype-2 receptor.

The angiotensin subtype-1 (AT(1)) receptor mediates renal prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production, and pharmacological blockade of the angiotensin subtype-2 (AT(2)) receptor potentiates the action of angiotensin II (Ang II) to increase PGE(2) levels. We investigated the role of the AT(2) receptor in prostaglandin metabolism in mice with targeted deletion of the AT(2) receptor gene. Mice lacking the AT(2) receptor (AT(2)-null) had normal blood pressure that was slightly elevated compared with that of wild-type (WT) control mice. AT(2)-null mice had higher renal interstitial fluid (RIF) 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) (a stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin [PGI(2)]) and PGE(2) levels than did WT mice, and had similar increases in PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) in response to dietary sodium restriction and Ang II infusion. In contrast, AT(2)-null mice had lower PGF(2alpha) levels compared with WT mice during basal conditions and in response to dietary sodium restriction or infusion of Ang II. RIF cAMP was markedly higher in AT(2)-null mice than in WT mice, both during basal conditions and during sodium restriction or Ang II infusion. AT(1) receptor blockade with losartan decreased PGE(2), PGI(2), and cAMP to levels observed in WT mice. To determine whether increased vasodilator prostanoids prevented hypertension in AT(2)-null mice, we treated AT(2)-null and WT mice with indomethacin for 14 days. PGI(2), PGE(2), and cAMP were markedly decreased in both WT and AT(2)-null mice. Blood pressure increased to hypertensive levels in AT(2)-null mice but was unchanged in WT. These results demonstrate that in the absence of the AT(2) receptor, increased vasodilator prostanoids protect against the development of hypertension.

Evidence for angiotensin II type 2 receptor-mediated cardiac myocyte enlargement during in vivo pressure overload.

The pathophysiological roles of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT(2)) in cardiac hypertrophy remain unclear. By the targeted deletion of mouse AT(2) we were able to prevent the left ventricular hypertrophy resulting from pressure overload, while cardiac contractile functions remained normal. This implies that AT(2) is a mediator of cardiac hypertrophy in response to increased blood pressure. The effects of AT(2) deletion were independent of activation of embryonic genes for cardiac hypertrophy. However, p70(S6k), one of the key factors in cardiac hypertrophy, was markedly and specifically reduced in the ventricles of Agtr2(-)/Y mice. We propose that p70(S6k) plays a major role in AT(2)-mediated ventricular hypertrophy. This article may have been published online in advance of the print edition. The date of publication is available from the JCI website, http://www.jci.org.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor is essential for left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis in chronic angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The roles of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the regulation of heart function under normal and pathological conditions have been well documented. Although 2 types of Ang II receptor (AT(1) and AT(2)) are found in various proportions, most studies have focused on AT(1)-coupled events. In the present study, we examined the hypothesis that signaling by AT(2) is important to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis by Ang II infusion in mice lacking the AT(2) gene (Agtr2-/Y). METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Agtr2-/Y and age-matched wild-type (WT) mice were treated long-term with Ang II, infused at a rate of 4.2 ng. kg(-1). min(-1) for 3 weeks. Ang II elevated systolic blood pressure to comparable levels in Agtr2-/Y and WT mice. WT mice developed prominent concentric cardiac hypertrophy, prominent fibrosis, and impaired diastolic relaxation after Ang II infusion. In contrast, there was no cardiac hypertrophy in Agtr2-/Y mice. Agtr2-/Y mice, however, did not show signs of heart failure or impairment of ventricular relaxation and only negligible fibrosis after Ang II infusion. The absence of fibrosis may be a clue to the absence of impairment in ventricular relaxation and account for the normal left ventricular systolic and diastolic performances in Agtr2-/Y mice. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic loss of AT(2) by gene targeting abolished left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis in mice with Ang II-induced hypertension.

Dual effects of angiotensin II type 2 receptor on cardiovascular hypertrophy.

Roles of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the regulation of cardiovascular system under normal and pathological condition have been well documented. Although two major subtypes of Ang II receptors, AT(1) and AT(2), are found in various proportions, the role and signaling mechanisms of AT(2) in the control of hypertrophic responses of cardiac ventricle and vasculature are not clear. Although earlier reports indicated that AT(2)'s functions are essentially growth suppression, an increasing number of recent reports indicate that AT(2) in cardiovascular tissues are often growth promoting. In some tissues AT(1) and AT(2) seem to share a common signaling pathways, at least in part. This review focuses on the accumulating evidence for the AT(2) function in the cardiovascular system.

Interaction of Rabphilin3 with synaptic vesicles through multiple regions.

Rabphilin3 is a downstream target protein of Rab3A small G protein, implicated in neurotransmitter release. We have previously reported that about 4 molecules of Rabphilin3 are associated with one synaptic vesicle through a vesicle anchoring protein(s). We have shown here that Rabphilin3 interacts with rat synaptic vesicles through at least three regions: the N-terminal region (1-280 amino acids (aa)), the C-terminal region containing the two C2 domains (440-704 aa), and an unidentified region. A model for the interaction of Rabphilin3 with the vesicles is discussed.

Rabphilin-3A is associated with synaptic vesicles through a vesicle protein in a manner independent of Rab3A.

Rabphilin-3A is a putative target protein for Rab3A small GTP-binding protein, which is implicated in regulated secretion, particularly in neurotransmitter release. Rabphilin-3A is associated with synaptic vesicles, although it has no transmembrane segment. Here we have studied how rabphilin-3A is associated with synaptic vesicles. Treatment of the synaptic vesicles isolated from rat brain with 1 M NaCl completely solubilized rabphilin-3A from the vesicles. These vesicles deprived of rabphilin-3A still contained Rab3A and synaptophysin. Exogenous rabphilin-3A bound to the vesicles deprived of endogenous rabphilin-3A in dose-dependent and saturable manners. The concentration of exogenous rabphilin-3A giving a half-maximal binding was about 50 nM and maximally 5 +/- 1 molecules of exogenous rabphilin-3A bound to one vesicle. Addition of exogenous Rab3A bound to one vesicle. Addition of exogenous Rab3A or removal of endogenous Rab3A by the action of Rab GDI did not affect the binding of exogenous rabphilin-3A to the vesicles. However, treatment of the vesicles with trypsin completely abolished the binding of exogenous rabphilin-3A. These results suggest that rabphilin-3A is associated with synaptic vesicles at least through a vesicle protein in a manner independent of Rab3A.

A novel function of the C-terminal lipid moieties of Rab3A small G protein implicated in Ca2+-dependent exocytosis--inhibition of interaction with GTP and reduction of this inhibition by phospholipid.

BACKGROUND: Rab3A small G protein is implicated in Ca2+-dependent exocytosis. It undergoes posttranslational lipid-modifications at its C-terminal region. These lipid moieties are important for the actions of the regulators of Rab3A, but not for the interaction with its downstream target. RESULTS: We have found another function of the C-terminal lipid moieties of Rab3A. GTP rapidly associates with the guanine nucleotide-free form of unmodified Rab3A, but not with the same form of modified Rab3A. Moreover, GTP rapidly dissociates from the GTP-bound form of modified Rab3A, but not from the same form of unmodified Rab3A. The association of GTP with the guanine nucleotide-free form of modified Rab3A is stimulated by the Rab3 GDP/GTP exchange protein (Rab3 GEP), and the dissociation of GTP from the GTP-bound form is markedly reduced by synaptic vesicle phospholipid. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the interaction of the lipid moieties of Rab3A with Rab3 GEP or synaptic vesicles is required for the interaction of modified Rab3A with GTP. Moreover, these results - together with the fact that Rabphilin-3A associated with synaptic vesicles inhibits the activity of Rab3 GTPase-activating protein - suggest that the GTP-bound form of modified Rab3A is associated with synaptic vesicles through both Rabphilin-3A and the vesicle phospholipid.

Evidence for angiotensin II type 2 receptor-mediated cardiac myocyte enlargement during in vivo pressure overload

The pathophysiological roles of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT(2)) in cardiac hypertrophy remain unclear. By the targeted deletion of mouse AT(2) we were able to prevent the left ventricular hypertrophy resulting from pressure overload, while cardiac contractile functions remained normal. This implies that AT(2) is a mediator of cardiac hypertrophy in response to increased blood pressure. The effects of AT(2) deletion were independent of activation of embryonic genes for cardiac hypertrophy. However, p70(S6k), one of the key factors in cardiac hypertrophy, was markedly and specifically reduced in the ventricles of Agtr2(-)/Y mice. We propose that p70(S6k) plays a major role in AT(2)-mediated ventricular hypertrophy. This article may have been published online in advance of the print edition. The date of publication is available from the JCI website, http://www.jci.org.