(Circulation. 2000;102:1447.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Basic Science Reports |
Effects of Combined Angiotensin II and Endothelin Receptor Blockade With Developing Heart Failure
Effects on Left Ventricular Performance
From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (R.B.N., A.C.S., M.K.K., J.W.H., M.J.C., J.H.M., J.M., R.M., F.G.S.), Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and the Pharmaceutical Division (M.d.G.), Novartis, Basel, Switzerland.
Correspondence to Francis G. Spinale, MD, PhD, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Room 625, Strom Thurmond Research Building, 770 MUSC Complex, Medical University of South Carolina, 114 Doughty St, Charleston, SC 29425.
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Abstract |
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Background—The goal of this study was to determine the comparative effects of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor inhibition alone, endothelin-1 (ET) receptor blockade alone, and combined receptor blockade on left ventricular (LV) function, contractility, and neurohormonal system activity in a model of congestive heart failure (CHF).
Methods and Results—Pigs were randomly assigned to each of 5 groups: (1) rapid atrial pacing (240 bpm) for 3 weeks (n=9), (2) concomitant AT1 receptor blockade (valsartan, 3 mg/kg per day) and rapid pacing (n=8), (3) concomitant ET receptor blockade (bosentan, 50 mg/kg BID) and rapid pacing (n=8), (4) concomitant combined AT1 and ET receptor inhibition and rapid pacing (n=8), and (5) sham-operated control (n=9). LV stroke volume was reduced from the control value after rapid pacing, was unchanged with either AT1 or ET receptor blockade alone, but was improved with combination treatment. LV peak wall stress was reduced in both groups with ET receptor blockade compared with the rapid pacing group. Plasma norepinephrine levels were increased by >3-fold after rapid pacing, remained increased in the monotherapy groups, but were reduced after combination treatment. LV myocyte velocity of shortening was reduced after rapid pacing–induced CHF, remained reduced after AT1 receptor blockade, increased after ET receptor blockade (compared with rapid pacing–induced CHF values), and returned to within control values after combined blockade.
Conclusions—Combined AT1 and the ET receptor blockade in this model of CHF improved LV pump function, and contributory factors included the effects of LV loading conditions, neurohormonal system activity, and myocardial contractile performance. Thus, combined receptor blockade may provide a useful combinatorial therapeutic approach in CHF.
Key Words: ventricles • norepinephrine • hemodynamics • heart failure • angiotensin • endothelin
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Introduction |
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The progression of congestive heart failure (CHF) is accompanied by left ventricular (LV) pump dysfunction and neurohormonal system activation. Specifically, increased circulating levels of catecholamines, angiotensin II (Ang II), and endothelin-1 (ET) have all been identified to occur with the development of LV dysfunction and are related to the severity of the CHF process. Studies have demonstrated that Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade can be successfully instituted in the setting of CHF and may provide favorable effects.1 2 Activation of the ET receptor has been demonstrated to modulate a wide variety of biological processes, including vascular tone and myocardial contractile function.3 4 5 6 Chronic activation of the ET receptor system occurs with CHF and therefore may contribute to the progression and severity of LV dysfunction in the setting of CHF.3 5 6 7 8 There is experimental evidence to suggest that interactions exist between the Ang AT1 and ET receptor transduction pathways.9 10 The central hypothesis of this project was that compared with either treatment alone, combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade would provide additional effects on LV function and contractility in the setting of developing CHF.
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Methods |
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Dose Determination Studies
The selective AT1 receptor antagonist valsartan (Novartis) and the mixed ETA/ETB receptor antagonist bosentan (Actelion LTD) were used.11 12 Yorkshire pigs (20 kg, male, Hambone Farms, Orangeburg, SC; n=10) were instrumented for measurement of aortic blood pressure in the conscious state.13 14 15 Ang II (10 µg, Sigma Chemical Co) or ET (10 µg, Sigma) was infused, and aortic pressure was recorded. After the control measurements, peritoneal osmotic minipumps (2 ML1, Alza Corp; n=5) containing valsartan were implanted to maintain a dose of 3 mg/kg per day of the AT1 receptor antagonist.13 This route of delivery provided a more consistent plasma level for this AT1 receptor antagonist.13 In a second group (n=5), bosentan was administered in an oral formulation at a dose of 50 mg/kg BID. The chemical formulation of bosentan and the quantity required to be delivered daily prevented osmotic pump delivery. This dosing regimen for bosentan caused a small but significant fall in resting blood pressure from control values (91±2 versus 101±2 mm Hg, P<0.05). In preliminary studies, higher doses of bosentan caused a significant fall in systemic pressure and tachycardia. At 5 days of treatment, AT1 receptor blockade reduced the Ang II pressor response, and ET receptor blockade reduced the ET pressor response (Figure 1
). Pigs with implanted
minipumps were then administered bosentan (50 mg/kg BID) for 5 days.
With this combination treatment, resting blood pressure was reduced
from control values (88±4 mm Hg, P<0.05) but was not
different from values measured after ET receptor blockade only.
Combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade
significantly blunted both the Ang II and ET pressor responses (Figure 1).
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Experimental Design
Forty-two pigs were instrumented with a vascular access port and
a modified pacemaker to induce CHF by rapid pacing.13 14 15 16
The animals were assigned to the following treatment protocols: (1)
rapid atrial pacing (240 bpm) for 3 weeks (n=9), (2) concomitant
AT1 receptor blockade (3 mg/kg valsartan per day
by osmotic infusion pump) and rapid pacing (n=8), (3) concomitant ET
receptor blockade (50 mg/kg bosentan BID by oral route) and rapid
pacing (n=9), (4) concomitant combined AT1 and ET
receptor inhibition and rapid pacing (n=8), and (5) sham-operated
control (n=9). The drug treatment protocols were begun at the
initiation of pacing and were continued for the entire 21-day pacing
protocol. All animals were treated and cared for in accordance with the
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the
National Institutes of Health (National Research Council, Washington,
1996).
LV Function and Neurohormonal Measurements
Two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were
used to image the LV for the measurement of LV dimensions, wall
thickness, and fractional shortening.13 14 15 Systemic
aortic pressure was simultaneously measured to determine LV
peak wall stress.13 14 15 After which, blood was collected
for neurohormonal assay.13 14 15 After the LV
echocardiographic studies, the pigs were
anesthetized for a more comprehensive study of LV function and
hemodynamics.14 A precalibrated
microtipped transducer (7.5F, Millar Instruments Inc) was placed in the
LV apex. Four piezoelectric crystals (2 mm, Sonometrics) were
positioned on the LV anterior free wall to obtain orthogonal myocardial
dimensions.14 LV preload was altered by sequential
occlusion and release of the inferior vena cava. LV
myocardial velocity of circumferential fiber shortening, corrected for
heart rate, was computed from the digitized LV crystal and pressure
data as described previously.17
LV Morphometry and Myocyte Studies
The region of the LV free wall constituting the left anterior
descending artery was perfusion-fixed with 2.5%
glutaraldehyde solution at 50 mm Hg, and
myocardial sections were prepared to measure myocyte cross-sectional
area.15 16 The posterior region of the LV free wall (3x3
cm) was snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for subsequent analysis
of Ang II and ET content.10 16 The cannulated
coronary artery was perfused with a collagenase
solution to obtain viable LV myocytes for study.15 16
Isolated myocyte function was examined as previously reported by this
laboratory.15 16 Myocytes were also examined in 1 of 3
ways: (1) after ß-adrenergic receptor stimulation with 25 nmol/L
(-)isoproterenol (Sigma), (2) after exposure to 200 pmol/L ET
(Sigma), or (3) with increased extracellular Ca2+
(8 mmol/L).
Data Analysis
LV function, systemic hemodynamics,
neurohormonal profiles, and contractility were compared
by ANOVA, and pairwise tests of individual group means were performed
by use of Bonferroni probabilities. All LV measurements, morphometric
analyses, and myocyte contractility studies
were performed in a blinded fashion with respect to treatment. Results
are presented as mean±SEM.
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Results |
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LV Function and Hemodynamics
LV function and hemodynamics are summarized in Table 1
. One pig in the ET
blockade group died during the terminal catheterization
study, and the final sample size is reported. LV
end-diastolic dimension increased, and fractional
shortening decreased in all rapid pacing groups compared with the
control group. LV end-diastolic dimension was lower, and
fractional shortening was higher in the combination treatment group.
Cardiac output was reduced in the rapid pacing group and both
monotherapy groups but was normalized in the combination group.
Compared with the untreated rapid pacing value, LV peak wall stress was
reduced in both ET receptor blockade groups. Systemic and
pulmonary vascular resistances were increased after rapid
pacing and returned to within control values after ET receptor blockade
and combination treatment. The slope of the relation of the velocity of
circumferential fiber shortening, corrected for heart rate, to
end-systolic wall stress was reduced in all rapid pacing
groups. The slope of this relation increased in the combination
treatment group.
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Plasma Neurohormones and Drug Levels
Plasma norepinephrine increased by 3-fold after rapid
pacing and remained elevated after chronic AT1
receptor blockade (Figure 2). In the
combined treatment group, plasma norepinephrine levels
returned to control values. Plasma renin activity was reduced from
AT1 receptor blockade values after ET receptor
blockade. Plasma Ang II levels were highest in the groups with
AT1 receptor blockade only and with combined
treatment. Plasma ET increased in all rapid pacing groups and was
increased further in both ET receptor blockade groups. Plasma levels of
valsartan were 220±37 nmol/L in the AT1 receptor
blockade group and 328±69 nmol/L in the combined treatment group
(P=0.21).
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LV Myocardial ET and Ang II Content
LV myocardial ET content was increased in the untreated rapid
pacing group compared with the control group (Figure 3). LV myocardial ET was increased in
AT1 receptor blockade group compared with the
control group and was lower in both ET receptor blockade groups.
Myocardial Ang II levels were increased in all pacing groups.
Myocardial Ang II levels were lower in the AT1
receptor blockade only group than in the untreated rapid pacing
group.
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LV Myocyte Geometry and Contractility
LV myocyte cross-sectional area was decreased from control values
after chronic rapid pacing (252±3 versus 269± 12
µm2, P<0.05). Compared with the
control value, LV myocyte cross-sectional area remained reduced in the
AT1 receptor blockade group and the ET receptor
blockade group (235±18 and 238±10 µm2,
respectively; both P<0.05). In the combination treatment
group, LV myocyte cross-sectional area was not different from control
values (272±25 µm2). LV isolated myocyte
resting length was increased in the rapid pacing group compared with
the control group (163±4 versus 132±3 µm, P<0.05).
Resting myocyte length remained increased in all receptor blockade
groups, with values similar to those in the untreated rapid pacing
group.
LV Myocyte Contractility
Steady-state myocyte contractile function was examined in >500
myocytes from each group (minimum of 75 myocytes per pig), with
representative contraction profiles shown in Figure 4 and results summarized in Table 2. In the untreated rapid pacing group,
myocyte percentage and velocity of shortening were reduced to 50% of
the control values. In the AT1 receptor blockade
and rapid pacing group, indices of LV myocyte contractile function were
similar to untreated rapid pacing values. In the ET receptor blockade
and rapid pacing group, myocyte velocity of shortening was increased
compared with rapid pacing values. In the combined
AT1 and ET receptor blockade group, indices of
myocyte contractile function were increased compared with the untreated
rapid pacing values and with the monotherapy treatment values.
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The absolute change in myocyte velocity of shortening was computed for
myocytes after either ß-receptor stimulation, exposure to increased
extracellular Ca2+, or ET blockade (Figure 5). LV myocyte inotropic response to
ß-receptor stimulation was significantly blunted in the untreated
rapid pacing group and the AT1 receptor blockade
only group compared with the control group. In the ET receptor blockade
group and the combined treatment group, ß-adrenergic response was
significantly improved compared with untreated pacing values. Myocyte
inotropic response to extracellular Ca2+ was
reduced in all rapid pacing groups compared with the control group but
was higher in the ET receptor blockade group and the combined treatment
group than in the untreated rapid pacing group. In all rapid pacing
groups, ET caused a significant negative effect on myocyte contractile
function compared with control values.
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Discussion |
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The development and progression of CHF is accompanied by increased circulating levels of Ang II and ET. Inhibition of the AT1 receptor has been demonstrated to provide beneficial effects in studies of CHF.1 2 13 ET receptor inhibition has also been demonstrated to provide effects on LV function and hemodynamics in the setting of CHF.3 6 The overall goal of the present study was to determine the effects of combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade in a model of pacing-induced CHF. The important and unique findings of the present study were 3-fold. First, combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade improved the indices of LV ejection performance to a greater degree than was obtained with either receptor antagonist alone. Second, combined receptor blockade with chronic rapid pacing reduced systemic vascular resistance and plasma catecholamines to a greater degree than was obtained by treatment with either receptor antagonist alone. Third, LV myocyte function was increased with combined receptor blockade, indicating an endogenous improvement in LV myocardial contractility. Thus, combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade in CHF may provide beneficial effects that are due to improved LV loading conditions and contractility.
There is evidence to suggest that cross talk occurs between the AT1 and ET receptor systems.9 10 18 19 Combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade reduced systemic vascular resistance to a greater degree than was achieved by either receptor antagonist alone, and combined receptor blockade reduced plasma norepinephrine to a greater degree than was achieved by either receptor antagonist alone. This observation suggests that a synergistic effect occurred with AT1 and ET receptor blockade with respect to sympathetic efferent activity. Plasma renin activity and Ang II levels were increased with pacing-induced CHF and appeared to increase further with AT1 receptor blockade, consistent with a pharmacological interruption of the renin-angiotensin system. ET plasma levels were increased in the ET receptor blockade groups; this increase was likely due to inhibition of the receptor-mediated clearance of circulating ET. Myocardial Ang II levels were increased with pacing-induced CHF. The reduction in myocardial Ang II levels in the AT1 receptor blockade group likely reflect reduced uptake of Ang II into myocardial cells as well as potentially reduced synthesis. Combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade may have prevented chronic activation of both of these receptor systems within the myocardial compartment with pacing-induced CHF, which in turn would provide a protective effect on myocyte contractile performance in vivo.
The underlying basis for the changes in LV geometry and function with pacing-induced CHF include structural remodeling of the myocardium and intrinsic defects in contractility.5 6 13 14 15 16 A structural basis for the LV dilation and subsequently increased wall stress with pacing CHF is reduced myocyte cross-sectional area and increased length. AT1 or ET receptor blockade alone did not significantly reduce the degree of LV dilation after chronic pacing and did not alter isolated LV myocyte geometry compared with untreated pacing-induced CHF levels. Combined AT1 and ET receptor blockade reduced the degree of LV dilation, albeit to a modest degree after pacing-induced CHF. These changes in LV geometry in the combination blockade group were paralleled by a normalization of LV myocyte cross-sectional area.
LV ejection performance was significantly improved in the combination treatment group compared with the untreated rapid pacing group. However, significant changes in LV geometry and neurohormonal systems occurred in this model of CHF, with and without treatment; therefore, the in vivo indices of myocardial contractility are difficult to interpret. Accordingly, LV isolated myocyte contractile performance was examined in all treatment groups. Combined ET and AT1 receptor blockade improved the indices of steady-state myocyte contractile function to a greater degree than was achieved with either receptor antagonist alone. A fundamental component of severe CHF is depressed inotropic responsiveness, particularly to ß-receptor stimulation. Concomitant monotherapy by AT1 receptor blockade with chronic rapid pacing did not significantly influence myocyte ß-adrenergic responsiveness. In contrast, ET receptor blockade, with and without AT1 receptor blockade, improved myocyte ß-adrenergic responsiveness. Myocyte inotropic response to extracellular Ca2+ was improved in the ET receptor blockade group and in the combination treatment group. Thus, the improved myocyte ß-adrenergic response was likely due to improvements in Ca2+ homeostasis and/or improved myofilament sensitivity to Ca2+. One likely contributory factor for the favorable effects on myocyte contractility that were observed in the combination treatment group was the significant reduction in circulating plasma norepinephrine levels.
The negative inotropic effect of ET in the setting of CHF is probably due to alterations in intracellular transduction pathways. Exposure and activation of myocyte ET receptors have been demonstrated to influence a number of intracellular events that ultimately result in modulating Ca2+ exposure to the contractile apparatus.19 20 Thus, the reduction in contractile function after exposure of CHF myocytes to ET was likely due to exacerbation of these abnormalities in Ca2+ homeostatic processes. ET receptor blockade may prevent the negative inotropic effects of increased ET after pacing-induced CHF and, in turn, improve LV function.
There are 2 predominant subtypes of the ET receptor system, ETA and ETB. The ETA receptor subtype is predominant on systemic smooth muscle vasculature and cardiac myocytes and, when activated, causes vasoconstriction and changes in contractility. ETB receptor activation has been demonstrated to result in NO production and may be an important factor in modulating pulmonary vascular resistance as well as a clearance mechanism for circulating ET.21 In the present study, the mixed ET receptor antagonist, bosentan, which possesses binding affinity for both receptor subtypes, was used.12 This ET receptor antagonist was chosen because it has been the best characterized and because clinical studies have been described.3 22 Blockade of the ETB receptors may have reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation.21 In the present study, treatment with bosentan alone did not reduce pulmonary vascular resistance to a degree similar to that found with AT1 receptor blockade or with combined treatment. This would suggest that nonselective ET receptor blockade may influence ETB-mediated pulmonary vascular relaxation. The relative contribution of ETA and ETB receptor activation to the progression of the CHF process and whether and to what degree selective versus nonselective ET receptor blockade provides differential effects with developing CHF warrant further study.
Chronic rapid pacing in animals causes an invariable and time-dependent progression to CHF.5 6 13 14 15 16 Thus, the pacing model can be used to examine the effects of interventional strategies on the progression of CHF. However, it must be recognized that any animal model will not fully represent the complex clinical spectrum of CHF. Because receptor blockade was instituted before the induction of CHF, then extrapolation of these findings directly to the clinical presentation of CHF should be performed with caution. The effects of both AT1 receptor and ET receptor blockade produce dose-dependent effects.11 12 The present study was performed with the use of a single dosing regimen, and although the doses of receptor antagonists chosen demonstrated pharmacological activity, the potential dose-dependent effects of these antagonists in this model of CHF were not addressed. The doses of AT1 and ET receptor antagonists used in the present study were the highest that could be used without causing systemic hypotension in the normal porcine preparation. It must be recognized that these doses did not completely abolish the respective Ang II or ET pressor response and that the plasma levels of the AT1 receptor antagonist were higher in the combination group. Thus, combined treatment may have resulted in a greater degree of AT1 receptor blockade, which prevents assessment of additive and/or synergistic effects. Nevertheless, the findings from the present study suggest that both the AT1 and the ET receptor systems contribute to the progression of the CHF process and that combined receptor blockade may be a useful combinatorial therapeutic approach in CHF.
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Acknowledgments |
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This study was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants HL-57952 and HL-59165 (Dr Spinale) and a Basic Research Grant from Novartis (Dr Spinale). Dr Spinale is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association. The authors wish to thank Dr Martine Clozel (Actelion, Ltd, Alschwil, Switzerland) for providing the source of bosentan and Steve Whitebread (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) for performing the valsartan plasma assays.
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Footnotes |
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Guest Editor for this article was Wilson S. Colucci, MD, Boston Medical School, Boston, Mass.
Received November 1, 1999; revision received April 13, 2000; accepted April 30, 2000.
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