Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2003;23:2021-2026
Published online before print September 4, 2003, doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000094235.78783.D1
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Data Supplement
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
23/11/2021    most recent
01.ATV.0000094235.78783.D1v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Jesmin, S.
Right arrow Articles by Kitabatake, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Jesmin, S.
Right arrow Articles by Kitabatake, A.
Related Collections
Right arrow ACE/Angiotension receptors
Right arrow Type 2 diabetes
Right arrow Other Vascular biology
(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2003;23:2021.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.


Vascular Biology

Role of Angiotensin II in Altered Expression of Molecules Responsible for Coronary Matrix Remodeling in Insulin-Resistant Diabetic Rats

Subrina Jesmin; Ichiro Sakuma; Yuichi Hattori; Akira Kitabatake

From the Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine (S.J., I.S., A.K.) and Pharmacology (Y.H.), Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Correspondence to Ichiro Sakuma, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan. E-mail sakuichi{at}seagreen.ocn.ne.jp


*    Abstract
up arrowTop
*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Objective— Coronary remodeling based on collagen abnormalities in diabetes might be associated with potential interactions between the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system, which regulates extracellular matrix turnover, and the fibrinolytic system, which is involved in the fibrin degradation process. We characterized the profiles of the MMP and fibrinolytic systems in insulin-resistant diabetic rat hearts.

Methods and Results— By immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) expression increased in coronary vessels, the perivascular area, and cardiomyocytes in diabetic rat hearts. Increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in coronary vessels and the perivascular area was evident in diabetic hearts. In contrast, diabetic hearts exhibited reduced activity and expression of MMP-2 and decreased expression of membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP). Both intravascular and extravascular collagen type I and III immunoreactivity and fibrin deposition were seen in diabetic coronary vessels. These alterations were reversed to nondiabetic levels by the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker candesartan, which prevented the development of perivascular fibrosis observed after Masson’s trichrome staining.

Conclusions— In addition to upregulation of PAI-1, downregulation of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP might play a crucial role in coronary matrix remodeling in insulin-resistant diabetes. These molecules appear to be regulated by angiotensin II via stimulation of TGF-ß1.


Key Words: matrix remodeling • matrix metalloproteinases • diabetes • plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 • angiotensin II


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Collagen in the normal adult heart serves several important functions, which include providing a supportive structural lattice for cardiomyocytes and coronary vessels and connecting individual myocytes and myofibrillar bundles to integrate individual cardiac contractions. However, a disproportionate increase in collagen accretion or collagen resorption from normal levels can cause defects in the function and supporting structural lattice of the heart. It has been widely known that diabetes is associated with alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover and regulation.1 Pathologic remodeling characterized by ECM deposition might contribute to cardiovascular complications that are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients.2 Alteration in diastolic filling of the left ventricle (LV) associated with reciprocal changes in the LV collagen gene and accumulation of cardiac collagen in diabetic rats3,4 suggest that increased interstitial cardiac collagen might cause cardiac fibrosis and result in greater LV stiffness and decreased LV wall compliance, thus leading to diastolic dysfunction and eventual heart failure in diabetes.

Clearly, an imbalance between ECM production and degradation must underlie the process of ECM expansion, but these dynamics in the diabetic heart are poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are primarily responsible for the breakdown of ECM proteins such as collagen and elastin, and their activity is tightly regulated by tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs).5,6 Recent experimental evidence indicates that expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 is altered in renal tissues and vasculature from diabetic animals and patients.7–10 However, whether and to what degree diabetes affects the cardiac expression profile of the MMP system remains unknown.

Some molecular interactions between the MMP and fibrinolytic systems might play a role in the regulation of ECM components. The fibrinolytic system contains plasminogen, which is converted to plasmin by tissue-type (t-PA) or urokinase-type (u-PA) plasminogen activator (PA). Plasmin degrades fibrin into soluble degradation products, which can be prevented by specific PA inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2). Recent observations in mice with inactivation of the main components of the fibrinolytic and MMP systems have suggested that the 2 systems, in concert, contribute to vascular remodeling in the setting of cardiovascular disease.11 Interestingly, fibrinolytic system activity is known to be diminished in diabetic and insulin-resistant, nondiabetic human subjects,12,13 which might be attributable to several mechanisms, including increased PAI-1 production.14

The renin-angiotensin system is a major determinant in the development of cardiac remodeling. Angiotensin II is known to stimulate fibrous tissue formation by promoting transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) synthesis via angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors.15 It has been shown that AT1 receptor blockade reduces myocardial hypertrophy, decreases myocardial fibrosis, and attenuates cardiac remodeling to the same degree as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in the rat ischemic heart failure model.16 Our recent work found that angiotensin II labeling and AT1 receptor expression in coronary vessels were profoundly increased in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of human non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM),17 compared with nondiabetic Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats.18 However, it is not known whether AT1 receptor blockade can produce a favorable effect on altered expression of molecules associated with ECM turnover and regulation that might contribute to the development of coronary remodeling seen in diabetes. This study aimed to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying coronary remodeling of ECM in the heart observed at the insulin-resistant stage of NIDDM in OLETF rats, and we sought to evaluate the therapeutic effect of candesartan, an AT1 receptor blocker, on the altered expression of molecules involved in coronary matrix remodeling in diabetic animals.


*    Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
The Methods section can be accessed online (please see http://atvb.ahajournals.org).


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
General Features of Animals
The characteristics of OLETF rats at 20 weeks of age have been well shown in our previous reports,18,19 along with those of age-matched LETO rats. In brief, OLETF rats were modestly hyperglycemic (157±6 [mean±SD] vs 108±3 mg/dL, P<0.05), and their plasma insulin level was much higher than in LETO rats (1.12±0.31 vs 0.39±0.07 ng/mL, P<0.05). Treatment of OLETF rats with candesartan for 8 weeks did not alter hyperglycemia (173±4 mg/dL) and hyperinsulinemia (1.53±0.29 ng/mL). Heart and LV weights were 1.2-fold higher in OLETF than in LETO rats. Candesartan treatment significantly lowered mean blood pressure, from 119±4 to 103±5 mm Hg (P<0.05), but had no influence on the increase in heart and LV weights in OLETF rats.

Expression of AT1 and AT2 Receptors
As demonstrated in our previous report,18 strongly increased immunofluorescence staining for the AT1 receptor was detected in LV cross sections of OLETF rats compared with those of LETO rats (please refer to online Figure IA, which can be accessed at http://atvb.ahajournals.org). Positive staining for the AT1 receptor was diversely observed not only in coronary vessels but also in cardiomyocytes. In contrast, immunofluorescence staining for the AT2 receptor showed that its expression was mainly localized to coronary vessels and their surroundings and was apparently similar in OLETF and LETO rats.

On Western blots, immunodetectable AT1 receptor was found at higher levels in LV tissues from OLETF rats, whereas LV expression level of the AT2 receptor was unchanged by diabetes (see online Figure IB). Densitometric quantification of the signal revealed that the LV expression levels of AT1 and AT2 receptors in OLETF rats were 215±25% and 103±15% of controls, respectively.

Expression of TGF-ß1
In situ hybridization studies indicated that coronary expression of TGF-ß1 mRNA was evidently higher in OLETF than in LETO rats (Figure 1A). When the numbers of mean mRNA grains per section of coronary vessel were calculated (15 fields x10 samples), TGF-ß1 mRNA in OLETF rats was increased 2.9-fold compared with LETO rats. Treatment of OLETF rats with candesartan reduced its mRNA expression nearly to that of nondiabetic controls. Immunofluorescence staining for TGF-ß1 protein showed that it was more strongly expressed in LV sections from OLETF than in those from LETO rats. The increased levels of TGF-ß1 protein were found in the coronary vessel and its perivascular area (Figure 1B). Furthermore, cardiomyocytes also abundantly expressed TGF-ß1 protein in OLETF rats (see online Figure II). Immunoblots obtained with TGF-ß1 antiserum showed a single band that migrated with an apparent molecular mass of 44 kDa (Figure 1C). The relative amount of immunodetectable TGF-ß1, as determined by densitometric scanning, was increased in OLETF rats to 245±15% of nondiabetic controls. Candesartan resulted in significant improvement in the diabetes-induced increase in the TGF-ß1 protein level (90±6%).



View larger version (73K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. A, In situ hybridization analysis showing gene expression for TGF-ß1 in LV sections from LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated (CAN) OLETF rats. Nuclei in coronary vessels were stained bluish-violet by hematoxylin. The presence of mRNA is shown by black grains in the field. B, Confocal images showing immunofluorescence labeling for TGF-ß1 in LV sections from the 3 groups of rats. Immunostaining was focused on coronary vessels (inner diameter <100 µm). Original magnification x400. C, Western blot indicating a marked increase in expression of 44-kDa band (TGF-ß1) in diabetic LV tissues.

Activity and Expression Levels of MMPs, MT1-MMP, and MMP Inhibitor
The activities of pro-MMP-2 and active MMP-2 in LV tissues from the 3 groups were evaluated by gelatin zymography. Two gelatinolytic bands were found in the gel, representing pro-MMP-2 and active MMP-2 (Figure 2A). A 92-kDa band of pro-MMP-9 was undetectable in any samples of myocardial extract. Activities of both pro-MMP-2 and active MMP-2 were significantly reduced in OLETF compared with LETO rats (Figure 2B and 2C). Candesartan treatment of OLETF rats increased the activities nearly to the levels obtained in LETO rats.



View larger version (27K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. A, Representative gelatin zymogram of LV protein extracts from LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated (CAN) OLETF rats. The lytic band at 62 kDa corresponds to the active form of MMP-2, the lytic band at 72 kDa is consistent with pro-MMP-2, and the lytic band at 92 kDa corresponds to pro-MMP-9. B and C, Densitography of zymographic gels. Data are mean±SD (n=4). *P<0.01 vs LETO rats. Statistical assessment of the data was made by ANOVA with repeated measurements, followed by the Fisher’s protected least significance t test.

Total (latent+active) MMP-2 levels as determined by ELISA were significantly reduced in LV tissues from OLETF (0.72±0.05 ng/mL) compared with LETO (1.04±0.12 ng/mL) rats. OLETF rats treated with candesartan did not show any reduction in total MMP-2 tissue levels (1.16±0.15 ng/mL). Active MMP-2 levels measured in OLETF rat LV tissues (0.26±0.02 ng/mL) were significantly lower than those obtained in control nondiabetic tissues (0.44±0.03 ng/mL) and were reversed to control level by candesartan treatment (0.43±0.03 ng/mL). A significant reduction in active MMP-2 levels was also observed in serum samples from OLETF rats. Thus, active MMP-2 serum levels were 0.33±0.07, 0.13±0.05, and 0.25±0.06 ng/mL in LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated OLETF rats, respectively.

A decrease in MMP-2 mRNA in coronary vessels of OLETF rats was found by in situ hybridization experiments (Figure 3A). The results of quantitative analysis showed a 38% decrease in MMP-2 mRNA expression in OLETF compared with LETO rats. Candesartan treatment reversed its decreased mRNA expression to the level obtained in LETO rats. Reduced immunofluorescence staining for MMP-2 was detected in coronary vessels and the perivascular area of LV sections from OLETF compared with those from LETO rats (Figure 3B). Western blot analysis showed that MMP-2 protein was decreased to 62±10% of LETO rats (Figure 3C). This marked reduction in MMP-2 protein expression was blocked by candesartan treatment (91±9%).



View larger version (55K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. A, In situ hybridization analysis showing gene expression for MMP-2 in LV sections from LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated (CAN) rats. B, Confocal images showing immunofluorescence labeling for MMP-2 and MT1-MMP in LV sections from the 3 groups of rats. Immunostaining was mainly focused on coronary vessels (inner diameter <100 µm). Original magnification x400. C, Western blot indicating a decrease in expression of 62-kDa band (MMP-2) in diabetic LV tissues.

The expression levels of MMP-9 and MMP-13, other members of the MMP family, did not differ between OLETF and LETO rats (see online Figure III). Immunoblot analysis revealed that the LV tissue MMP-9 and MMP-13 protein levels in OLETF rats were 98±10% and 99±13%, respectively, of those in LETO rats. The MMP-2 decrease in OLETF rats was associated with a decrease in membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP), which activates pro-MMP-2. A 39±7% reduction in MT1-MMP was observed in the coronary vascular area of OLETF compared with LETO rats, and the reduced MT1-MMP expression was recovered by candesartan treatment (Figure 3B). No difference was found in TIMP-2, which forms a complex with MT-MMP species and thereby facilitates activation of MMP-2, between the LETO and OLETF rat groups (see online Figure III).

Expression of Fibrinolytic Regulators
PAI-1 mRNA was evidently increased in coronary vessels of LV sections from OLETF rats compared with the findings from LETO rats (Figure 4A). Quantification of the mRNA signal showed a 1.9-fold increase in OLETF compared with LETO rats. Immunofluorescence studies showed more abundant PAI-1 protein expression in coronary vessels of LV sections from OLETF than in those from LETO rats (Figure 4B). In OLETF rats, positive staining was also marked in the perivascular area. The results of Western blot analysis (Figure 4C) revealed that PAI-1 protein expression was increased to 180±20% of that of LETO rats. The increases in protein and mRNA expression levels of PAI-1 seen in OLETF rats were reversed by candesartan treatment. On immunoblots, PAI-1 protein expression in candesartan-treated OLETF rats was 115±10% of control. In contrast to PAI-1, the 2 PAs, t-PA and u-PA, were expressed equally in coronary vessels of LV sections from LETO and OLETF rats (see online Figure IV).



View larger version (53K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. A, In situ hybridization analysis showing gene expression for PAI-1 in LV sections from LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated (CAN) OLETF rats. B, Confocal images showing immunofluorescence labeling for PAI-1 in LV sections from the 3 groups of rats. Immunostaining was mainly focused on coronary vessels (inner diameter <100 µm). Original magnification x400. C, Western blot indicating an increase in expression of 45-kDa band (PAI-1) in diabetic LV tissues.

Expression of Collagen Types I and III and Fibrin
In LV sections from OLETF rats, abnormal, diffuse immunoreactivity of collagen types I and III was observed (Figure 5A and 5B). Thus, their expression in OLETF rats was distributed not only to the coronary vessels but also to the perivascular area. Immunofluorescence staining also revealed that diabetic coronary vessels exhibited both intravascular and extravascular fibrin staining (Figure 5C). In contrast, these immunostainings were weak in LV sections from nondiabetic rats. In OLETF rats treated with candesartan, the expression patterns of collagen types I and III and fibrin were returned to those seen in control nondiabetic LETO rats. Immunoblot analysis (Figure 5D) showed increases to 190±15%, 230±20%, and 200±18% of controls for collagen type I, collagen type III, and fibrin, respectively, in LV tissues from OLETF rats. These values were reversed to 110±10%, 115±15%, and 112±12%, respectively, by candesartan treatment.



View larger version (43K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Confocal images showing immunofluorescence labeling for collagen type I (A), collagen type III (B), and fibrin (C) in LV sections from LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated (CAN) OLETF rats. Note that both vascular and extravascular regions are strongly positive in LV sections from diabetic rats. Original magnification x400. D, Western blot indicating increases in expression of major band of each target molecule (95 kDa, collagen type I; 100 kDa, collagen type III; 54 kDa, fibrin) in diabetic LV tissues.

Perivascular Fibrosis and Cardiac Collagen Deposition
Figure 6 shows representative photomicrographs of Masson’s trichrome-stained LV sections from LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated OLETF rats. The wall-to-lumen ratio of coronary arterioles in OLETF rats (2.75±0.42, P<0.01) was {approx}3-fold greater than that in LETO rats (0.90±0.11). Candesartan treatment reduced this ratio (1.30±0.19, P<0.01). The area of perivascular fibrosis in coronary arterioles, which was corrected for total vessel area, was larger in OLETF than in LETO rats (85±14% vs 27±3%, P<0.01). The development of fibrosis in the perivascular area in OLETF rats was prevented by candesartan treatment (32±4%, P<0.01). The ratio of collagen to noncollagen protein in LV tissues of OLETF rats (7.0±0.8%) was higher (P<0.01) that that in LETO rats (4.6±0.5%), and this change was strongly blocked by candesartan treatment (5.1±0.5%).



View larger version (65K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 6. Photomicrographs of Masson’s trichrome-stained LV sections from LETO, OLETF, and candesartan-treated (CAN) OLETF rats. Masson’s trichrome stains (arrow) show more prominent perivascular fibrosis in OLETF than in LETO and CAN rats. Original magnification x400.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
In the present investigation, OLETF rats were used at 20 weeks of age, which were at the stage of NIDDM with modest hyperglycemia and prominent insulin resistance. At this age, OLETF rats exhibited cardiac structural remodeling with the development of perivascular fibrosis. We also showed a significant increase in cardiac collagen deposition in these diabetic rats, as reported in previous studies from this laboratory.18,19 Support for our findings is also provided by the results of other investigators who demonstrated that cardiac fibrosis could be promoted from the prediabetic state in OLETF rats.4 We found that TGF-ß1 was highly expressed in coronary vessels and the perivascular area, as well as in cardiomyocytes in the OLETF rat heart. TGF-ß1 has been shown to stimulate collagen production in vitro20 and activate a wide array of processes that collectively increase ECM production.21 Accordingly, the increased production of collagen types I and III, which represent the primary collagen phenotypes expressed in the heart ECM,22 as seen in the OLETF rat heart, appears to be causally related to TGF-ß1 overexpression. Intensive investigation into the pathogenesis of ECM expansion in diabetes has consistently implicated this prosclerotic cytokine as a key mediator.23,24 We thus suggest that superinduction of TGF-ß1 transcription plays a crucial role in the cardiac remodeling process, particularly in cardiac fibrosis, seen at the early insulin-resistant stage of diabetes.

Reduced degradation of ECM could lead to accumulation of ECM components, including collagen. MMPs are a family of proteolytic enzymes that degrade ECM proteins. Several studies have documented downregulation of 2 gelatinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9, in diabetic renal tissues.7,8 We demonstrated that in coronary vessels from OLETF rats, there is a significant decrease in MMP-2 gene and protein levels compared with vessels from LETO rats that do not have diabetes. Furthermore, MMP-2 activity was significantly attenuated in OLETF rat hearts. No significant difference between diabetic and nondiabetic coronary vessels was seen for expression of another gelatinase, MMP-9. Also, coronary expression of MMP-13, referred to as collagenase-3, which degrades connective tissue collagens, remained unchanged in diabetes.

A raised level of TIMP proteins, by acting as an endogenous system for the deactivation of MMPs, might be responsible for a net reduction in ECM breakdown. Increased renal expression of TIMP-1, which inhibits activity of MMPs, including MMP-9, has been shown before structural changes in ECM architecture in diabetic rats.25 However, TIMP-1 has been found to be downregulated in renal tissues from diabetic patients.26 We estimated coronary expression of TIMP-2, which can form a complex with MT-MMP species, and this complex can facilitate activation of MMP-2, but there was no significant between-group difference.

Activation of pro-MMP-2 occurs primarily on the cell surface by membrane-bound MT1-MMP, which can degrade ECM proteins directly. To date, 6 MT-MMP genes have been identified,27 but both smooth muscle and endothelial cells possess MT1-MMP and provide a localized MMP activation system.28,29 The current study thus investigated MT1-MMP levels in coronary vessels. In agreement with previous results from the internal mammary artery of diabetic patients,10 a significant decrease in the MT1-MMP protein level was observed in coronary vessels and the perivascular area of OLETF rats. This reduction in MT1-MMP, an MMP activator protein, in the diabetic heart could provide a mechanistic explanation regarding the regulation of ECM turnover in coronary remodeling in diabetes.

There are observations that hyperinsulinemic NIDDM patients often display reduced fibrinolysis, possibly because of elevated plasma PAI-1.30 Changes in plasma PAI-1 appear to be dependent on the conditions that affect endogenous plasma insulin levels.30 Thus, increased insulin due to the compensatory hyperinsulinemia might contribute to the increased level of PAI-1 gene expression in NIDDM. Consistently, we showed that protein and gene expression of PAI-1 was markedly increased in coronary vessels of OLETF rats with prominent hyperinsulinemia. Because plasmin not only degrades fibrin but also converts latent pro-MMPs to active MMPs, which in turn degrade the ECM, the increase in expression of PAI-1, by inhibiting the fibrinolytic system at the PA level, could contribute to decreased ECM degradation and hence, accumulation. On the other hand, increased fibrin deposition seen in OLETF rats would be a result of reduced fibrinolysis due to the increased PAI-1 expression. Although the 2 types of PAs (t-PA and u-PA) play an important role in the conversion of plasminogen to the active enzyme plasmin, OLETF rats showed no change in expression levels of t-PA and u-PA in coronary vessels.

In the present investigation, we found that treatment of OLETF rats with the AT1 receptor blocker candesartan prevented perivascular fibrosis in the heart, reduced the protein and gene expression levels of TGF-ß1 in coronary vessels to those of nondiabetic controls, and blocked collagen type I and III overproduction. Treatment with candesartan inhibited the increased expression of PAI-1 in coronary vessels of OLETF rats. Candesartan also recovered the reduced activity and expression of MMP-2 and the decreased expression of MT1-MMP in the diabetic rat heart. Although candesartan significantly lowered blood pressure in OLETF rats, the therapeutic effect of candesartan in the diabetic heart is unlikely to be due to its lowering effect on blood pressure, because treatment with hydralazine (3 mg · kg-1 · d-1), which also lowered blood pressure to the same extent as candesartan, had no effect on cardiac expression of TGF-ß1 and perivascular fibrosis in OLETF rats (authors’ unpublished observations). These results suggest a potentially central role for AT1 receptor activation in the molecular changes associated with coronary matrix remodeling in diabetes. Angiotensin II has been shown to stimulate TGF-ß1 production in cardiac fibroblasts.31,32 Because TGF-ß1 has been implicated as a key mediator for ECM expansion in diabetes,23,24 it would be logical to suspect that angiotensin II stimulates cardiac collagen production by promoting TGF-ß1 synthesis via AT1 receptor activation. Furthermore, it is known that TGF-ß1 stimulates PAI-1 biosynthesis in cultured cells.33 TGF-ß1 is therefore thought to have the potential to be a major regulator of PAI-1 in our experimental diabetes. Although the present experiments cannot determine whether angiotensin II regulates MMP-2 and MT1-MMP expression directly or indirectly through TGF-ß1, there is a recent report showing the negative regulation of MMP-1 and MMP-2 by TGF-ß1 in human gingival fibroblasts.34

In conclusion, increases in local generation of angiotensin II and expression of AT1 receptors in coronary vessels observed at the insulin-resistant stage of NIDDM in OLETF rats18 appear to modulate coronary expression of ECM-related molecules and lead to coronary matrix remodeling, possibly associated with overproduction of TGF-ß1. This study especially represents the first report that, in addition to the increased expression of PAI-1, the reduced activity and expression of MMP-2 and the decreased expression of MT1-MMP also play a role in coronary remodeling characterized by ECM deposition in diabetes. Our results provide important information regarding the molecular and cellular bases of cardiac collagen deposition and matrix remodeling in diabetes and contribute to our understanding of a rational basis for therapeutic strategies for diabetic cardiovascular complications.


*    Acknowledgments
 
Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture of Japan and by Health Sciences Research grants for comprehensive research on aging and health from the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor of Japan.

Received July 26, 2003; accepted August 13, 2003.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 

  1. Williamson JR, Kilo C. Capillary basement membrane thickening and diabetic microangiopathy. Diabetes. 1976; 25: 925–927.
  2. Kannel WB, McGee DL. Diabetes and glucose tolerance as risk factors for cardiovascular disease: the Framingham study. Diabetes Care. 1979; 2: 120–126.[Abstract]
  3. Kitayama S, Abe M, Negishi K, Takahashi K, Ishii J, Komeda K. Reciprocal changes in left ventricular collagen-{alpha}1 chain gene expression between types I and IV in spontaneously diabetic rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1994; 26: 163–169.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  4. Mizushige K, Yao L, Noma T, Kiyomoto H, Yu Y, Hosomi N, Ohmori K, Matsuno H. Alterations in left ventricular diastolic filling and accumulation of myocardial collagen at insulin-resistant prediabetic stage of a type II diabetic rat model. Circulation. 2000; 101: 899–907.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Woessner JF. Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in connective tissue remodeling. FASEB J. 1991; 5: 2145–2154.[Abstract]
  6. Woessner JF Jr. Matrix metalloproteinase inhibition; From the Jurassic to the third millennium. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999; 878: 388–403.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  7. Del Prete D, Anglani F, Forino M, Ceol M, Fioretto P, Baggio B, Gambaro G, Nosadini R. Down-regulation of glomerular matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene in human NIDDM. Diabetologia. 1997; 40: 1449–1454.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  8. Song RH, Singh AK, Leehey DJ. Decreased glomerular proteinase activity in the streptozotocin diabetic rat. Am J Nephrol. 1999; 19: 441–446.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  9. Uemura S, Matsushita H, Li W, Glassford AJ, Asagami T, Lee K, Harrison DG, Tsao PS. Diabetes mellitus enhances vascular matrix metalloproteinase activity. Circ Res. 2001; 88: 1291–1298.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Portik-Dobos V, Anstadt MP, Hutchinson J, Bannan M, Ergul A. Evidence for a matrix metalloproteinase induction/activation system in arterial vasculature and decreased synthesis and activity in diabetes. Diabetes. 2002; 51: 3063–3068.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  11. Lijnen HR. Plasmin and matrix metalloproteinases in vascular remodeling. Thromb Haemost. 2001; 86: 324–333.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  12. McGill JB, Schneider DJ, Arfken CL, Lucore CL, Sobel BE. Factors responsible for impaired fibrinolysis in obese subjects and NIDDM patients. Diabetes. 1994; 43: 104–109.[Abstract]
  13. Ehrmann DA, Schneider DJ, Sobel BE, Cavaghan MK, Imperial J, Rosenfield RL, Polonsky KS. Troglitazone improves defects in insulin action, insulin secretion, ovarian steroidogenesis, and fibrinolysis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997; 82: 2108–2116.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Samad F, Loskutoff DJ. The fat mouse: a powerful genetic model to study elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in obesity/NIDDM. Thromb Haemost. 1997; 78: 652–655.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  15. Sun Y, Zhang JQ, Zhang J, Ramires FJ. Angiotensin II, transforming growth factor-ß1 and repair in the infarcted heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1995; 30: 1559–1569.
  16. Smits JFM, Krimpen C, Schoemaker RG, Cleutjens JPM, Daemen MJAP. Angiotensin II receptor blockade after myocardial infarction in rats: effects on hemodynamics, myocardial DNA synthesis, and interstitial collagen content. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1992; 20: 772–778.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  17. Kawano K, Hirashima T, Mori S, Saitoh Y, Kurosumi M, Natori T. Spontaneous long-term hyperglycemic rat with diabetic complications: Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) strain. Diabetes. 1992; 41: 1422–1428.[Abstract]
  18. Jesmin S, Hattori Y, Sakuma I, Mowa CN, Kitabatake A. Role of ANG II in coronary capillary angiogenesis at the insulin-resistant stage of a NIDDM rat model. Am J Physiol. 2002; 283: H1387–H1397.
  19. Jesmin S, Sakuma I, Hattori Y, Fujii S, Kitabatake A. Long-acting calcium channel blocker benidipine suppresses expression of angiogenic growth factors and prevents cardiac remodeling in a Type II diabetic rat model. Diabetologia. 2002; 45: 402–415.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  20. Roberts AB, Sporn MB, Assoian RK, Smith JM, Roche NS, Wakefield LM, Heine UI, Liotta LA, Falanga V, Kehrl JH, Fauci AS. Transforming growth factor type ß: rapid induction of fibrosis and angiogenesis in vivo and stimulation of collagen formation in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986; 83: 4167–4171.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  21. Eghbali M, Tomek R, Sukhatme VP, Woods C, Bhambi B. Differential effects of transforming growth factor-ß1 and phorbol myristate acetate on cardiac fibroblasts: regulation of fibrillar collagen mRNA and expression of early transcription factors. Circ Res. 1991; 69: 483–490.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Eghbali M, Blumenfeld OO, Seifter S, Buttrick PM, Leinwand LA, Robinson TF, Zern MA, Giambrone MA. Localization of types I, III and IV collagen mRNAs in rat heart cells by in situ hybridization. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1989; 21: 103–113.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  23. Border WA, Yamamoto T, Noble NA. Transforming growth factor-ß in diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes Metab Rev. 1996; 12: 309–339.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  24. Sharma K, Ziyadeh FN. Hyperglycemia and diabetic kidney disease: the case for transforming growth factor-ß as a key mediator. Diabetes. 1995; 44: 1139–1146.[Abstract]
  25. Wu K, Setty S, Mauer SM, Killen P, Nagase H, Michael AF. Altered kidney matrix gene expression in early stages of experimental diabetes. Acta Anat. 1997; 158: 155–165.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  26. Suzuki D, Yagame M, Kim Y, Sakai H, Mauer M. Renal in situ hybridization studies of extracellular matrix related molecules in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Nephron. 2002; 92: 564–572.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  27. Hernadez-Barrantes S, Bernando M, Toth M, Fridman R. Regulation of membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases. Cancer Biol. 2002; 12: 131–138.
  28. Shofuda K, Yasumitusu H, Miki K, Miyazaki K. Expression of three membrane-type metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells and characterization of MT3-MMPs with and without transmembrane domain. J Biol Chem. 1997; 272: 9749–9754.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  29. Rajavashisth TB, Liao JK, Galis ZS, Tripathi S, Laufs U, Tripathi J, Chai N, Xu X, Jovinge S, Shah PK, Libby P. Inflammatory cytokines and oxidized low density lipoproteins increase endothelial cell expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase. J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 11924–11929.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Juhan-Vague I, Alessi MC. PAI-1, obesity, insulin resistance and risk of cardiovascular events. Thromb Haemost. 1997; 78: 656–660.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  31. Sadoshima J, Izumo S. Molecular characterization of angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes and hyperplasia of cardiac fibroblasts. Circ Res. 1993; 73: 413–423.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  32. Lee AA, Dillmann WH, McCulloch AD, Villarreal FJ. Angiotensin II stimulates the autocrine production of transforming growth factor-ß in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1995; 27: 2347–2357.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  33. Keski-Oja J, Raghow R, Sawdey M, Loskutoff DJ, Postlethwaite AE, Kang AH, Moses HL. Regulation of mRNAs for type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor, fibronectin, and type I procollagen by transforming growth factor-ß: divergent responses in lung fibroblasts and carcinoma cells. J Biol Chem. 1988; 263: 3111–3115.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  34. Cotrim P, de Andrade CR, Martelli-Junior H, Graner E, Sauk JJ, Coletta RD. Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in cyclosporin-treated gingival fibroblasts is regulated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 autocrine stimulation. J Peridontol. 2002; 73: 1313–1322.[CrossRef]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
G. Spinetti, N. Kraenkel, C. Emanueli, and P. Madeddu
Diabetes and vessel wall remodelling: from mechanistic insights to regenerative therapies
Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2008; 78(2): 265 - 273.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Physiol. Rev.Home page
F. G. Spinale
Myocardial Matrix Remodeling and the Matrix Metalloproteinases: Influence on Cardiac Form and Function
Physiol Rev, October 1, 2007; 87(4): 1285 - 1342.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Exp. Biol. Med.Home page
S. Jesmin, S. Zaedi, S. Maeda, C. N. Mowa, I. Sakuma, and T. Miyauchi
Reversal of Elevated Cardiac Expression of TGF{beta}1 and Endothelin-1 in OLETF Diabetic Rats by Long-Acting Calcium Antagonist.
Experimental Biology and Medicine, June 1, 2006; 231(6): 907 - 912.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
S. Jesmin, Y. Hattori, S. Maeda, S. Zaedi, I. Sakuma, and T. Miyauchi
Subdepressor dose of benidipine ameliorates diabetic cardiac remodeling accompanied by normalization of upregulated endothelin system in rats
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2006; 290(5): H2146 - H2154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
R. M. Fitch, J. C. Rutledge, Y.-X. Wang, A. F. Powers, J.-L. Tseng, T. Clary, and G. M. Rubanyi
Synergistic effect of angiotensin II and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in increasing aortic stiffness in mice
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2006; 290(3): H1190 - H1198.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
S. J. Zieman, V. Melenovsky, and D. A. Kass
Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and Therapy of Arterial Stiffness
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2005; 25(5): 932 - 943.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
H. Nishimatsu, E. Suzuki, H. Satonaka, R. Takeda, M. Omata, T. Fujita, R. Nagai, T. Kitamura, and Y. Hirata
Endothelial dysfunction and hypercontractility of vascular myocytes are ameliorated by fluvastatin in obese Zucker rats
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2005; 288(4): H1770 - H1776.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
T. Tsuruda, J. Kato, K. Hatakeyama, H. Masuyama, Y.-N. Cao, T. Imamura, K. Kitamura, Y. Asada, and T. Eto
Antifibrotic effect of adrenomedullin on coronary adventitia in angiotensin II-induced hypertensive rats
Cardiovasc Res, March 1, 2005; 65(4): 921 - 929.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
J. Asbun, A. M. Manso, and F. J. Villarreal
Profibrotic influence of high glucose concentration on cardiac fibroblast functions: effects of losartan and vitamin E
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 2005; 288(1): H227 - H234.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Data Supplement
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
23/11/2021    most recent
01.ATV.0000094235.78783.D1v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Jesmin, S.
Right arrow Articles by Kitabatake, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Jesmin, S.
Right arrow Articles by Kitabatake, A.
Related Collections
Right arrow ACE/Angiotension receptors
Right arrow Type 2 diabetes
Right arrow Other Vascular biology