Abstract MP04: Cardiac ACE2/Angiotensin-(1-7) in Rats Expressing Human Angiotensinogen Gene

Abstract

When compared to Sprague Dawley (SD) control rats, transgenic rats expressing the human angiotensinogen (AGT) gene [TGR(hAGT)L1623] exhibit hypertension associated with cardiac hypertrophy and higher cardiac tissue angiotensin (Ang) II. Whether the hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in these rats expressing the human AGT are related to a non-canonical pathway for Ang II formation or suppression of the counter regulatory mechanism mediated by ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) has not been established. Consequently, cardiac peptides were determined by RIA in 9 [TGR(hAGT)L1623] and 11 SD male rats (17 weeks of age). ACE2 activities in homogenized heart tissues were determined by HPLC. Cardiac Ang II content was four times higher (37.05 ± 5.04 vs. 9.62 ± 0.93 fmol/mg protein; p <0.0001) while the Ang-(1-7) level increased only 1.3 times (18.02 ± 1.62 vs 13.37 ± 1.74 fmol/mg protein; p=0.06) in TGR(hAGT)L1623 rats when compared with SD rats. Although, the Ang II/Ang-(1-7) ratio was higher in transgenic rats harboring the human AGT gene (2.10 ± 0.27 vs 0.90 ± 0.19; p <0.005), ACE2 activities between these two strains of animals were not different (12.21 ± 0.76 vs. 10.80 ± 0.91 fmol/min/mg; p >0.05). Since human AGT protein is not cleaved by rat renin, our data continues to support the view that hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in this transgenic strain are induced by activation of a non-renin mechanism rather than a primary suppression of the compensatory Ang II degrading pathway mediated by ACE2. Further studies are necessary to determine the role of enzymes affecting Ang-(1-7) metabolism in the observed inadequate balance between Ang II and Ang-(1-7).