title: Interaction between sympathetic nervous system and renin angiotensin system on MMPs expression in juvenile rat aorta.
abstract: The aim of our present study is to investigate the interaction between angiotensin II (ANG II) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on matrix metalloproteinase MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and activity in juvenile rat aorta under normal conditions. Sympathectomy with guanethidine and blockade of the ANG II receptors (AT1R) by losartan were performed alone or in combination on new-born rats. mRNA, protein expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were examined by Q-RT-PCR, immunoblotting and zymography, respectively. MMP-2 mRNA and protein amount were decreased after sympathectomy or AT1R blockade and an additive effect was observed after combined treatment. However, MMP-9 expression was reduced to the same level in the three treated groups. There were some detectable gelatinolytic activity of the MMPs in both control and treated rats. We concluded that ANG II stimulates directly and indirectly (via sympathostimulator pathway) the MMP-2 expression but seems unable to affect MMP-9 expression through direct pathway. Combined inhibition of SNS and ANG II were more efficient than a single inhibition in reducing MMP amounts in rat vessels.
authors.affiliation: Universite de Carthage, Tunisia. houcine.dab@fsb.rnu.tn
authors.forename: Houcine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dab
authors.forename: Rafik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hachani
authors.forename: Wassim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hodroj
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakly
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bricca
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kacem
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D000804:Angiotensin II; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9