Role of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Inflammatory Reactions by Angiotensin II

Abstract

Previous investigations have demonstrated that angiotensin (Ang) II induces inflammatory reactions and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous NOS inhibitor, might be a novel inflammatory factor. Endothelial cell activation was induced by incubation with Ang II or ADMA. Incubation with Ang II (10^–6M) for 24 h elevated the levels of ADMA and decreased the levels of nitrite/nitrate concomitantly with a significant increase in the expression of protein arginine methyltransferase and a decrease in the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH). Exposure to Ang II (10^–6M for 24 h) also enhanced intracellular ROS elaboration and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8, upregulated chemokine receptor CXCR₂ mRNA expression, increased adhesion of endothelial cells to monocytes and induced a significant increase in the activity of nuclear factor (NF)-ĸB, which was attenuated by pretreatment with the Ang II receptor blocker losartan (1, 3 and 10 µM). Exogenous ADMA (30 µM) also increased ROS generation and the levels of TNF-α and IL-8, decreased the levels of nitrite/nitrate, upregulated CXCR₂ gene expression, increased endothelial cell binding with monocytes and activated the NF-ĸB pathway, which was inhibited by pretreatment with losartan or L-arginine. These data suggest that ADMA is a potential proinflammatory factor and may be involved in the inflammatory reaction induced by Ang II.