Activation of AP-1 through reactive oxygen species by angiotensin II in rat cardiomyocytes

Cardiovascular pathogenesis induced by angiotensin II (Ang-II) is a complex process often connected to oxidative stress. In the present study we show that, 4 h after addition, Ang-II induces a four- to fivefold increase in AP-1 activity in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and that the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlates with the extent of AP-1 binding activity. Ang-II stimulated ROS generation in rat cardiomyocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These effects of Ang-II were suppressed by the Ang-II receptor type I (AT1) inhibitor CV-11974 as well as by the antioxidants diphenylene iodonium (DPI) and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), but not by AT2 antagonist PD 122319. Furthermore, Ang-II induced a two- to threefold increase in protein synthesis and cell size during 12–24 h, which could be inhibited by CV-11974 as well as by DPI and NAC. Because the rat cardiomyocytes strongly expressed gp91phox, this suggests that ROS generated in a gp91-containing NADPH oxidase are involved in signal transduction leading to AP-1 activation. Together, these findings indicate that Ang-II elicits the activation of the redox-sensitive AP-1 via ROS through AT1, resulting in effects on cardiomyocyte function such as hypertrophy.