title: Bosentan preserves endothelial function in mice overexpressing APP.
abstract: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with endothelial dysfunction and that chronic endothelin-1 antagonism preserves endothelial function in mice overexpressing the AD amyloid precursor protein (APP). Three groups of mice were studied: C57BL/6 (normal control, n = 6), transgenic mice overexpressing APP (Tg2576, n = 5), and Tg2576 mice fed Bosentan (100 mg/(kg day)(-1)), a combined endothelin A and B receptor antagonist, for 4 months (Tg2576+Bosentan, n = 5). Mice were sacrificed at the age of 7 months. In vitro, the endothelium-dependent aortic vasorelaxation was significantly attenuated in Tg2576 mice as compared to C57BL/6 and Tg2576+Bosentan mice. In contrast, Tg2576+Bosentan and C57BL/6 mice showed similar endothelium-dependent aortic vasorelaxation. Similarly, endothelium-dependent carotid vasorelaxation was significantly attenuated in Tg2576 mice compared to C57BL/6 and Tg2576+Bosentan mice. There was no difference between the three groups in the response to nitroprusside. The current study demonstrates the presence of endothelial dysfunction in both carotid and aortic arteries in mice overexpressing APP and suggests a pathophysiological role for the endogenous endothelin system in AD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elesber
authors.forename: Piero O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Woodrum
authors.forename: Xiang-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Lilach O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Younkin
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerman
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000077300:Bosentan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077300:Bosentan