title: Nephroprotection by antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of the vasopeptidase inhibitor AVE7688.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic renal disease substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular events and death. Vasopeptidase inhibitors are known to show a strong antihypertensive effect. In the present study, we investigated the nephroprotective potential of the vasopeptidase inhibitor AVE7688 beyond its antihypertensive effects in a mouse model of progressive renal fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  COL4A3 -/- mice received 25 mg AVE7688 per kg body weight. Treatment was initiated in week 4 (early) and week 7 (late). Eight mice per group were sacrificed after 7.5 or 9.5 weeks, and serum levels of urea, systemic blood pressure, and proteinuria were measured. Renal tissue was investigated by routine histology, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Lifespan until death from renal fibrosis was monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lifespan of treated mice increased by 143% (early therapy) and by 53% (late therapy) compared to untreated animals (172 +/- 19 vs. 109 +/- 15 vs. 71 +/- 6 days, P < 0.01). Untreated COL4A3 -/- mice did not develop severe hypertension (mean systolic blood pressure 116 +/- 14 vs. 111 +/- 9 mm Hg in wild-type mice), and both therapies mildly reduced systemic blood pressure (107 +/- 13 and 105 +/- 14 mm Hg, data not significant). AVE7688 decreased proteinuria from 12 +/- 3 g/L in untreated mice to 2 +/- 1 g/L (early) and to 4 +/- 1 g/L (late therapy, P < 0.05), as well as serum-urea from 247 +/- 27 to 57 +/- 10 and to 105 +/- 20 mmol/L (P < 0.05). Extent of fibrosis, inflammation, and profibrotic cytokines was reduced by AVE7688 therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate a strong nephroprotective effect of the vasopeptidase inhibitor in this animal model of progressive renal fibrosis. Besides the antihypertensive action of AVE7688, its antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and antiproteinuric effects demonstrated in the present study may serve as an important therapeutic option for chronic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases in man.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical Faculty University of Cologne, Cologne General Hospital, Merheim Medical Center, Cologne, Germany. oliver.gross@uni-koeln.de
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Gross
authors: Marie-Louise
authors: ML
authors: Koepke
authors: Bogdan
authors: B
authors: Beirowski
authors: Eckhard
authors: E
authors: Schulze-Lohoff
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Segerer
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Weber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics; D001794:Blood Pressure; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000235:genetics; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008017:Life Expectancy; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009394:Nephritis, Hereditary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
chemical_list: C479877:AVE 7688; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001324:Autoantigens; C526318:CCN2 protein, mouse; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011355:Prodrugs; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C057112:type IV collagen alpha3 chain; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor