Interferon-γ signaling inhibition ameliorates angiotensin II-induced cardiac damage

Hypertension. 2012 Dec;60(6):1430-6. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.199265. Epub 2012 Oct 29.

Abstract

Angiotensin (Ang) II induces vascular injury in part by activating innate and adaptive immunity; however, the mechanisms are unclear. We investigated the role of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-23 signaling. We infused Ang II into IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) knockout mice and wild-type controls, as well as into mice treated with neutralizing antibodies against IL-23 receptor and IL-17A. Ang II-treated IFN-γR knockout mice exhibited reduced cardiac hypertrophy, reduced cardiac macrophage and T-cell infiltration, less fibrosis, and less arrhythmogenic electric remodeling independent of blood pressure changes. In contrast, IL-23 receptor antibody treatment did not reduce cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, or electric remodeling despite mildly reduced inflammation. IL-17A antibody treatment behaved similarly. In the kidney, IFN-γR deficiency reduced inflammation and tubulointerstitial damage and improved glomerular filtration rate. Nonetheless, albuminuria was increased compared with Ang II-treated wild-type controls. The glomeruli of Ang II-treated IFN-γR knockout mice exhibited fewer podocytes, less nephrin and synaptopodin staining, and impaired podocyte autophagy. Thus, IFN-γ blockade, but not IL-23 receptor antibody treatment, protects from Ang II-induced cardiac damage and electric remodeling. In the kidney, IFN-γ signaling acts in a cell type-specific manner. Glomerular filtration rate is preserved in the absence of the IFN-γR, whereas podocytes may require the IFN-γR in the presence of Ang II for normal integrity and function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cardiomegaly / chemically induced
  • Cardiomegaly / metabolism*
  • Cardiomegaly / pathology
  • Fibrosis
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-17 / genetics
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-23 / genetics
  • Interleukin-23 / metabolism
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Podocytes / drug effects
  • Podocytes / metabolism
  • Podocytes / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-23
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Synpo protein, mouse
  • nephrin
  • Angiotensin II
  • Interferon-gamma