Effects of the at1 receptor antagonist on adhesion molecule expression in leukocytes and brain microvessels of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

To elucidate the possible involvement of angiotensin II (AII) in the pathogenesis of microvascular changes in severe hypertension, we investigated the effects of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on the expression of adhesion molecules of leukocytes and brain microvessels. Male stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) at 19 weeks of age were divided into three groups and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as the control group. AT1 receptor antagonist (TCV-116, 0.5 mg/kg/day) and ACEI (captopril, 20 mg/kg/day) were administered to SHRSP for 4 weeks. Mac-1 expression in leukocytes was investigated by flow cytometric analysis. For endothelial cells, we examined the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), the AT1 receptor, and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1, a marker of the blood–brain barrier) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The blood pressure of AT1 receptor antagonist and ACEI-treated groups was slightly lower than that of the control, but was still greater than 220 mm Hg. Mac-1 expression, as well as ICAM-1 expression, was higher in control SHRSP than in WKY. Such enhanced expression of adhesion molecules in SHRSP was ameliorated by the administration of AT1 receptor antagonist or ACEI, the former being more effective. AT1 receptor expression was higher in control SHRSP than in WKY, and was lower in the AT1 receptor antagonist group, whereas no difference was found in the ACEI group. No significant differences were found in GLUT-1 expression among all groups. In the case of hypertensive cerebral injuries in SHRSP, leukocytes may have an important role for initiation via adhesion to endothelial cells. AT1 receptor antagonist showed a beneficial effect for the amelioration of enhanced expression of adhesion molecule in both leukocytes and endothelial cells. Thus, AII seems to be an important mediator for the hypertensive microvascular injuries.