Effect of ACEI and ARB treatment on nitric oxide-dependent endothelial function

Abstract

Summary: Background: Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) are widely used as a first-line therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Here, ACEI modulate the bradykinin receptor (BDKRB1 and BDKRB2) system and NO-dependent endothelial function, thus determining cardiovascular health and regenerative arteriogenesis. The current study aims at evaluating nitric oxide-dependent endothelial function, and gene expression of bradykinin receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with ACEI or ARB treatment. Patients and methods: The WalkByLab has been established to screen cardiovascular patients for peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease. In total 177 patients from WalkByLab with heterogenous disease and risk status were randomly selected, divided according to their medication history into the following groups: 1. ACEI group, 2. ARB group or 3. non-ACE/ARB group. Total plasma nitrite/nitrate (NO) levels were measured, endothelial function was evaluated by assessing flow meditated dilation (FMD). PBMC were isolated from peripheral whole blood, and gene expression (qRT-PCR) of bradykinin receptors and angiotensin converting enzyme were assessed. Results: Plasma total NO concentration in the ACEI group (24.66±16.28, µmol/l) was increased as compared to the ARB group (18.57±11.58, µmol/l, P=0.0046) and non-ACE/ARB group (16.83±8.64, µmol/l, P=0.0127) in patients between 40 to 90 years of age. However, FMD values (%) in the ACEI group (7.07±2.40, %) were similar as compared to the ARB (6.35±2.13, %) and non-ACE/ARB group (6.51±2.15, %), but significantly negatively correlated with age. Interestingly, BDKRB1 mRNA level was significantly higher and BDKRB2 mRNA level lower in the ACEI group (BDKRB1 3.88-fold±1.05, BDKRB2 0.22-fold±0.04) as compared to the non-ACE/ARB group (BDKRB1 1.00-fold±0.39, P<0.0001, BDKRB2 1.00-fold±0.45, P=0.0136). Conclusions: ACEI treatment enhances total nitrite/nitrate concentration, furthermore, upregulates BDKRB1 in PBMC, but downregulates BDKRB2 mRNA expression. FMD is a strong determinant of vascular aging and is sensitive to underlying heterogenous cardiovascular diseases.

Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors stimulate cerebral arteriogenesis

“…It is well known that ACE and bradykinin receptors are localized in the plasma membrane of brain endothelial cells 18,35 and in regard to monocytes we have recently shown the expression of ACE (and also bradykinin receptor 1 and 2) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 165 cardiovascular patients. 36 Thus, we believe that in particular, the B1R signalling pathway significantly controls arteriogenesis by modulation of EC and monocyte migration, and here ACEi accumulated kinins act via a classical B1R agonist binding.…”

Mechanisms and Clinical Implications of Endothelial Dysfunction in Arterial Hypertension

“…Accordingly, using different outcome measures, including FMD, numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the ability of ACE inhibitors and ARBs to improve endothelial function [ 96 , 97 ], even in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease [ 98 ] and either type of diabetes mellitus [ 99 , 100 ].…”

Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor improves coronary collateral perfusion

“…Here, ECs proliferation and migration are essential for collateral artery formation. It is speculated that novel medications for cardiovascular disease may shift the process of pathologic atherosclerosis toward physiological arteriogenesis (64). Recent research has shown that arterial network expansion complemented collateral arterial development to recover from an ischemic insult, in which endothelial function plays an important role in arterial flow recovery (65,66).…”