title: Aldosterone mediates angiotensin II-induced interstitial cardiac fibrosis via a Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase.
abstract: Angiotensin (ANG) II (AngII) and aldosterone contribute to the development of interstitial cardiac fibrosis. We investigated the potential role of a Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase in aldosterone-induced fibrosis and the involvement of this mechanism in AngII-induced effects. Nox2-/- mice were compared with matched wild-type controls (WT). In WT mice, subcutaneous (s.c.) AngII (1.1 mg/kg/day for 2 wk) significantly increased NADPH oxidase activity, interstitial fibrosis (11.5+/-1.0% vs. 7.2+/-0.7%; P<0.05), expression of fibronectin, procollagen I, and connective tissue growth factor mRNA, MMP-2 activity, and NF-kB activation. These effects were all inhibited in Nox2-/- hearts. The mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone inhibited AngII-induced increases in NADPH oxidase activity and the increase in interstitial fibrosis. In a model of mineralocorticoid-dependent hypertension involving chronic aldosterone infusion (0.2 mg/kg/day) and a 1% Na Cl diet ("ALDO"), WT animals exhibited increased NADPH oxidase activity, pro-fibrotic gene expression, MMP-2 activity, NF-kB activation, and significant interstitial cardiac fibrosis (12.0+/-1.7% with ALDO vs. 6.3+/-0.3% without; P<0.05). These effects were inhibited in Nox2-/- ALDO mice (e.g., fibrosis 6.8+/-0.8% with ALDO vs. 5.8+/-1.0% without ALDO; P=NS). These results suggest that aldosterone-dependent activation of a Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase contributes to the profibrotic effect of AngII in the heart as well as the fibrosis seen in mineralocorticoid-dependent hypertension.
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Cardiovascular Division, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sofian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johar
authors.forename: Alison C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cave
authors.forename: Anilkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narayanapanicker
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: Ajay M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; C488842:Cybb protein, mouse; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2