T regulatory lymphocytes prevent aldosterone-induced vascular injury

DA Kasal, T Barhoumi, MW Li, N Yamamoto… - …, 2012 - Am Heart Assoc
DA Kasal, T Barhoumi, MW Li, N Yamamoto, E Zdanovich, A Rehman, MF Neves, P Laurant…
Hypertension, 2012Am Heart Assoc
Aldosterone mediates actions of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inducing
hypertension, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation. Recently, we showed that
angiotensin II–induced hypertension and vascular damage are mediated at least in part by
macrophages and T-helper effector lymphocytes. Adoptive transfer of suppressor T-
regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) prevented angiotensin II action. We hypothesized that Treg
adoptive transfer would blunt aldosterone-induced hypertension and vascular damage …
Aldosterone mediates actions of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inducing hypertension, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation. Recently, we showed that angiotensin II–induced hypertension and vascular damage are mediated at least in part by macrophages and T-helper effector lymphocytes. Adoptive transfer of suppressor T-regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) prevented angiotensin II action. We hypothesized that Treg adoptive transfer would blunt aldosterone-induced hypertension and vascular damage. Thirteen to 15-week–old male C57BL/6 mice were injected intravenously at 1-week intervals with 3×105 CD4+CD25+ cells (representing Treg) or control CD4+CD25 cells and then infused or not for 14 days with aldosterone (600 μg/kg per day, SC) while receiving 1% saline to drink. Aldosterone induced a small but sustained increase in blood pressure (P<0.001), decreased vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine by 66% (P<0.001), increased both media:lumen ratio (P<0.001) and media cross-sectional area of resistance arteries by 60% (P<0.05), and increased NADPH oxidase activity 2-fold in aorta (P<0.001), kidney and heart (P<0.05), and aortic superoxide production. As well, aldosterone enhanced aortic and renal cortex macrophage infiltration and aortic T-cell infiltration (all P<0.05), and tended to decrease Treg in the renal cortex. Treg adoptive transfer prevented all of the vascular and renal effects induced by aldosterone. Adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25 cells exacerbated aldosterone effects except endothelial dysfunction and increases in media:lumen ratio of resistance arteries. Thus, Tregs suppress aldosterone-mediated vascular injury, in part through effects on innate and adaptive immunity, suggesting that aldosterone-induced vascular damage could be prevented by an immunomodulatory approach.
Am Heart Assoc