The role of aldosterone in mediating the dependence of angiotensin hypertension on IL-6.

Knockout (KO) of IL-6 has been shown to attenuate ANG II hypertension, and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) have been reported to contribute to the increase in IL-6 during acute ANG II infusion. This study determined whether that MR action is sustained with chronic ANG II infusion and whether it plays a role in mediating ANG II hypertension. ANG II infusion (90 ng/min) increased plasma IL-6 from 1.

TNF-alpha knockout mice have increased corpora cavernosa relaxation.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction is considered an early clinical manifestation of vascular disease and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, suppresses endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression.

Aim: Considering that nitric oxide (NO) is of critical importance in penile erection, we hypothesized that blockade of TNF-alpha actions would increase cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation.

Lack of blood pressure salt-sensitivity supports a preglomerular site of action of nitric oxide in Type I diabetic rats.

1. The relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure is affected differently by changes in angiotensin (Ang) II and preglomerular resistance, and this study measured that relationship to evaluate the link between nitric oxide and blood pressure early in diabetes. 2.

Blood pressure early in diabetes depends on a balance between glomerular filtration rate and the renin-angiotensin system.

Onset of diabetes increases plasma renin activity (PRA) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), but blood pressure (BP) is normal. In this study, a 70% surgical reduction in kidney mass (RK) was used to decrease baseline GFR and to prevent hyperfiltration during diabetes, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) were used to inhibit angiotensin II (AngII) production, to test the hypothesis that a balance between GFR and AngII is required for normal BP early in diabetes. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg intravenously); and after 7 days of hyperglycemia (range: 408 to 486 mg/dL), insulin was intravenously infused continuously for a 4-day normoglycemic recovery period.

Angiotensin II hypertension is attenuated in interleukin-6 knockout mice.

Plasma levels of IL-6 correlate with high blood pressure under many circumstances, and ANG II has been shown to stimulate IL-6 production from various cell types. This study tested the role of IL-6 in mediating the hypertension caused by high-dose ANG II and a high-salt diet. Male C57BL6 and IL-6 knockout (IL-6 KO) mice were implanted with biotelemetry devices and placed in metabolic cages to measure mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), sodium balance, and urinary albumin excretion.