Demonstration of altered fibroblast contractile activity in hypertensive heart disease

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the idea that altered fibroblast contractile activity is involved in the pathogenesis of hypertensive heart disease (HHD). Methods: Cell area and contraction are quantified using the traction force microscopy technique for cardiac fibroblasts isolated from both normotensive Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Results: The data indicate that there are marked phenotypic differences between the two cell types. For instance, WKY fibroblasts exert an average traction stress of ∼3.3 kPa and have an area of ∼2640 μm2. Under identical conditions the SHR fibroblasts have an area ∼1.45 times larger ( p <0.01) and exert an average stress ∼1.86 times higher ( p <0.01). Challenging WKY fibroblasts with 1 μmol/l angiotensin II (Ang II) gradually causes a ∼2-fold increase in traction after 1 h while simultaneously causing a ∼28% decrease in area. In contrast, Ang II has no effect on SHR fibroblasts. The data also show that WKY and SHR cells respond in different ways when challenged with irbesartan (Irb). The addition of 1 μmol/l Irb initially causes WKY cells to decrease their average traction output by ∼50% after ∼10 min. Subsequently, contractile activity begins to recover and returns to normal after 1 h. The SHR cells also decrease their tractions by ∼50%, but this decrease requires 30 min for completion and there is no recovery to the initial contractile state. For both cell types, Irb produces no significant effect on area and the combined effect of equimolar Irb and Ang II is the same as Irb alone. Conclusion: These in vitro data suggest that among the many factors producing hypertensive heart disease in SHR's are excessive contraction of their cardiac fibroblasts and defective control of fibroblast contraction by Ang II.