scholarly journals NLRP3 Gene Deletion Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Phenotypic Transformation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Vascular Remodeling

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 2269-2280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing-Sheng Ren ◽  
Ying Tong ◽  
Li Ling ◽  
Dan Chen ◽  
Hai-Jian Sun ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Angiotensin (Ang) II plays vital roles in vascular inflammation and remodeling in hypertension. Phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a major initiating factor for vascular remodeling. The present study was designed to determine the roles of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in Ang II-induced VSMC phenotypic transformation and vascular remodeling in hypertension. Methods: Primary VSMCs from the aorta of NLRP3 knockout (NLRP3-/-) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with Ang II for 24 h. Subcutaneous infusion of Ang II via osmotic minipump for 2 weeks was used to induce vascular remodeling and hypertension in WT and NLRP3-/- mice. Results: NLRP3 gene deletion attenuates Ang II-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, phenotypic transformation from a contractile phenotype to a synthetic phenotype and proliferation in primary mice VSMCs. Ang II-induced hypertension and vascular remodeling in WT mice were attenuated in NLRP3-/- mice. Furthermore, Ang II-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, phenotypic transformation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) upregulation were inhibited in the media of aorta of NLRP3-/- mice. Conclusions: NLRP3 inflammasome activation contributes to Ang II-induced VSMC phenotypic transformation and proliferation as well as vascular remodeling and hypertension.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yu Chen ◽  
Meiying Zeng ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Hui Guo ◽  
Wei Ding ◽  
...  

Inflammation has been considered a key component in the pathogenesis and progression of angiotensin II- (Ang II-) induced cardiac hypertrophy and related cardiomyopathy. As a vital mediator of inflammation, the role of the Nlrp3 inflammasome in Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy remains unclear. This study was aimed to determine whether Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and its downstream pathway were involved in Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy. We established an Ang II infusion model in both wild-type and Nlrp3-/- mice to determine the contribution of Nlrp3 to cardiac function. Cardiac fibrosis was determined by Masson’s trichrome staining, real-time PCR, and TUNEL assay; cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and related downstream cytokines were measured by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; mitochondrial dysfunction was examined by transmission electron microscopy and real-time PCR. We found that Ang II-infused mice showed impaired cardiac function, as evidenced by increased cardiac fibrosis, apoptosis, inflammation, and left ventricular dysfunction. However, these alterations were significantly alleviated in the mice with Nlrp3 gene deletion. Moreover, Ang II-infused mice showed increased Nlrp3 inflammasome activity relative to that of the cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, increased reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial abnormalities, and decreased mtDNA copy number and ATP synthase activity. These molecular and pathological alterations were also attenuated in Nlrp3 deficient mice. In conclusion, Nlrp3 inflammasome-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy. Nlrp3 gene deletion attenuated mitochondrial abnormalities, cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis and thus alleviated heart dysfunction and hypertrophy. Targeting the Nlrp3 inflammasome and/or mitochondria may be a therapeutic approach for Ang II-induced cardiac diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Bing Zhou ◽  
Yun Qiu ◽  
Nan Wu ◽  
Ai-Dong Chen ◽  
Hong Zhou ◽  
...  

Vascular oxidative stress and inflammation play a major role in vascular diseases. This study was aimed at determining the protective roles of fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) in angiotensin II- (Ang II-) induced vascular oxidative stress and inflammation and underlying mechanisms. Wild-type (WT) and FNDC5-/- mice, primary mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and the rat aortic smooth muscle cell line (A7R5) were used in the present study. Subcutaneous infusion of Ang II caused more serious hypertension, vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, AMPK phosphorylation inhibition, and SIRT1 downregulation in the aorta of FNDC5-/- mice than those of WT mice. Exogenous FNDC5 attenuated Ang II-induced superoxide generation, NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NLRP3 upregulation, mature caspase-1, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in A7R5 cells. The protective roles of FNDC5 were prevented by SIRT-1 inhibitor EX527, AMPK inhibitor compound C, or integrin receptor inhibitor GLPG0187. FNDC5 attenuated the Ang II-induced inhibition in SIRT1 activity, SIRT1 protein expression, and AMPKα phosphorylation in A7R5 cells, which were prevented by compound C, EX527, and GLPG0187. FNDC5 deficiency deteriorated Ang II-induced oxidative stress, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, AMPK phosphorylation inhibition, and SIRT1 downregulation in primary aortic VSMCs of mice, which were prevented by exogenous FNDC5. These results indicate that FNDC5 deficiency aggravates while exogenous FNDC5 alleviates the Ang II-induced vascular oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the AMPK-SIRT1 signal pathway in VSMCs.


Oncotarget ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (34) ◽  
pp. 54290-54302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Wen ◽  
Yiran Liu ◽  
Taotao Tang ◽  
Linli Lv ◽  
Hong Liu ◽  
...  

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefany B Cau ◽  
Marcondes da Silva ◽  
Nathanne d Ferreira ◽  
Rita C Tostes ◽  
Thiago Bruder-Nascimento

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multimeric protein complex constituted by NLRP3, Asc and Capase-1 (Casp1). It triggers an inflammatory response by releasing the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. NLRP3 inflammasome is expressed in different cells and its activation has been associated with several diseases including atherosclerosis and hypertension. Herein we tested the hypothesis that angiotensin II (AngII) induces vascular damage by activating the NLPR3 inflammasome in the vasculature. C57BL/6J male mice (Ctrl) and Casp-1 deficient mice (Casp1-/-) were treated with AngII (490 ng/min/kg/14 days by osmotic mini pump). In Ctrl mice, AngII treatment impaired the vascular relaxation to acetylcholine in mesenteric arteries, increased aorta media thickness [Ctrl: 49.4 ± 2.5 vs AngII: 62.3 ± 2.3* (μm), *P<0.05] and cross-sectional area [Ctrl: 0.11 ± 0.1 vs AngII: 0.15 ± 0.2* (mm), *P<0.05] and triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation in aorta and mesenteric arteries, analyzed by caspase-1 cleavage and IL-1B maturation via western blot and casp1 activity - FAM-FLICA assay. Fascinatingly, Casp1-/- mice were protected from AngII-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling. Furthermore, AngII (0.1uM) incubation, combined or not with lipopolysaccharide (500 ng.ml –1 ultrapure) or Nigericin (20 μM), elevated Casp1 cleavage and IL-1B maturation in Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (RASMC). Moreover, AngII elevated PCNA (~2.5-fold) and CyclinD1 (~2.1-fold) protein expression and induced vascular migration and proliferation measured by scratch assay and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay respectively. Interestingly NLRP3 antagonist incubation (MCC950, 1uM) abolished PCNA expression and attenuated the vascular migration and proliferation produced by AngII incubation. Our data suggest that AngII induces vascular damage by activating NLPR3 inflammasome directly in the vasculature. We place this innate immune receptor as a master regulator of the vascular phenotype and as a target for therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases. Future studies will be helpful providing a better understanding into the molecular mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and regulation in the control of vascular diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Chen ◽  
Ying-Hao Zang ◽  
Yun Qiu ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Ai-Dong Chen ◽  
...  

Proliferation and oxidative stress of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contribute to vascular remodeling in hypertension and several major vascular diseases. B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) functions as a transcriptional repressor. The present study is designed to determine the roles of BCL6 in VSMC proliferation and oxidative stress and underlying mechanism. Angiotensin (Ang) II was used to induce VSMC proliferation and oxidative stress in human VSMCs. Effects of BCL6 overexpression and knockdown were, respectively, investigated in Ang II-treated human VSMCs. Therapeutical effects of BCL6 overexpression on vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, and proliferation were determined in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Ang II reduced BCL6 expression in human VSMCs. BCL6 overexpression attenuated while BCL6 knockdown enhanced the Ang II-induced upregulation of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and proliferation of VSMCs. BCL6 expression was downregulated in SHR. BCL6 overexpression in SHR reduced NOX4 expression, ROS production, and proliferation of the aortic media of SHR. Moreover, BCL6 overexpression attenuated vascular remodeling and hypertension in SHR. However, BCL6 overexpression had no significant effects on NOX2 expression in human VSMCs or in SHR. We conclude that BCL6 attenuates proliferation and oxidative stress of VSMCs in hypertension.


2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (4) ◽  
pp. F556-F564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi Bai ◽  
Ying Chen ◽  
Min Zhao ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
John Ci-Jiang He ◽  
...  

Aldosterone (Aldo) has been shown as an important contributor of podocyte injury. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Recently, the pathogenic role of NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in mediating renal tubular damage was identified while its role in podocyte injury still needs evidence. Thus the present study was undertaken to investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in Aldo-induced podocyte damage. In vitro, exposure of podocytes to Aldo enhanced NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-18 expressions in dose- and time-dependent manners, indicating an activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which was significantly blocked by the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist eplerenone or the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Silencing NLRP3 by a siRNA approach strikingly attenuated Aldo-induced podocyte apoptosis and nephrin protein downregulation in line with the blockade of caspase-1 and IL-18. In vivo, since day 5 of Aldo infusion, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and podocyte injury evidenced by nephrin reduction occurred concurrently. More importantly, immunofluorescence analysis showed a significant induction of NLRP3 in podocytes of glomeruli following Aldo infusion. In the mice with NLRP3 gene deletion, Aldo-induced downregulation of nephrin and podocin, podocyte foot processes, and albuminuria was remarkably improved, indicating an amelioration of podocyte injury. Finally, we observed a striking induction of NLRP3 in glomeruli and renal tubules in line with an enhanced urinary IL-18 output in nephrotic syndrome patients with minimal change disease or focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. Together, these results demonstrated an important role of NLRP3 inflammasome in mediating the podocyte injury induced by Aldo.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document