Central administration of tert-butylhydroquinone attenuates hypertension via regulating Nrf2 signaling in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of hypertensive rats.

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is an important transcription factor that modulates cell antioxidant defense response against oxidative stress. The present study aimed to explore the efficacy of PVN administration of tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a selective Nrf2 activator, in hypertensive rats. 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used in this study. These rats were chronic bilateral PVN infusion of tBHQ (0.8μg/day), or oxygen free radical scavenger tempol (20μg/h), or vehicle for 2weeks. SHR rats had higher mean arterial pressure (MAP), plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels, and sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and lower PVN levels of Nrf2, hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) and catalase (CAT) as compared with those in the WKY group. Bilateral PVN infusion of tBHQ or tempol significantly reduced MAP, RSNA, plasma NE levels in SHR rats. In addition, tBHQ treatment enhanced the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and increased the expression of HO-1, CAT and SOD1 in SHR rats. Furthermore, tBHQ attenuated PVN levels of ROS, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and restored the imbalance of neurotransmitters in PVN. Knockdown of Nrf2 in the PVN by adeno-associated virus mediated small interfering RNA abrogated the protective effects of tBHQ on hypertension. These findings suggest that PVN administration of tBHQ can attenuate hypertension by activation of the Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway.

• Authors: Juan Bai, Xiao-Jing Yu, Kai-Li Liu, Fang-Fang Wang, Gui-Xia Jing, Hong-Bao Li, Yan Zhang, Chan-Juan Huo, Xiang Li, Hong-Li Gao, Jie Qi, Yu-Ming Kang
• Journal: Toxicology and applied pharmacology (Toxicol Appl Pharmacol) Vol. 333 Pg. 100-109 (10 15 2017) ISSN: 1096-0333 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28842207 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antihypertensive Agents
• Hydroquinones
• Interleukin-1beta
• Interleukin-6
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• RNA, Small Interfering
• 2-tert-butylhydroquinone

Topics

• Adenoviridae (genetics)
• Animals
• Antihypertensive Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Arterial Pressure (drug effects)
• Hydroquinones (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Hypertension (drug therapy, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Interleukin-1beta (genetics, metabolism)
• Interleukin-6 (genetics, metabolism)
• Male
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus (drug effects, metabolism)
• RNA, Small Interfering (genetics)
• Rats, Inbred SHR
• Rats, Inbred WKY
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Sympathetic Nervous System (drug effects)