Objective: This study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of valsartan chronotherapy in regulating blood pressure variability.
Methods: RT-PCR was used to assay clock genes expression rhythm in the hypothalamus, aortic vessels, and target organs after valsartan chronotherapy. WB was used to measure Period 1 (Per1), Period 2 (Per2) protein expression in aortic vessels, as well as to measure phosphorylation of 20-kDa regulatory myosin light chain (MLC20) in VSMCs.
Results: Specific clock genes in the hypothalamus, and Per1 and Per2 in aorta abdominalis, exhibited disordered circadian expression in vivo. Valsartan asleep time administration (VSA) restored circadian clock gene expression in a tissue- and gene-specific manner. In vitro, VSA was more efficient in blocking angiotensin II relative to VWA, which led to differential circadian rhythms of Per1 and Per2, ultimately corrected MLC20 phosphorylation.
Conclusion: VSA may be efficacious in regulating circadian clock genes rhythm, then concomitantly correct circadian blood pressure rhythms.
Keywords: Circadian blood pressure rhythm; MLC20 phosphorylation; clock genes; valsartan chronotherapy; vascular smooth muscle cells.