Cardioprotective effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist associated with bradykinin-endothelial nitric oxide synthase and oxidative stress in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats

Objectives The interactions between eNOS or oxidative stress and bradykinin under long-term treatment of angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (ATRA) remain unknown. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the cardioprotective effect of ATRA, we evaluated whether valsartan affects the bradykinin-eNOS and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(P)H) oxidase pathway. Methods After 5 weeks of feeding an 8% NaCl diet to 6-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive (DS) rats, a distinct stage of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was noted. Six-week-old DS rats were treated with one of the following drug combinations for 5 weeks until the onset of LVH: vehicle; bradykinin B-2 receptor antagonist FR172357 alone; high-dose hydralazine; low-dose hydralazine; high-dose valsartan; low-dose valsartan; high and low-dose valsartan plus FR172357. Age-matched Dahl salt-resistant rats fed the same diet served as controls. Results eNOS expression and activity, which was decreased in hypertrophy, was increased by high or low-dose valsartan, but not by high and low-dose valsartan plus FR172357 or FR172357 alone or high and low-dose hydralazine. The increased expression of NAD(P)H oxidase p22phox, p47phox, p67phox, and gp91 phox in DS rats was suppressed by high or low-dose valsartan, but not by high or low-dose valsartan plus FR172357 or FR172357 alone or high and low-dose hydralazine. Valsartan effectively inhibited vascular lesion formation and suppressed the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1, connective tissue growth factor, and type I collagen, but not valsartan plus FR172357 or FR172357 alone or high and low-dose hydralazine. Conclusion These findings suggest that valsartan may have cardioprotective effects in this model, partly associated with the bradykinin-eNOS and oxidative stress pathway.