Age-related changes of bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors in rat heart.

Aging is a major risk factor for the development of vascular diseases, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, that leads to end organ damage and especially heart failure. Bradykinin has been demonstrated to have a cardioprotective role by affecting metabolic processes and tissue perfusion under conditions of myocardial ischemia. Its actions are exerted via the bradykinin B1- and B2-type receptors (B1Rs and B2Rs), but the functional status of these receptors during the aging process is poorly understood. This study aims to investigate whether changes in B1R and B2R gene and protein expression in rat heart are associated with the age-related alterations of cardiac structure and function. Using real-time PCR, we found that B1R mRNA expression increased 2.9-fold in hearts of older rats (24 mo of age) compared with younger rats (3 mo of age), whereas B2R gene expression remained unchanged. Western blot analysis showed that expression of B2R at the protein level is approximately twofold higher in young rats compared with old rats, whereas the B1R protein is approximately twofold higher in old rats compared with young rats. The present results provide clear functional and molecular evidence that indicate age-related changes of bradykinin B1Rs and B2Rs in heart. Because the cardioprotective actions of bradykinin are physiologically mediated via the B2Rs, whereas the B1Rs become induced by tissue damage, these results suggest that age-related decreases in B2R protein levels may leave the heart vulnerable to ischemic damage, and increases in B1R expression and activity may represent a compensatory reaction in aging hearts.

Central alpha2B-adrenergic receptor antisense in plasmid vector prolongs reversal of salt-dependent hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that a fully functional alpha(2B)-adrenergic receptor (AR) is necessary for the development of salt-induced hypertension. The current studies were designed to explore the effect of prolonged inhibition of central alpha(2B)-AR gene expression by antisense (AS) DNA on this hypertension. METHODS: We developed a plasmid vector driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter, containing a green fluorescent protein reporter gene and AS for rat alpha(2B)-AR protein. Subtotally nephrectomized, salt-loaded hypertensive rats received intracerebroventricular injection of 500 microg of either the AS plasmid (n = 9) or sense plasmid (containing cDNA for alpha(2B)-AR), as control (n = 7). RESULTS: The AS injection produced a fall in SBP from 201 +/- 4 to 171 +/- 5 mmHg within 12 h. The level of BP in the 3 days post-injection was 174 +/- 6, 181 +/- 4 and 184 +/- 6 mmHg on day 1, day 2 and day 3, respectively (P < 0.05), and returned gradually towards baseline in subsequent days, although it remained significantly lower for the 8 days of observation. The control sense plasmid injections produced no significant changes in blood pressure (BP). Neither group had histological evidence of neural tissue disruption. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that protracted translational inhibition of the alpha(2B)-AR gene in the central nervous system can be obtained by AS DNA delivered via plasmid vector and lead to decreased generation of alpha(2B)-AR protein, which can partly reverse salt-induced hypertension for several days.