S-07-6: NEUTROPHIL EXTRACELLULAR TRAPS AS MEDIATORS OF ENDOTHELIAL DAMAGE IN HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES

Abstract

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and diabetes, yet its molecular determinants are poorly understood. Concomitant hypertension and diabetes can synergistically increase damage to the vasculature, with increasing evidence suggesting that resulting immune dysregulation may contribute to endothelial injury. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), networks of chromatin and protein-containing extracellular fibers released to fight infection, are generated from neutrophils following activation of the citrullinating enzyme peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4). PAD4 has been shown to be upregulated in atherosclerosis, vasculitis, and various inflammatory autoimmune diseases, leading to NET-induced endothelial injury. Whether NETs could contribute to hypertension- and diabetes-induced ED has not been established. The objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of hypertension and diabetes on PAD4 activity and the contribution of NETs to resulting vascular injury. Design and Methods: Promyelocytic HL-60 cells were differentiated to neutrophil-like cells and treated with angiotensin II (10−7 M) and/or high glucose (25 mM) for 24 hours, with or without subsequent NET-inducing PMA stimulation (500 nM). NETs were isolated from the culture medium by differential centrifugation and assessed by Western blot analysis of citrullinated histone H3 (citH3, a primary NET component). Isolated NETs were used to treat Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) at 0.5–500 ng/ml for 24 hours, after which cell viability (XTT cell assay) and proliferation (BrdU assay) were measured. We also assessed NETosis in mice expressing human renin in the liver (TTRhRen) intercrossed with OVE26 diabetic mice [i.e. hypertensive-diabetic, HD mice], compared with wild-type (WT) FVBN/J mice. We examined kidney levels of citH3, neutrophil elastase (NE), and PAD4 expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: Treatment with high glucose, but not angiotensin II, increased citH3 levels in neutrophil-like cells. NETs isolated from PMA-stimulated cells decreased HUVEC viability by ∼2-fold at 5 ng/ml (P = < 0.0001), and dose dependently decreased proliferation from 0.5–500 ng/ml, with a ∼80% decrease at 500 ng/ml. In HD mice, we observed a significant increase in kidney levels of citH3 (P < 0.0001), NE (P < 0.0001), and PAD4 (P < 0.0001), which was associated with the presence of albuminuria and increased blood pressure levels. Conclusion: These results suggest that NETs are upregulated in hypertension and diabetes and may contribute to endothelial damage and microvascular injury.