Endogenous Aldosterone Contributes to Acute Angiotensin II-Stimulated Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Preproendothelin-1 Expression in Heart But Not Aorta

To test the hypothesis that angiotensin (Ang) II induces profibrotic gene expression through endogenous aldosterone, we measured the effect of 4 h infusion (600 ng/kg · min) of Ang II on tissue mRNA expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), preproendothelin-1 (ppET-1), TGF-β, and osteopontin in wild-type (WT), aldosterone synthase-deficient (AS−/−), and AS−/− mice treated with aldosterone (either 500 ng/d for 7 d or 250 ng as a concurrent 4 h infusion). Ang II increased aldosterone in WT (P < 0.001) but not in AS−/− mice. Aldosterone (7 d) normalized basal aldosterone concentrations in AS−/− mice; however, there was no further effect of Ang II on aldosterone (P = NS). Basal cardiac and aortic PAI-1 and ppET-1 expression were similar in WT and AS−/− mice. Ang II-stimulated PAI-1 (P < 0.001) and ppET-1 expression (P = 0.01) was diminished in the heart of AS−/− mice; treatment with aldosterone for 4 h or 7 d restored PAI-1 and ppET-1 mRNA responsiveness to Ang II in the heart. Ang II increased PAI-1 (P = 0.01) expression in the aorta of AS−/− as well as WT mice. In the kidney, basal PAI-1, ppET-1, and TGF-β mRNA expression was increased in AS−/− compared with WT mice and correlated with plasma renin activity. Ang II did not stimulate osteopontin or TGF-β expression in the heart or kidney. Endogenous aldosterone contributes to the acute stimulatory effect of Ang II on PAI-1 and ppET-1 mRNA expression in the heart; renin activity correlates with basal profibrotic gene expression in the kidney.