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Theophile Godfraind - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • lacidipine prevents endothelial dysfunction in salt loaded stroke prone hypertensive rats
    Hypertension, 2001
    Co-Authors: Peter Krenek, Nicole Morel, Maurice Wibo, Jan Kyselovic, Salvatore Salomone, Theophile Godfraind
    Abstract:

    Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation is defective in hypertensive rats, especially in conduit arteries. In the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat, impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of stroke independent of blood pressure. Because treatment with lacidipine, a long-acting calcium channel blocker, protects against stroke and cardiovascular remodeling in this model, we investigated the effect of this treatment on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in the aorta. Stroke-prone rats were exposed to a salt-rich diet (1% NaCl in drinking water) with or without lacidipine (1 mg. kg(-1). d(-1)) for 6 weeks. A high-sodium diet (1) increased systolic blood pressure, aortic weight, and wall thickness and plasma renin activity (P<0.05); (2) markedly reduced nitric oxide (NO)-mediated, endothelium-dependent relaxation of aortic rings to acetylcholine and the sensitivity to the relaxing effect of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, an NO donor (P<0.001); and (3) induced an elevation of Preproendothelin-1 mRNA levels in aortic tissue (P<0.01) without affecting endothelial NO synthase mRNA levels. Lacidipine treatment prevented the salt-dependent functional and structural alterations of the aorta, including the overexpression of the Preproendothelin-1 gene, and increased endothelial NO synthase mRNA levels in aortic tissue (P<0.01). In conclusion, lacidipine protects stroke-prone hypertensive rats against the impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation evoked by a salt-rich diet, and this effect may contribute to its beneficial effect against end-organ damage and stroke.

  • carvedilol and lacidipine prevent cardiac hypertrophy and endothelin 1 gene overexpression after aortic banding
    Hypertension, 1999
    Co-Authors: Pierreemmanuel Massart, Theophile Godfraind, Jan Kyselovic, Julian Donckier, Guy R Heyndrickx, Maurice Wibo
    Abstract:

    Carvedilol and lacidipine have been shown to exert cardioprotective effects in rat models of chronic hypertension. We investigated their effects in an acute model of pressure overload produced by suprarenal aortic constriction, in which enhanced myocardial production of endothelin-1 could play a crucial role. In the absence of drug treatment, after 1 week, aortic banding provoked an increase in carotid pressure associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (29%; P<0.01). These changes were accompanied by increased myocardial expression of Preproendothelin-1 (2.5 times; P<0.05) and skeletal alpha-actin (3.6 times; P<0.05), but the expression of cardiac alpha-actin was not modified. Oral administration of carvedilol at a dose of 30 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) to rats with aortic banding normalized carotid pressure and left ventricular weight as well as Preproendothelin-1 and skeletal alpha-actin gene expression. Carvedilol at a lower dose (7.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and lacidipine 1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) had only moderate and nonsignificant effects on carotid pressure but largely prevented left ventricular hypertrophy (P<0.01) and Preproendothelin-1 overexpression (P<0.05). Labetalol (60 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) tended to exert similar effects but insignificantly. These results show that the antihypertrophic properties of carvedilol and lacidipine are partly independent of their antihypertensive effects and may be related to their ability to blunt myocardial Preproendothelin-1 overexpression. Moreover, carvedilol at a dose of 7.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) did not prevent myocardial overexpression of skeletal alpha-actin, which suggests that, in this model, reexpression of a fetal gene can be activated by pressure overload independently of cardiac hypertrophy.

  • prevention of salt dependent cardiac remodeling and enhanced gene expression in stroke prone hypertensive rats by the long acting calcium channel blocker lacidipine
    Journal of Hypertension, 1998
    Co-Authors: Jan Kyselovic, Nicole Morel, Maurice Wibo, Theophile Godfraind
    Abstract:

    OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of the long-acting calcium channel blocker lacidipine on cardiovascular remodeling induced by salt loading in a genetic model of hypertension. DESIGN: We examined the influence of threshold doses of lacidipine, with little blood-pressure lowering effect, on cardiac weight and gene expression in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). METHODS: SHRSPs (8-week-old) were randomly allocated to four groups: control, salt-loaded SHRSP and salt-loaded SHRSP treated with lacidipine at 0.3 and 1 mg/kg per day. Systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. At the end of 6 weeks of treatment, ventricles were collected and weighed. Ventricular messenger RNA was extracted and subjected to Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Lacidipine (0.3 mg/kg per day) not only prevented the salt-dependent cardiac hypertrophy and the slight increase in systolic blood pressure induced by salt, but also prevented, largely or completely, salt-dependent increases in ventricular levels of several gene products: skeletal and cardiac alpha-actin, beta-myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC), type I collagen, long-lasting (L)-type calcium channel and Preproendothelin-1. At a higher dose of 1 mg/kg per day, lacidipine further decreased systolic blood pressure below the level of control SHRSP, completely prevented salt-dependent overexpression of the beta-MHC gene and markedly attenuated salt-dependent overexpression of the transforming growth factor-beta1 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Lacidipine prevents the cardiac remodeling and enhanced gene expression induced by salt loading in SHRSP at doses that only minimally affect the high systolic blood pressure.

  • Inhibition by lacidipine of salt-dependent cardiac hypertrophy and endothelin gene expression in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1995
    Co-Authors: Olivier Feron, Salvatore Salomone, Theophile Godfraind
    Abstract:

    Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats receiving a high salt diet were orally treated by the calcium antagonist lacidipine, at a dose which did not reduce systolic blood pressure. We observed that lacidipine inhibited the salt-induced cardiac hypertrophy and the concomitant increase of mRNA transcripts for Preproendothelin-1 in ventricles. These data show that elevated blood pressure cannot necessarily account for cardiac hypertrophy and indicate that the therapeutic action of lacidipine is not only related to its haemodynamic properties, but also to the inhibition of the gene expression of growth factors such as endothelin.

  • influence of salt loading on the cardiac and renal Preproendothelin 1 mrna expression in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1995
    Co-Authors: Olivier Feron, Salvatore Salomone, Theophile Godfraind
    Abstract:

    Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoactive peptide which may play a role in the regulation of vascular resistance through its autocrine/paracrine effects. We have investigated the influence of salt loading on the renal and cardiac production of endothelin-1 in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, a classical model of hypertension. The results show that the dietary salt intake did not change systolic blood pressure nor the renal expression of the Preproendothelin-1 mRNA but increased cardiac expression of the endothelin-1 gene transcript and a concomitant ventricular hypertrophy.

Dror Harats - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • endothelin b receptor antagonist increases Preproendothelin 1 transcription in bovine aortic endothelial cells and in vivo
    Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 2006
    Co-Authors: Michael Peled, Aviv Shaish, Liron Frishman, Hofit Cohen, Dror Harats
    Abstract:

    Endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonists increase plasma immunoreactive ET-1 levels. However, their effect on Preproendothelin-1 (PPE-1) mRNA levels is still controversial. Few studies have found a decrease in PPE-1 mRNA levels in endothelial cells treated with the nonselective ET A/B receptor antagonist. and others demonstrated that an ET B blockade by the selective antagonist BQ788 increases PPE-1 mRNA levels. We studied the effect of ET A and ET B selective receptor antagonists on PPE-1 transcription, both in vitro and in vivo. Endothelial cells, transiently transfected with PPE-1 luciferase plasmid, were treated with ET-1 receptor antagonists. Bosentan, a dual ET A/B receptor antagonist, and BQ788 (ET B receptor antagonist) treatment resulted in a 1.6-fold and 1.3-fold increase, respectively in luciferase activity as compared with the untreated control. In contrast, the ET A receptor antagonist, BQ123, had no effect on luciferase activity. Transgenic mice that express the luciferase gene under the control of PPE-1 promoter were treated with Bosentan. Luciferase activity, PPE-1 mRNA levels, and plasma immunoreactive ET-1 levels were increased by 1.6-fold to 2.0-fold in the Bosentan-treated group compared with the untreated, control group. ET-1 receptor blockade increased PPE-1 transcription both in vitro and in vivo. The increased transcription can be attributed to ET B receptor blockade. because BQ-788, but not BQ-123, increased PPE-1 transcription.

  • inhibition of carcinogenesis in transgenic mouse models over expressing 15 lipoxygenase in the vascular wall under the control of murine Preproendothelin 1 promoter
    Cancer Letters, 2005
    Co-Authors: Dror Harats, Hofit Cohen, Dikla Benshushan, Ayelet Gonen, Israel Hodish, Ayelet Harari, Shoshana Greenberger, Iris Barshack, Iris Goldberg, Nira Vardabloom
    Abstract:

    Abstract Oxygenases are a family of enzymes that dioxygenate unsaturated fatty acids, thus initiating membrane oxidation and signaling molecule synthesis. The lipoxygenases (LOs), a family of lipid-peroxidizing enzymes that induce structural and metabolic changes in the cell in a number of pathophysiological conditions, belong to the oxygenases family. This class of enzymes has several subgroups, named 5-, 8-, 12- and 15-LOs, and these LO-isoforms are capable of oxygenating arachidonic and linoleic acid. 15-LOs were reported to play an inhibitory role in tumor angiogenesis and, consequently, they slow down carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that its anti-carcinogenic effect is conferred by promoting cell differentiation and apoptosis. Using transgenic mice that over-express 15-LO-1 in endothelial cells under the regulation of the murine Preproendothelin-1 promoter, we studied its effect on tumor and metastasis growth. We found that 15-LO-1 inhibited tumor and metastasis growth in the transgenic mice in two different models of cancer (mammary gland and Lewis lung carcinoma). This inhibition was concomitant with a higher number of apoptotic cells in the metastases of the transgenic mice and with a complicated network of multiple small blood vessels. This finding targets 15-LO as a new candidate in the treatment of carcinogenesis.

  • overexpression of 15 lipoxygenase in vascular endothelium accelerates early atherosclerosis in ldl receptor deficient mice
    Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 2000
    Co-Authors: Dror Harats, Aviv Shaish, Hiroki Kurihara, Jacob George, Mary Mulkins, Hana Levkovitz, Elliott Sigal
    Abstract:

    Abstract —To study the possible role of the human lipid-oxidizing enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) in atherosclerosis, we overexpressed it specifically in the vascular wall of C57B6/SJL mice by using the murine Preproendothelin-1 promoter. The mice overexpressing 15-LO were crossbred with low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor–deficient mice to investigate atherogenesis. High levels of 15-LO were expressed in the atherosclerotic lesion in the double-transgenic mice as assessed by immunohistochemistry. The double-transgenic, 15-LO–overexpressing, LDL receptor–deficient mice (LDLR−/−/15LO) developed significantly larger atherosclerotic lesions at the aortic sinus compared with lesions in the LDL receptor–deficient (LDLR−/−) mice after 3 and 6 weeks (107 000 versus 28 000 μm2 [ P <0.001] and 121 000 versus 87 000 μm2 [ P <0.05], respectively) of an atherogenic diet. LDL from the LDLR−/−/15LO mice was more susceptible to oxidation than was the LDL from the control LDLR−/− mice, as shown by a shorter lag period for copper-induced conjugated diene formation. On the other hand, no differences were found in the levels of serum anti–oxidized LDL antibodies between the study groups. There were also no differences with respect to the density of macrophages and T lymphocytes infiltrating the lesions in both experimental groups. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that 15-LO overexpression in the vessel wall is associated with enhanced atherogenesis.

  • targeting gene expression to the vascular wall in transgenic mice using the murine Preproendothelin 1 promoter
    Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1995
    Co-Authors: Dror Harats, Paula Nanette Belloni, Heather Oakley, Amy Ziober, Gary Cain, Richard Lawn, Yukiko Kurihara, Hiroki Kurihara, D. Ackley, Elliott Sigal
    Abstract:

    To develop a system for overexpressing genes in the vascular wall, we created transgenic mice using the reporter gene luciferase and the murine Preproendothelin-1 promoter. In vitro analysis suggested that the murine 5'-flanking region contained endothelial-specific elements in a 5.9-kb fragment. Five transgenic mice colonies established from independent founders all exhibited the highest level of luciferase activity in the aorta with up to 8,540 light units per microgram of protein. Immunohistochemistry with anti-luciferase antisera revealed high levels of expression in the endothelial cells of both large and small arteries and lower levels of expression in veins and capillaries. Significant expression was also seen in arterial smooth muscle cells and in select epithelial surfaces which is consistent with the known distribution of endothelin-1 in mammals. To further demonstrate the targeting capability of this system, we overexpressed the lipid-peroxidating enzyme, human 15-lipoxygenase, in the vessel wall of transgenic mice. As with luciferase, expression of active enzyme and immunohistochemical localization in vascular cells were documented in transgenic animals. Hence, this new system can be used to direct expression of molecules to the vascular wall for the purpose of examining the biological significance of either overexpression or inhibition of select proteins. (J. Clin. Invest. 1995. 95:1335-1344.)

G A P Bruns - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • human transcription factor gata 2 evidence for regulation of Preproendothelin 1 gene expression in endothelial cells
    Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1992
    Co-Authors: David M Dorfman, David B. Wilson, G A P Bruns
    Abstract:

    Abstract Previously, we showed that the promoter of the gene encoding Preproendothelin-1 (PPET-1) contains a GATA motif that is essential for activity and interacts with a nuclear factor similar in size and binding specificity to the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1. To identify this endothelial GATA-binding protein, a human endothelial cell cDNA library was screened with oligonucleotide probes for a portion of the zinc finger domain of GATA-1. A 2.6-kilobase cDNA encoding a 470 amino acid protein was obtained. Sequence analysis revealed a predicted protein which is the human counterpart of a related chicken protein, designated GATA-2. Human GATA-2 is expressed by a variety of cells, including erythroid, HeLa, and endothelial cells. A complex of a GATA-containing probe and recombinant GATA-2 expressed in COS cells comigrates with that present in gel shift experiments with nuclear extract derived from endothelial cells. In addition, expressed human GATA-2 protein transactivates reporter gene constructs containing either minimal GATA promoter elements or the native PPET-1 promoter in a cotransfection assay. Retinoic acid treatment of endothelial cells results in down-regulation of GATA-2 expression as well as down-regulation of PPET-1 gene expression. Human homologs of other known GATA-binding transcription factors are either absent from endothelial cells (in the case of GATA-1) or made in small quantities and not significantly affected by retinoid acid in these cells (in the case of GATA-3), making it unlikely that they regulate the PPET-1 gene. We propose that GATA-2 is the GATA-binding protein required for PPET-1 gene expression in endothelial cells.

  • human transcription factor gata 2 evidence for regulation of Preproendothelin 1 gene expression in endothelial cells
    Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1992
    Co-Authors: David M Dorfman, David B. Wilson, G A P Bruns
    Abstract:

    Abstract Previously, we showed that the promoter of the gene encoding Preproendothelin-1 (PPET-1) contains a GATA motif that is essential for activity and interacts with a nuclear factor similar in size and binding specificity to the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1. To identify this endothelial GATA-binding protein, a human endothelial cell cDNA library was screened with oligonucleotide probes for a portion of the zinc finger domain of GATA-1. A 2.6-kilobase cDNA encoding a 470 amino acid protein was obtained. Sequence analysis revealed a predicted protein which is the human counterpart of a related chicken protein, designated GATA-2. Human GATA-2 is expressed by a variety of cells, including erythroid, HeLa, and endothelial cells. A complex of a GATA-containing probe and recombinant GATA-2 expressed in COS cells comigrates with that present in gel shift experiments with nuclear extract derived from endothelial cells. In addition, expressed human GATA-2 protein transactivates reporter gene constructs containing either minimal GATA promoter elements or the native PPET-1 promoter in a cotransfection assay. Retinoic acid treatment of endothelial cells results in down-regulation of GATA-2 expression as well as down-regulation of PPET-1 gene expression. Human homologs of other known GATA-binding transcription factors are either absent from endothelial cells (in the case of GATA-1) or made in small quantities and not significantly affected by retinoid acid in these cells (in the case of GATA-3), making it unlikely that they regulate the PPET-1 gene. We propose that GATA-2 is the GATA-binding protein required for PPET-1 gene expression in endothelial cells.

Elliott Sigal - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Targeting Gene Expression to the Vascular Wall in Transgenic Mice Using the Murine Preproendothelin-1 Promoter
    2016
    Co-Authors: Richard Lawn, Elliott Sigal
    Abstract:

    To develop a system for overexpressing genes in the vascular wall, we created transgenic mice using the reporter gene luciferase and the murine Preproendothelin-1 promoter. In vitro analysis suggested that the murine 5'-flanking region contained endothelial-specific elements in a 5.9-kb fragment. Five transgenic mice colonies established from independent founders all exhibited the highest level of luciferase activity in the aorta with up to 8,540 light units per microgram of protein. Immunohistochemistry with anti-luciferase anti-sera revealed high levels of expression in the endothelial cells of both large and small arteries and lower levels of expression in veins and capillaries. Significant expression was also seen in arterial smooth muscle cells and in select epithelial surfaces which is consistent with the known distri-bution of endothelin-1 in mammals. To further demonstrate the targeting capability of this system, we overexpressed the lipid-peroxidating enzyme, human 15-lipoxygenase, in the vessel wall of transgenic mice. As with luciferase, expression of active enzyme and immunohistochemical localization in vascular cells were documented in transgenic animals. Hence, this new system can be used to direct expression of molecules to the vascular wall for the purpose of examining the biological significance of either overexpression or inhibi

  • overexpression of 15 lipoxygenase in vascular endothelium accelerates early atherosclerosis in ldl receptor deficient mice
    Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 2000
    Co-Authors: Dror Harats, Aviv Shaish, Hiroki Kurihara, Jacob George, Mary Mulkins, Hana Levkovitz, Elliott Sigal
    Abstract:

    Abstract —To study the possible role of the human lipid-oxidizing enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) in atherosclerosis, we overexpressed it specifically in the vascular wall of C57B6/SJL mice by using the murine Preproendothelin-1 promoter. The mice overexpressing 15-LO were crossbred with low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor–deficient mice to investigate atherogenesis. High levels of 15-LO were expressed in the atherosclerotic lesion in the double-transgenic mice as assessed by immunohistochemistry. The double-transgenic, 15-LO–overexpressing, LDL receptor–deficient mice (LDLR−/−/15LO) developed significantly larger atherosclerotic lesions at the aortic sinus compared with lesions in the LDL receptor–deficient (LDLR−/−) mice after 3 and 6 weeks (107 000 versus 28 000 μm2 [ P <0.001] and 121 000 versus 87 000 μm2 [ P <0.05], respectively) of an atherogenic diet. LDL from the LDLR−/−/15LO mice was more susceptible to oxidation than was the LDL from the control LDLR−/− mice, as shown by a shorter lag period for copper-induced conjugated diene formation. On the other hand, no differences were found in the levels of serum anti–oxidized LDL antibodies between the study groups. There were also no differences with respect to the density of macrophages and T lymphocytes infiltrating the lesions in both experimental groups. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that 15-LO overexpression in the vessel wall is associated with enhanced atherogenesis.

  • targeting gene expression to the vascular wall in transgenic mice using the murine Preproendothelin 1 promoter
    Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1995
    Co-Authors: Dror Harats, Paula Nanette Belloni, Heather Oakley, Amy Ziober, Gary Cain, Richard Lawn, Yukiko Kurihara, Hiroki Kurihara, D. Ackley, Elliott Sigal
    Abstract:

    To develop a system for overexpressing genes in the vascular wall, we created transgenic mice using the reporter gene luciferase and the murine Preproendothelin-1 promoter. In vitro analysis suggested that the murine 5'-flanking region contained endothelial-specific elements in a 5.9-kb fragment. Five transgenic mice colonies established from independent founders all exhibited the highest level of luciferase activity in the aorta with up to 8,540 light units per microgram of protein. Immunohistochemistry with anti-luciferase antisera revealed high levels of expression in the endothelial cells of both large and small arteries and lower levels of expression in veins and capillaries. Significant expression was also seen in arterial smooth muscle cells and in select epithelial surfaces which is consistent with the known distribution of endothelin-1 in mammals. To further demonstrate the targeting capability of this system, we overexpressed the lipid-peroxidating enzyme, human 15-lipoxygenase, in the vessel wall of transgenic mice. As with luciferase, expression of active enzyme and immunohistochemical localization in vascular cells were documented in transgenic animals. Hence, this new system can be used to direct expression of molecules to the vascular wall for the purpose of examining the biological significance of either overexpression or inhibition of select proteins. (J. Clin. Invest. 1995. 95:1335-1344.)

Maurice Wibo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • amlodipine at high dose increases Preproendothelin 1 expression in the ventricles and aorta of normotensive rats
    Journal of Hypertension, 2004
    Co-Authors: Peter Krenek, Nicole Morel, Jan Kyselovic, Maurice Wibo
    Abstract:

    BACKGROUND: High doses of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers can activate the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system. Both noradrenaline and angiotensin II stimulate Preproendothelin-1 gene expression, yet the effects of high doses of dihydropyridines on Preproendothelin-1 expression in vivo remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of high doses of dihydropyridines on Preproendothelin-1 expression in the ventricles and aorta of normotensive rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with amlodipine 5 or 20 mg/kg per day (Amlo 5 or Amlo 20) in drinking water for 5 days or 5 weeks. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured by tail-cuff plethysmography. Gene expression was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Amlo 5 increased heart rate during the first week only and had no effect on blood pressure and ventricular weight and gene expression. Amlo 20 reduced blood pressure transiently and increased heart rate consistently. It did not change relative left ventricular weight (corrected for body weight) after 5 days, but increased it after 5 weeks; it increased relative right ventricular weight at both time points. Aorta weight (mg/mm) was decreased after 5 weeks of treatment with both dosages of amlodipine. Preproendothelin-1 mRNA levels were increased by Amlo 20 in the ventricles and aorta and, concomitantly, renin mRNA was increased in the kidney. Less consistently, interleukin-6 mRNA also increased in ventricles, whereas cardiotrophin-1 mRNA remained unchanged. The sensitivity of isolated aorta to the contractile effect of noradrenaline was decreased by Amlo 5, but not by Amlo 20. CONCLUSIONS: In Sprague-Dawley rats, high-dose amlodipine, while promoting neurohormonal activation, induced overexpression of Preproendothelin-1 mRNA in the ventricles and aorta. Endothelin-1 overexpression could contribute to the lack of inhibitory effect of high-dose amlodipine on ventricular mass in normotensive rats.

  • lacidipine prevents endothelial dysfunction in salt loaded stroke prone hypertensive rats
    Hypertension, 2001
    Co-Authors: Peter Krenek, Nicole Morel, Maurice Wibo, Jan Kyselovic, Salvatore Salomone, Theophile Godfraind
    Abstract:

    Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation is defective in hypertensive rats, especially in conduit arteries. In the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat, impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of stroke independent of blood pressure. Because treatment with lacidipine, a long-acting calcium channel blocker, protects against stroke and cardiovascular remodeling in this model, we investigated the effect of this treatment on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in the aorta. Stroke-prone rats were exposed to a salt-rich diet (1% NaCl in drinking water) with or without lacidipine (1 mg. kg(-1). d(-1)) for 6 weeks. A high-sodium diet (1) increased systolic blood pressure, aortic weight, and wall thickness and plasma renin activity (P<0.05); (2) markedly reduced nitric oxide (NO)-mediated, endothelium-dependent relaxation of aortic rings to acetylcholine and the sensitivity to the relaxing effect of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, an NO donor (P<0.001); and (3) induced an elevation of Preproendothelin-1 mRNA levels in aortic tissue (P<0.01) without affecting endothelial NO synthase mRNA levels. Lacidipine treatment prevented the salt-dependent functional and structural alterations of the aorta, including the overexpression of the Preproendothelin-1 gene, and increased endothelial NO synthase mRNA levels in aortic tissue (P<0.01). In conclusion, lacidipine protects stroke-prone hypertensive rats against the impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation evoked by a salt-rich diet, and this effect may contribute to its beneficial effect against end-organ damage and stroke.

  • carvedilol and lacidipine prevent cardiac hypertrophy and endothelin 1 gene overexpression after aortic banding
    Hypertension, 1999
    Co-Authors: Pierreemmanuel Massart, Theophile Godfraind, Jan Kyselovic, Julian Donckier, Guy R Heyndrickx, Maurice Wibo
    Abstract:

    Carvedilol and lacidipine have been shown to exert cardioprotective effects in rat models of chronic hypertension. We investigated their effects in an acute model of pressure overload produced by suprarenal aortic constriction, in which enhanced myocardial production of endothelin-1 could play a crucial role. In the absence of drug treatment, after 1 week, aortic banding provoked an increase in carotid pressure associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (29%; P<0.01). These changes were accompanied by increased myocardial expression of Preproendothelin-1 (2.5 times; P<0.05) and skeletal alpha-actin (3.6 times; P<0.05), but the expression of cardiac alpha-actin was not modified. Oral administration of carvedilol at a dose of 30 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) to rats with aortic banding normalized carotid pressure and left ventricular weight as well as Preproendothelin-1 and skeletal alpha-actin gene expression. Carvedilol at a lower dose (7.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and lacidipine 1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) had only moderate and nonsignificant effects on carotid pressure but largely prevented left ventricular hypertrophy (P<0.01) and Preproendothelin-1 overexpression (P<0.05). Labetalol (60 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) tended to exert similar effects but insignificantly. These results show that the antihypertrophic properties of carvedilol and lacidipine are partly independent of their antihypertensive effects and may be related to their ability to blunt myocardial Preproendothelin-1 overexpression. Moreover, carvedilol at a dose of 7.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) did not prevent myocardial overexpression of skeletal alpha-actin, which suggests that, in this model, reexpression of a fetal gene can be activated by pressure overload independently of cardiac hypertrophy.

  • prevention of salt dependent cardiac remodeling and enhanced gene expression in stroke prone hypertensive rats by the long acting calcium channel blocker lacidipine
    Journal of Hypertension, 1998
    Co-Authors: Jan Kyselovic, Nicole Morel, Maurice Wibo, Theophile Godfraind
    Abstract:

    OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of the long-acting calcium channel blocker lacidipine on cardiovascular remodeling induced by salt loading in a genetic model of hypertension. DESIGN: We examined the influence of threshold doses of lacidipine, with little blood-pressure lowering effect, on cardiac weight and gene expression in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). METHODS: SHRSPs (8-week-old) were randomly allocated to four groups: control, salt-loaded SHRSP and salt-loaded SHRSP treated with lacidipine at 0.3 and 1 mg/kg per day. Systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. At the end of 6 weeks of treatment, ventricles were collected and weighed. Ventricular messenger RNA was extracted and subjected to Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Lacidipine (0.3 mg/kg per day) not only prevented the salt-dependent cardiac hypertrophy and the slight increase in systolic blood pressure induced by salt, but also prevented, largely or completely, salt-dependent increases in ventricular levels of several gene products: skeletal and cardiac alpha-actin, beta-myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC), type I collagen, long-lasting (L)-type calcium channel and Preproendothelin-1. At a higher dose of 1 mg/kg per day, lacidipine further decreased systolic blood pressure below the level of control SHRSP, completely prevented salt-dependent overexpression of the beta-MHC gene and markedly attenuated salt-dependent overexpression of the transforming growth factor-beta1 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Lacidipine prevents the cardiac remodeling and enhanced gene expression induced by salt loading in SHRSP at doses that only minimally affect the high systolic blood pressure.