1.Dose-Dependent Bidirectional Effect of Angiotensin IV on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm via Variable Angiotensin Receptor Stimulation.
Kong J1, Zhang K1, Meng X1, Zhang Y2, Zhang C2. Hypertension. 2015 Sep;66(3):617-26. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.05482. Epub 2015 Aug 3.
Angiotensin IV (Ang IV), as an effector peptide of the rennin-angiotensin system, possesses many biological properties yet not completely known. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Ang IV in the development of Ang II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice. We used Ang II infusion to induce AAA, and animals were treated with Ang II (1.44 mg/kg per day) plus no treatment, Ang II (1.44 mg/kg per day) plus low-, medium-, and high-dose Ang IV (0.72, 1.44, and 2.88 mg/kg per day, respectively). The incidence of AAA was 87.5%, 66.7%, 37.5%, and 83.3% in the no treatment, the low-, medium-, or high-dose Ang IV group, respectively. Compared with the no treatment group, medium-dose Ang IV treatment markedly reduced macrophage infiltration; levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin 6, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1; the expression and activity of metalloproteinases 2 and 9; but increased smooth muscle cells, and collagen content in AAA.
2.Angiotensin IV possibly acts through PKMzeta in the hippocampus to regulate cognitive memory in rats.
Chow LH1, Tao PL2, Chen YH3, Lin YH4, Huang EY5. Neuropeptides. 2015 Oct;53:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2015.09.004. Epub 2015 Sep 14.
Ang IV is an endogenous peptide generated from the degradation of angiotensin II. Ang IV was found to enhance learning and memory in CNS. PKMzeta was identified to be a fragment of PKCzeta (protein kinase Czeta). Its continuous activation was demonstrated to be correlated with the formation of memory in the hippocampus. Therefore, we investigated whether PKMzeta participates in the effects of Ang IV on memory. We first examined the effect of Ang IV on non-spatial memory/cognition in modified object recognition test in rats. Our data showed that Ang IV could increase the exploration time on novel object. The co-administration of ZIP (PKMzeta inhibitor) with Ang IV significantly blocked the effect by Ang IV. The effects of Ang IV on hippocampal LTP at the CA1 region were also evaluated. Ang IV significantly increased the amplitude and slope of the EPSPs, which was consistent with other reports. Surprisingly, instead of potentiating LTP, Ang IV caused a failed maintenance of LTP.
3.Behavioral and Hemodynamic Effects of Free and Protein-Bound Angiotensin IV in Rats in Experimental Hypo- and Hyperglycemia: Comparative Aspects.
Tolpygo SM1, Pevtsova EI, Kotov AV. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2015 Jul;159(3):297-301. doi: 10.1007/s10517-015-2946-1. Epub 2015 Jul 25.
In rats with acute hypo- and hyperglycemia the initial effects of free angiotensin IV and its complexes with functionally different carrier proteins (transport protein BSA, neuron-specific protein S100b) on hemodynamics and behavior of rats were qualitatively altered, in comparison with those in intact animals. At the same time, free angiotensin IV under conditions of hypo- and hyperglycemia paradoxically acquired functions of angiotensin II (moderate hypertension, tachycardia, polydipsia and activation of instrumental drinking behavior). Concurrently, complexes of angiotensin IV with BSA and S100b acquired functions of free angiotensin IV (hypotensia, suppression of drinking behavior). It is suggested that complexes of angiotensin IV with functionally different proteins are involved in a differentiated way first in compensation of behavior and hemodynamics impairment produced by acute and/or chronic hypo- and hyperglycemia, and then in qualitative transformation of these adaptive processes into stable pathological condition involving mechanisms of so called "metabolic memory".
4.Angiotensin IV protects cardiac reperfusion injury by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation via AT4R in rats.
Park BM1, Cha SA1, Lee SH2, Kim SH3. Peptides. 2016 May;79:66-74. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.03.017. Epub 2016 Mar 30.
Angiotensin IV (Ang IV) is formed by aminopeptidase N from Ang III by removing the first N-terminal amino acid. Previously, we reported that Ang III has some cardioprotective effects against global ischemia in Langendorff heart. However, it is not clear whether Ang IV has cardioprotective effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Ang IV on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Before ischemia, male Sprague-Dawley rats received Ang IV (1mg/kg/day) for 3 days. Anesthetized rats were subjected to 45min of ischemia by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion and then, sacrificed 1 day or 1 week after reperfusion. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations, and infarct size were measured. Quantitative analysis of apoptotic and inflammatory proteins in ventricles were performed using Western blotting. Pretreatment with Ang IV attenuated I/R-induced increases in plasma CK and LDH levels, and infarct size, which were blunted by Ang IV receptor (AT4R) antagonist and but not by antagonist for AT1R, AT2R, or Mas receptor.
