Masaya Urakami

Rat angiotensin II (type 1A) receptor mRNA regulation and subtype expression in myocardial growth and hypertrophy.

Two subtypes of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors (AT1 and AT2) are distinguished by using the respective specific antagonists. In the present study, we report the regulation of cardiac AT1 type A (AT1A) receptor mRNA levels and the expression pattern of AT1 and AT2 receptors in the growth of the heart and the development and regression of cardiac hypertrophy. The ventricular AT1A mRNA level and the density of Ang II receptors at the neonatal period were significantly increased (3.5-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively) and then downregulated with maturation. The cardiac hypertrophy established in spontaneously hypertensive rats or two-kidney one-clip renovascular hypertensive rats resulted in substantial increases in ventricular AT1A mRNA levels (threefold) and Ang II receptor densities (twofold) as compared with those in respective control rats, whereas the receptor affinity was similar. The proportion of AT1 and AT2 subtypes in the specific Ang II binding in ventricular membranes prepared from normal adult rats was nearly equal. This proportion did not change significantly in the development of myocardial hypertrophy. The regression of cardiac hypertrophy by the normalization of elevated blood pressure completely reversed the increased levels of AT1A mRNA and the receptor density to the control level. Thus, AT1 and AT2 receptors are present in rat ventricular myocardium, and their expression is developmentally regulated and upregulated in response to hypertrophic change. Ang II action exerted through the increased number of Ang II receptors may contribute to the growth of the heart and thus to the maintenance of established hypertrophy as one of the hormones involved in hypertrophy development.

Increased Plasma S100A12 (EN-RAGE) Levels in Hemodialysis Patients with Atherosclerosis

Background: S100A12, also known as EN-RAGE (extracellular newly identified receptor for advanced glycation end products binding protein) is a ligand for RAGE, and has been proposed to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the plasma S100A12 concentration in patients with ESRD and undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and evaluated the relation between S100A12 level and carotid intimal media thickness (IMT) by ultrasound. Methods: We measured plasma S100A12 concentration in 72 HD patients and 42 control subjects. IMT of the carotid artery was measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 46 HD patients. Results: The mean plasma S100A12 level was 2.3-fold higher in HD patients than in control subjects (25.0 ± 2.32 vs. 10.7 ± 0.97 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified circulating white blood cell count as a positive independent determinant and total cholesterol and serum albumin levels as negative independent determinants of plasma S100A12 concentration. The maximum IMT was positively correlated with plasma S100A12 level. Stepwise multiple regression analysis also identified plasma S100A12 as a significant independent determinant of the maximum IMT. Conclusion: These findings suggest that S100A12 protein is involved in the acceleration of atherosclerosis in HD patients.

CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN PLATELET VASOPRESSIN RECEPTOR AND THE RELATION BETWEEN VASOPRESSIN‐INDUCED PLATELET AGGREGATION AND VASOPRESSIN BINDING TO PLATELETS

Immunoreactive AVP was found to be much higher in platelets than in platelet‐free plasma (PFP) in normal subjects (12–8 ± 6–3 versus 1 –7 ± 0–8 fmol/ml). AVP levels in PFP were appreciably elevated in parallel with the elevation of plasma osmolality induced by the acute osmotic stimulation, while the AVP levels in platelets did not change before and after the stimulation.

Platelet vasopressin receptor in essential hypertension.

The specific vasopressin receptor of V1 vascular subtype, which mediates platelet aggregation, has been found on human platelets. We investigated the binding characteristics using tritiated arginine vasopressin [3H]-AVP and platelet aggregation with AVP turbidometrically in normal subjects, patients with WHO class II essential hypertension and patients with malignant-phase hypertension. In essential hypertensives Bmax was significantly higher than that in normal subjects, but there were no differences in affinity and the maximal percentage aggregation between them. In malignant-phase hypertensives Bmax and maximal percentage aggregation were significantly lower than those in normals and essential hypertensives, although there was no difference in the affinity between them. With radio-immunoassay, the mean platelet-free plasma AVP level was significantly higher in malignant-phase hypertensives than those in normals and essential hypertensives, whereas there was no difference in mean platelet AVP levels between them. In essential hypertensives Bmax and maximal percentage aggregation did not change, but in malignant-phase hypertensives Bmax increased significantly and maximal percentage aggregation tended to normalize after treatment.