Angiotensin II induces human astrocyte senescence through reactive oxygen species production

Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced astrocyte senescence may be involved in cerebral ischemic injury and age-associated neurodegenerative disease. This study was conducted to determine the roles of reactive oxygen species production in Ang II-induced cellular senescence in cultured human astrocytes. Human astrocytes were stimulated with Ang II either with or without an angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker, CV11974, or an antioxidant, tempol. Application of Ang II to human astrocytes resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in staining for dihydroethidium. Ang II (100 nM for 30 min) increased the translocation of two cytosolic components of NADPH oxidase, p47phox and p67phox, to the cell membrane and formation of the complex of p47phox, p67phox and p22phox. Ang II concentration-dependently induced an increase in β-galactosidase staining. Pretreatment with CV11974 (100 nM) or tempol (3 mM) abolished Ang II-induced astrocyte β-galactosidase staining. Moreover, Ang II significantly upregulated p16 mRNA expression, which was inhibited by pretreatment with CV11974 or tempol. These findings indicate that superoxide production contributes to Ang II-induced astrocyte senescence.