Hypertension is considered a low-grade inflammatory condition induced by various proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Recent studies have implicated an involvement of TNF-α in the development of salt-sensitive hypertension induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). To understand further the relationship between TNF-α and Ang II, we examined the responses to Ang II in TNF-α knockout (TNF-α^−/−) mice in the present study. A continuous infusion of Ang II (1 μg/kg per minute) for 2 weeks was given to both TNF-α^−/−and wild-type (WT) mice with implanted osmotic minipumps. Daily measurement of water intake, salt intake, and urine output were performed using metabolic cages. Blood pressure was monitored continuously with implanted radiotelemetry. Ang II administration for 2 weeks caused increases in salt (0.2±0.07 to 5.6±0.95 mL/d) and water (5.4±0.34 to 11.5±1.2 mL/d) intake and in mean arterial pressure (115±1 to 151±3 mm Hg) in wild-type mice, but these responses were absent in TNF-α^−/−mice (0.2±0.04 to 0.3±0.09 mL/d, 5.5±0.2 to 6.1±0.07 mL/d, and 113±2 to 123±3 mm Hg, respectively). Cardiac hypertrophy induced by Ang II was significantly attenuated in TNF-α^−/−mice compared with wild-type mice. In a group of TNF-α^−/−mice, when replacement therapy was made with recombinant TNF-α, Ang II induced similar responses in salt appetite, mean arterial pressure, and cardiac hypertrophy, as observed in wild-type mice. These results suggest that TNF-α plays a mechanistic role in mediating chronic Ang II–induced effects on salt appetite and blood pressure, as well as on cardiac hypertrophy.

Inflammatory molecules and their transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), are thought to play important roles in diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction. Here, we investigated the effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a NF-κB inhibitor, in diabetic mice. Obese db/db mice and heterozygous lean mice (n = 8) were allowed free access to drinking water (control) or water containing PDTC (100 mg/kg) for 20 weeks. Left ventricular (LV) function was measured using echocardiography at baseline and at study end. Mice were sacrificed and LV removed for gene expression, biochemical, immunofluorescence, and mitochondrial assays. LV and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide and peroxynitrite were measured using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Enhanced NF-κB activity in db/db mice was associated with increased oxidative stress as demonstrated by increased ROS, superoxide, and peroxynitrite production, and increased NF-κB, gp91phox, and Nox1 expression; PDTC ameliorated these effects. Mitochondrial free radical production and structural damage were higher in the db/db group than in the control, db/db PDTC, and PDTC-treated heterozygous animal groups. This study demonstrates that NF-κB blockade with PDTC mitigates oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial structural integrity directly, through down-regulation of increased oxygen-free radicals, thereby increasing ATP synthesis and thus restoring cardiac function in type II diabetes.

Reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory cytokines contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Inhibition of downstream transcription factors and gene modifiers of these components are key mediators of hypertensive response. Histone acetylases/deacetylases can modulate the gene expression of these hypertrophic and hypertensive components. Therefore, we hypothesized that long-term inhibition of histone deacetylase with valproic acid might attenuate hypertrophic and hypertensive responses by modulating reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory cytokines in SHR rats. Seven-week-old SHR and WKY rats were used in this study. Following baseline blood pressure measurement, rats were administered valproic acid in drinking water (0.71% wt/vol) or vehicle, with pressure measured weekly thereafter. Another set of rats were treated with hydralazine (25 mg/kg per day orally) to determine the pressure-independent effects of HDAC inhibition on hypertension. Following 20 weeks of treatment, heart function was measured using echocardiography, rats were euthanized, and heart tissue was collected for measurement of total reactive oxygen species, as well as proinflammatory cytokine, cardiac hypertrophic, and oxidative stress gene and protein expressions. Blood pressure, proinflammatory cytokines, hypertrophic markers, and reactive oxygen species were increased in SHR versus WKY rats. These changes were decreased in valproic acid-treated SHR rats, whereas hydralazine treatment only reduced blood pressure. These data indicate that long-term histone deacetylase inhibition, independent of the blood pressure response, reduces hypertrophic, proinflammatory, and hypertensive responses by decreasing reactive oxygen species and angiotensin II type1 receptor expression in the heart, demonstrating the importance of uncontrolled histone deacetylase activity in hypertension.

Angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced inflammatory and oxidative stress responses contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. In this study, we determined whether nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) increases oxidative stress and contributes to the ANG II-induced hypertensive response. Rats were infused intravenously with ANG II (10 ng/kg per min) or saline for 4 weeks. These rats received either vehicle or losartan (LOS, 20 µg/h), an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) antagonist; pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, 5 µg/h), a NF-κB inhibitor; tempol (TEMP, 80 µg/h), a superoxide scavenger; LOS (20 µg/h), and PDTC (5 µg/h); or TEMP (80 µg/h) and PDTC (5 µg/h), given intracerebroventricularly (ICV) via osmotic minipump. ANG II infusion resulted in increased mean arterial pressure, renal sympathetic nerve activity, plasma proinflammatory cytokines (PIC), norepinephrine, and aldosterone. These rats also had higher levels of Fra-LI (an indicator of chronic neuronal activation), PIC, phosphorylated IKKβ, NF-κB subunits, AT1-R, superoxide, and gp91^phox (a subunit of NADP(H) oxidase) and lower levels of IκBα in the PVN than control animals. ICV treatment with LOS, PDTC, or TEMP attenuated these changes, and combined treatment with ICV LOS and PDTC, or ICV TEMP and PDTC prevented these ANG II-induced hypertensive responses. These findings suggest that an ANG II-induced increase in the brain renin–angiotensin system activates NF-κB in the PVN and contributes to sympathoexcitation in hypertension. The increased superoxide in the PVN contributes to NF-κB activation and neurohumoral excitation in hypertension.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been shown to have both central and peripheral effects in mediating hypertension, for which the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is an important brain cardio-regulatory centre. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as a negative regulator of the pro-hypertensive actions of Ang II. Recent findings from our laboratory suggest that Ang II infusion decreases ACE2 expression in the PVN. In the present study, we hypothesized that ACE2 overexpression in the PVN will have beneficial effects in counteracting Ang II-induced hypertension. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Bilateral microinjection of an adenovirus encoding hACE2 (Ad-ACE2) into the PVN was used to overexpress ACE2 within this region. Mean arterial pressure measured by radiotelemetry was significantly increased after 14 days in Ang II-infused (200 ng/kg/min) rats vs. saline-infused controls (162.9 ± 3.6 vs. 102.3 ± 1.5 mmHg). Bilateral PVN microinjection of Ad-ACE2 attenuated this Ang II-induced hypertension (130.2 ± 5.7 vs. 162.9 ± 3.6 mmHg). ACE2 overexpression also significantly decreased AT₁R and ACE expression and increased AT₂R and Mas expression in the PVN. Additionally, ACE2 overexpression in the PVN attenuated the Ang II-induced increase in the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in the PVN. Our findings suggest that attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the PVN in combination with the shift of the renin–angiotensin system towards the anti-hypertensive axis (ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas) may be responsible for the overall beneficial effects of ACE2 overexpression in the PVN on the Ang II-induced hypertensive response.

Understanding the novel signalling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension is vital for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Recent evidence suggests a role for Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Although brain has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension, the role of brain TLR4 in hypertension is largely unexplored. Therefore, we investigated the role of brain TLR4 in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertension and whether central TLR4 blockade has cardioprotective effects in hypertension. Hypertension was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by delivering AngII for 14 days. The rats were administered either specific TLR4 blocker, viral inhibitory peptide (VIPER), or control peptide, intracerebroventricularly. Blood pressure, and cardiac hypertrophy and function, was evaluated by radiotelemetry and echocardiography, respectively. Blood and paraventricular nucleus were collected for measurement of plasma norepinephrine (NE), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and TLR4 expression, respectively. Heart was analysed for TNF-α, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), and renin–angiotensin system (RAS) components. Hypertensive rats had dramatically increased TLR4 expression compared with normotensive rats. Central blockade of TLR4 delayed progression of hypertension and improved cardiac hypertrophy and function in hypertensive rats. TLR4 blockade significantly reduced myocardial TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS levels, NFκB activity, and altered RAS components in hypertensive rats. These results were associated with reduced circulating NE levels in VIPER-treated hypertensive rats. These results provide mechanistic evidence that AngII-induced hypertensive effects are mediated, at least in part, by brain TLR4, and that brain TLR4 blockade attenuates AngII-induced hypertensive response, possibly via down-regulation of myocardial inflammatory molecules and sympathetic activity.