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Angiotensin II sustains brain inflammation in mice via TGF-β
Tobias V. Lanz, … , Tony Wyss-Coray, Lawrence Steinman
Tobias V. Lanz, … , Tony Wyss-Coray, Lawrence Steinman
Published July 12, 2010
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2010;120(8):2782-2794. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI41709.
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Research Article Immunology

Angiotensin II sustains brain inflammation in mice via TGF-β

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Abstract

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a key hormonal system regulating blood pressure. However, expression of RAAS components has recently been detected in immune cells, and the RAAS has been implicated in several mouse models of autoimmune disease. Here, we have identified Ang II as a paracrine mediator, sustaining inflammation in the CNS in the EAE mouse model of MS via TGF-β. Ang II type 1 receptors (AT1Rs) were found to be primarily expressed in CNS-resident cells during EAE. In vitro, astrocytes and microglia responded to Ang II treatment by inducing TGF-β expression via a pathway involving the TGF-β–activating protease thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). TGF-β upregulation in astrocytes and microglia during EAE was blocked with candesartan (CA), an inhibitor of AT1R. Treatment of EAE with CA ameliorated paralysis and blunted lymphocyte infiltration into the CNS, outcomes that were also seen with genetic ablation of AT1Ra and treatment with an inhibitor of TSP-1. These data suggest that AT1R antagonists, frequently prescribed as antihypertensives, may be useful to interrupt this proinflammatory, CNS-specific pathway in individuals with MS.

Authors

Tobias V. Lanz, Zhaoqing Ding, Peggy P. Ho, Jian Luo, Ankur N. Agrawal, Hrishikesh Srinagesh, Robert Axtell, Hui Zhang, Michael Platten, Tony Wyss-Coray, Lawrence Steinman

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Figure 3

Ang II drives upregulation of TGF-β during chronic EAE.

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Ang II drives upregulation of TGF-β during chronic EAE.
(A–D) Fluorescen...
(A–D) Fluorescence triple staining for TGF-β (red), AT1R (green), and the following specific cellular markers (blue) as well as the merge of the 3 stainings: (A) astrocytes, (B) microglial cells, (C) neurons, and (D) CD4+ T cells. The merge shows expression of both AT1R and TGF-β in astrocytes, microglia, and neurons. Scale bars: 50 μm. (E) Spinal cord slices stained for TGF-β. During EAE, TGF-β is upregulated in the CNS compared with healthy mice. CA treatment suppresses TGF-β expression. One representative slide of each group is shown. Scale bars: 100 μm. (F) Statistical evaluation of the experiment shown in E. TGF-β staining intensities were evaluated with MetaMorph software and normalized on the healthy control group. Statistical analyses of 5 spinal cord slices per mouse are shown (n = 5 mice per group; mean ± SEM). *P < 0.02 (Student’s t test).

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