Shear stress regulates angiotensin type 1 receptor expression in endothelial cells

Shear stress (SS) has an established role in atherosclerotic plaque localization, but how it exerts its protective effect is not fully understood.

To test the hypothesis that SS may downregulate angiotensin type 1 receptors (AT(1)Rs). Angiotensin II has been shown to be proinflammatory and to promote atherosclerosis.

Using immunohistochemistry, we found a pronounced expression of AT(1)R in the inner, atheroprone regions of the aortic arch of C57BL/6 and endothelial NO synthase-deficient (eNOS(-/-)) mice but not eNOS-overexpressing mice. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), laminar SS (15 dyn/cm(2)) induced a biphasic decrease in AT(1)R protein expression characterized by a first reduction at 1 hour (31+/-4% of static control, P<0.01), partial recovery at 3 hours (65+/-9%), and a second more prolonged decline at 6, 12, and 24 hours (48+/-9%, 36+/-9%, 33+/-5%, respectively, P<0.05). One and 24 hours of SS significantly reduced fluorescent angiotensin binding compared to static HUVECs. Shear-induced downregulation of AT(1)R was abolished by treatment with protein kinase A and G inhibitors or N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Fittingly, stimulating static HUVECs with an NO donor decreased AT(1)R protein levels. RT-PCR revealed a significant (P<0.05) decrease of AT(1)R mRNA in HUVECs exposed to SS during 3 (6+/-2% of static control), 6 (4+/-1%), 12 (4+/-1%), and 24 hours (15+/-4%), suggesting a transcriptional downregulation of AT(1)R at length. Finally, angiotensin-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule was abated in HUVECs exposed to SS and in the outer aortic arch of mice.

Our results demonstrate that SS may convey some of its atheroprotective effects through downregulation of AT(1)R in endothelial cells.