Effects of Antihypertensive Therapy with Losartan on VSMC Apoptosis in Spontaneously Hypertensive rats
Gao Tian
Fang Ningyuan
Jiang Lisheng
Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of the antihypertensive therapy with Losartan on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis and apoptotic gene Bax, Bcl-2 in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods Apoptosis was identified by in situ TDT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 gene was detected by RT-PCR, and their protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry.Results The results showed that the APOI of VSMC apoptosis in SHR-C decreased gradually with their aging from 12 weeks old to 24 weeks old;and was lower than that of age-matched WKY at the age of 24 weeks (P<0.05). Losartan increased APOI by 71%, 35% after oral use for 8 weeks and 12 weeks(P<0.05). Expression of proapoptotic gene Bax in thoracic aorta tissue of SHR-C decreased gradually from 12 weeks to 24 weeks with the same trend as that of APOI.The antihypertensive therapy by losartan might make the upregulation of the expression of Bax protein in thoracic aorta and the downregulation of Bcl-2 protein.Conclusion The long-term antihypertensive therapy with Losartan stimulated the expression of Bax protein and/or inhibits the expression of Bcl-2 protein.Its mechanism might be to promote the vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis.
Keywords：apoptosishypertensionLosartan
Publication Date：2006-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 46-50 )