부산대학교 도서관

Abnormal activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays a causal role in the development of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and associated cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure. As both a vasoconstrictor and a proinflammatory mediator, angiotensin II (Ang II) is considered a potential link between hypertension and atherosclerosis. However, a role for Ang II-induced inflammation in atherosclerosis has not been clearly established, and the molecular mechanisms and intracellular signaling pathways involved are not known. Here, we demonstrated that the RhoA GEF Arhgefl is essential for Ang II-induced inflammation. Specifically, we showed that deletion of Arhgef1 in a murine model prevents Ang II-induced integrin activation in leukocytes, thereby preventing Ang II-induced recruitment of leukocytes to the endothelium. Mice lacking both LDL receptor (LDLR) and Arhgef1 were protected from high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis. Moreover, reconstitution of [Ldlr.sup.-/-] mice with Arhgef1-deficient BM prevented high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis, while reconstitution of [Ldlr.sup.-/-] [Arhgefl.sup.-/-] with WT BM exacerbated atherosclerotic lesion formation, supporting Arhgef1 activation in leukocytes as causal in the development of atherosclerosis. Thus, our data highlight the importance of Arhgef1 in cardiovascular disease and suggest targeting Arhgef1 as a potential therapeutic strategy against atherosclerosis.
Introduction Angiotensin II (Ang II) is considered as the main mediator of both the physiological and the pathophysiological actions of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) through the stimulation of the Ang [...]