Interferon regulatory factor 1 attenuates vascular remodeling; roles of angiotensin II type 2 receptor

We previously reported interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 1 plays physiological roles in "growth"-regulated angiotensin II type 2 (AT₂) receptor expression in fibroblasts. Here, we investigated whether IRF-1 is involved in attenuation of vascular remodeling in association with AT₂ receptor upregulation. Neointimal area in injured artery after 14 days of cuff placement was significantly increased in IRF-1 knockout mice (IRF-1KO) and AT₂ receptor knockout mice (AT₂KO) compared with wild-type mice (WT: C57BL/6J). Treatment with compound 21 attenuated neointima formation in both WT and IRF-1KO. AT₂ receptor mRNA expression after 7 days of cuff placement was significantly decreased in IRF-1KO compared with WT; however, IRF-1 expression did not differ between AT₂KO and WT. Apoptotic changes in injured artery after 14 days of cuff placement were significantly attenuated in IRF-1KO, with a decrease in interleukin-1β-converting enzyme and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels. These results indicate IRF-1 is one of the key transcriptional factors for the prevention of neointimal formation involving AT₂ receptors.