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- Title
CB<sub>1</sub> receptor inhibition leads to decreased vascular AT1 receptor expression, inhibition of oxidative stress and improved endothelial function.
- Authors
Tiyerili, Vedat; Zimmer, Sebastian; Suzin Jung; Wassmann, Kerstin; Naehle, Claas P.; Lütjohann, Dieter; Zimmer, Andreas; Nickenig, Georg; Wassmann, Sven
- Abstract
Inhibition of the cannabinoid receptor CB1 (CB1-R) exerts numerous positive cardiovascular effects such as modulation of blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and serum lipid concentrations. However, direct vascular effects of CB1-R inhibition remain unclear. CB1-R expression was validated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and aortic tissue of mice. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice were treated with cholesterol-rich diet and the selective CB1-R antagonist rimonabant or vehicle for 7 weeks. CB1-R inhibition had no effect on atherosclerotic plaque development, collagen content and macrophage infiltration but led to improved aortic endothelium-dependent vasodilation and decreased aortic reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NADPH oxidase activity. Treatment of cultured VSMC with rimonabant resulted in reduced angiotensin II-mediated but not basal ROS production and NADPH oxidase activity. CB1-R inhibition with rimonabant and AM251 led to down-regulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) expression, whereas stimulation with the CB1-R agonist CP 55,940 resulted in AT1-R up-regulation, indicating that AT1-R expression is directly regulated by the CB1-R. CB2-R inhibition had no impact on AT1-R expression in VSMC. Consistently, CB1-R inhibition decreased aortic AT1-R expression in vivo. CB1-R inhibition leads to decreased vascular AT1-R expression, NADPH oxidase activity and ROS production in vitro and in vivo. This antioxidative effect is associated with improved endothelial function in ApoE−/− mice, indicating beneficial direct vascular effects of CB1-R inhibition.
- Subjects
OXIDATIVE stress; ENDOTHELIAL growth factors; CANNABINOIDS; BLOOD pressure measurement; INSULIN; DRUG receptors; APOLIPOPROTEIN E
- Publication
Basic Research in Cardiology, 2010, Vol 105, Issue 4, p465
- ISSN
0300-8428
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00395-010-0090-7