Abstract P290: Central Angiotensin II and Interleukin-1©¬ Upregulate Brain Tumor Necrosis Factor-¥å Converting Enzyme in the Rat

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17) proteolytically cleaves the extracellular domain of transmembrane TNF-α to release the soluble form of TNF-α that contributes to augmented sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure (HF) and hypertension (HTN). Our previous study indicated that TACE is upregulated in the subfornical organ (SFO) and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), two key cardiovascular and autonomic brain centers, in rats with ischemia-induced HF, and is associated with TNF-α –induced sympathetic excitation in that setting. However, the mechanisms regulating TACE activity in the brain remain a mystery. The present study sought to determine whether angiotensin II (ANG II) or interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which increase in SFO and PVN in HF, upregulate TACE expression. Urethane anesthetized male SD rats underwent a 4- hour intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), ANG II (100 ng/hr) or IL-1β (50 ng/hr). Some rats were euthanized to collect SFO and PVN tissues to measure TACE mRNA and protein; others were transcardially perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde to immunostain for TACE in SFO and PVN. ICV infusion of ANG II (n=6) or IL-1β (n=6) significantly (*p<0.05) increased TACE mRNA level (fold change) in SFO (2.54 ± 0.24* and 2.36 ± 0.21*, respectively) and PVN (2.39* ± 0.25 and 2.23 ± 0.20*, respectively) compared with ICV aCSF infusion. Western blot analysis also revealed a significant increase in the TACE protein (normalized to β-actin) in ANG II or IL-1β infused rats in SFO (0.31±0.06* and 0.26±0.05* respectively) and PVN (0.27 ± 0.04*, 0.24 ± 0.03*, respectively) compared with ICV aCSF-infused rats (SFO: 0.12±0.05; PVN: 0.09±0.04). Confocal images exhibited that TACE-like immunoreactivity was markedly higher in all four subdivisions of PVN and in SFO in rats treated with ICV ANG II or IL-1β, compared with aCSF-infused rats. These data indicate that ANG II and IL-1β upregulate TACE expression in SFO and PVN, suggesting that activation of the renin-angiotensin system and augmented inflammation may upregulate TACE expression in the SFO and PVN in HF and HTN. TACE-mediated ectodomain shedding in SFO and PVN may contribute to ANG II- and cytokine-driven sympathoexcitation in HF and HTN.