Ang-(1-7) treatment attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced early pulmonary fibrosis

Lab Invest. 2019 Dec;99(12):1770-1783. doi: 10.1038/s41374-019-0289-7. Epub 2019 Jul 5.

Abstract

Early pulmonary fibrosis is the leading cause of poor prognosis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, whether the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can serve as a therapeutic target is unknown. In this study, an animal model of early pulmonary fibrosis was established via the LPS three-hit regimen. Afterwards, the animals were treated with intraperitoneal injections of Ang-(1-7), AVE0991, or A779 once per day for 20 days. The plasma and BALF AngII levels of the animals were increased, while there were no significant changes in Ang-(1-7) levels in lung tissue after LPS treatment. Furthermore, the AT1R protein levels were significantly increased and the Mas levels were significantly decreased on days 14 and 21. Administration of Ang-(1-7) downregulated LPS-induced AT1R mRNA expression, which was upregulated by A779. The expression of Mas mRNA responded in the opposite direction relative to AT1R. Moreover, LPS caused decreased levels of Mas and E-cadherin and increased AT1R, Vimentin, and Src phosphorylation levels. Ang-(1-7) or AVE0991 blocked these effects but was counteracted by A779 treatment. Our findings suggested that AngII and AT1R levels exhibit opposite dynamic trends during LPS-induced early pulmonary fibrosis, as do Ang-(1-7) and Mas. Ang-(1-7) exerts protective effects against early pulmonary fibrosis, mainly by regulating the balance between AngII and AT1R and between Ang-(1-7) and Mas and by inhibiting Src kinase activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin I / blood
  • Angiotensin I / therapeutic use*
  • Angiotensin II / analogs & derivatives*
  • Angiotensin II / blood
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology
  • Angiotensin II / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Imidazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / blood
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Peptide Fragments / therapeutic use*
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / agonists
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / blood
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / agonists
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / blood
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • 7-Ala-angiotensin (1-7)
  • AVE 0991
  • Cadherins
  • Imidazoles
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Vimentin
  • Angiotensin II
  • Angiotensin I
  • angiotensin I (1-7)