T regulatory lymphocytes prevent angiotensin II-induced hypertension and vascular injury

Hypertension. 2011 Mar;57(3):469-76. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.110.162941. Epub 2011 Jan 24.

Abstract

Angiotensin (Ang) II induces hypertension by mechanisms mediated in part by adaptive immunity and T effector lymphocytes. T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) suppress T effector lymphocytes. We questioned whether Treg adoptive transfer would blunt Ang II-induced hypertension and vascular injury. Ten- to 12-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected IV with 3 ×10(5) Treg (CD4(+)CD25(+)) or T effector (CD4(+)CD25(-)) cells, 3 times at 2-week intervals, and then infused or not with Ang II (1 μg/kg per minute, SC) for 14 days. Ang II increased systolic blood pressure by 43 mm Hg (P<0.05), NADPH oxidase activity 1.5-fold in aorta and 1.8-fold in the heart (P<0.05), impaired acetylcholine vasodilatory responses by 70% compared with control (P<0.05), and increased vascular stiffness (P<0.001), mesenteric artery vascular cell adhesion molecule expression (2-fold; P<0.05), and aortic macrophage and T-cell infiltration (P<0.001). All of the above were prevented by Treg but not T effector adoptive transfer. Ang II caused a 43% decrease in Foxp3(+) cells in the renal cortex, whereas Treg adoptive transfer increased Foxp3(+) cells 2-fold compared with control. Thus, Tregs suppress Ang II-mediated vascular injury in part through anti-inflammatory actions. Immune mechanisms modulate Ang II-induced blood pressure elevation, vascular oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology
  • Adaptive Immunity / immunology*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / immunology
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / immunology*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / immunology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / immunology*
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mesenteric Arteries / immunology
  • Mesenteric Arteries / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / immunology
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Angiotensin II
  • Acetylcholine