Previous studies have shown that
renin-
angiotensin (Ang) system
vaccines may be effective for the treatment of
hypertension, but their efficacy for the prevention of renal disease is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor
vaccine with an Ang II receptor blocker (ARB) and a
vasodilator on blood pressure (BP) and renal injury in the
L-NAME nephropathy model. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were divided into six groups and treated transiently with three
injections of vehicle or AT1 receptor
vaccine (0.1 mg) at age 4, 6 and 8 weeks, or continuously with
candesartan cilexetil (0.1 mg kg(-1) per day) or
hydralazine hydrochloride (5 mg kg(-1) per day), then administered
NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (
L-NAME) from age 18 to 21 weeks to induce renal injury. Vaccination against the AT1 receptor caused a significant increase in AT1 receptor titers, and a sustained decrease in BP.
L-NAME treatment resulted in a marked increase in
proteinuria in the control groups, which was completely suppressed in the AT1
vaccine-treated group, and glomerular injury scores were also significantly decreased. Real-time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence studies revealed increased
renin mRNA, and increased glomerular expression of
nephrin. Comparable results were seen in rats treated continuously with the ARB
candesartan, but not with
hydralazine. These results suggest that transient AT1 vaccination is as effective as continuous treatment with ARB, not only for the attenuation of
hypertension, but also for the prevention of
L-NAME-induced nephropathy in SHR.