title: Posttranscriptional control of BNP gene expression in angiotensin II-induced hypertension.
abstract: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) plasma concentrations are raised in patients with heart failure. In several experimental models of cardiac overload, however, BNP mRNA and plasma BNP peptide levels are normal, despite the persistent increase in blood pressure and ventricular hypertrophy. In this study, the role of transcriptional mechanisms in the regulation of BNP gene expression were studied in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertension by injecting DNA constructs containing the BNP promoter (-2200 to 75 bp of the transcriptional start site) linked to luciferase reporter into rat myocardium. Ang II was administered to conscious rats via intravenous infusion for 2 hours or by subcutaneous minipumps for 6 hours, 12 hours, 3 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks. Ang II increased blood pressure and cardiac mass and induced changes in diastolic function. The left ventricular BNP mRNA levels increased 2.2-fold (P<0.001) at 2 hours and peaked at 12 hours (5.2-fold, P<0.001). Thereafter, BNP mRNA levels decreased (1.8-fold induction at 3 days, P<0.05) and returned to control levels at 1 week, despite persistent hypertension and myocardial hypertrophy. Left ventricular BNP peptide concentrations followed the changes in BNP mRNA levels. The BNP promoter was activated 2.7-fold (P<0.05) at 2 hours and remained upregulated up to 2 weeks (2.8-fold, P<0.05) during Ang II infusion, except at 12 hours. These results indicate that posttranscriptional control plays a major role in the regulation of ventricular BNP gene expression in Ang II-induced hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hautala
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Földes
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szokodi
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leskinen
authors.forename: Paavo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Uusimaa
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vuolteenaho
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nemer
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruskoaho
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004452:Echocardiography; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D000804:Angiotensin II; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor