Effects of angiotensin II infusion on the expression and function of NAD(P)H oxidase and components of nitric oxide/cGMP signaling

Circ Res. 2002 Mar 8;90(4):E58-65. doi: 10.1161/01.res.0000012569.55432.02.

Abstract

Angiotensin II infusion causes endothelial dysfunction by increasing NAD(P)H oxidase-mediated vascular superoxide production. However, it remains to be elucidated how in vivo angiotensin II treatment may alter the expression of the gp91(phox) isoforms and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS III) and subsequent signaling events and whether, in addition to the NAD(P)H oxidase, NOS III contributes to vascular superoxide formation. We therefore studied the influence of in vivo angiotensin II treatment (7 days) in rats on endothelial function and on the expression of the NAD(P)H oxidase subunits p22(phox), nox1, nox4, and gp91(phox) and NOS III. Further analysis included the expression of NO-downstream targets, the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (cGK-I), and the expression and phosphorylation of the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) at Ser239 (P-VASP). Angiotensin II caused endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular superoxide. Likewise, we found an increase in vascular protein kinase C (PKC) activity, in the expression of nox1 (6- to 7-fold), gp91(phox) (3-fold), p22(phox) (3-fold), NOS III mRNA, and protein. NOS-inhibition with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine decreased superoxide in vessels from angiotensin II-treated animals, compatible with NOS-uncoupling. Vascular NO assessed with electron paramagnetic resonance was markedly reduced. Likewise, a decrease in sGC-expression and P-VASP levels was found. In vivo PKC-inhibition with chelerythrine reduced angiotensin II-induced superoxide production and markedly inhibited upregulation of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits. We therefore conclude that angiotensin II-induced increases in the activity and the expression of NAD(P)H oxidase are at least in part PKC-dependent. NADPH oxidase-induced superoxide production may trigger NOS III uncoupling, leading to impaired NO/cGMP signaling and to endothelial dysfunction in this animal model. The full text of this article is available at http://www.circresaha.org.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism*
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Guanylate Cyclase
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Infusions, Parenteral
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • NAD / pharmacology
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • NADP / pharmacology
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • NADPH Oxidase 1
  • NADPH Oxidase 2
  • NADPH Oxidase 4
  • NADPH Oxidases / genetics
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • Vasodilation / drug effects
  • Vasodilation / physiology
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein
  • NAD
  • Superoxides
  • Angiotensin II
  • Nitric Oxide
  • NADP
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos3 protein, rat
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • CYBB protein, human
  • NADPH Oxidase 1
  • NADPH Oxidase 2
  • NADPH Oxidase 4
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • NOX1 protein, rat
  • Nox4 protein, rat
  • CYBA protein, human
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • PRKG1 protein, human
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Guanylate Cyclase
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase
  • Cyclic GMP