Combined treatment with captopril-propranolol or losartan-propranolol in hypertensive rats decreased AT1 and ACE expression and increased B1 receptor expression compared to untreated rats.
Does combined antihypertensive therapy (captopril-propranolol or losartan-propranolol) alter the expression of renin-angiotensin and kallikrein-kinin system components in spontaneously hypertensive rats?
Combined antihypertensive therapies (captopril or losartan plus propranolol) beneficially alter the expression of renin-angiotensin and kallikrein-kinin system components in hypertensive rats, potentially improving vasodilation.
Antihypertensive pharmacological treatments focus on the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, AT1 receptor antagonists, and beta-blockers as single and combined treatments. The effect of single treatments on the mRNA expression of some components of the renin-angiotensin system has been studied, but not the effect of combined treatments. This study determined the expression of the AT1, AT2, B1, and B2 receptors and of the enzymes ACE and ACE2 in hypertensive rats treated with captopril-propranolol or losartan-propranolol. Methods: The mRNA expression of the receptors and enzymes was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats under different treatments. Results: Rats under combined treatments showed a decrease in the expression of AT1 and ACE, and an increase in the expression of the B1 receptor (captopril + propranolol group: 0.43 ± 0.046, 2.243 ± 0.269, 3.356 ± 0.418; Group: losartan + propranolol: 0.727 ± 0.071, 0.852 ± 0.102, 1.277 ± 0.131 compared to the spontaneously hypertensive group: 1 ± 0.212, 1 ± 0.192, 1 ± 0.214). This decrease in the expression of ACE and AT1 suggests a reduction in the expression of Ang II that could be related to a lower response to this vasoconstrictor. An increase in the expression of B1 would improve vasodilation, which would be a beneficial effect of combined therapies for hypertension.
Lezama‐Martínez et al. (Wed,) conducted a other in Hypertension. Captopril-propranolol or losartan-propranolol vs. Untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats was evaluated on mRNA expression of AT1, AT2, B1, and B2 receptors and ACE and ACE2 enzymes. Combined treatment with captopril-propranolol or losartan-propranolol in hypertensive rats decreased AT1 and ACE expression and increased B1 receptor expression compared to untreated rats.