Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of serious, long-term disability. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie stroke and the development of new therapeutic strategies is of key importance and is the long-term objective of this study. Much experimental evidence points to a beneficial action of angiotensin II type 2 receptors (AT2R) in stroke that is enhanced in the presence of Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers (ARBs), drugs that are effective anti-stroke agents. Thus, we have developed the general hypothesis that neuronal over expression of AT2R in the cerebral cortical and striatal regions will provide protection during ischemic stroke. In addition, we hypothesize that the combination of AT2R over expression and ARB administration will provide additional cerebroprotection than either alone. Specifically, we hypothesize that viral-mediated delivery of the AT2R gene and consequent neuronal over expression of AT2R within the cortical and striatal regions will reduce the infarct size and neurological deficits resulting from experimentally induced stroke. We further hypothesize that viral mediated delivery of an AT2R shRNA and consequent reduction in AT2R expression will exacerbate the neurological deficits and increase infarct size. The goal of this proposal is to test these hypotheses, using a combination of gene transfer, molecular, cellular and in vivo experimental approaches. The data from this study will not only help to solidify a cerebroprotective role of AT2R in stroke, but will help to determine whether the over expression of AT2R in the CMS can elicit a beneficial action.
The specific aims are: (1) Characterize viral-mediated over expression and reduction of AT2R in rat cerebral cortical and striatal regions. (2)Determine whether viral-mediated neuronal over expression of AT2R elicits cerebroprotection during ischemic stroke and improves the cerebroprotective action of ARBs. (3)Determine whether viralmediated reduction of neuronal AT2R potentiates the neural damage elicited by ischemic stroke and reduces the cerebroprotective action of ARBs. In summary, the experiments proposed here will not only allow us to solidify a cerebroprotective role of AT2R in stroke, but will also allow us to determine whether over expression of AT2R in the CNS can provide a beneficial action alone or in in combination with ARBs.

Public Health Relevance

These studies are relevant to public health as they will help to understand what happens in the brain after a stroke occurs, and may identify a new therapeutic target that would be helpful in reducing stroke symptoms. This is clearly relevant to the mission of the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
5F30NS060335-03
Application #
7898622
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1-SRB-M (57))
Program Officer
Jacobs, Tom P
Project Start
2008-08-16
Project End
2012-08-31
Budget Start
2010-08-16
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$39,180
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Regenhardt, Robert W; Mecca, Adam P; Desland, Fiona et al. (2014) Centrally administered angiotensin-(1-7) increases the survival of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Exp Physiol 99:442-53
Joseph, Jason P; Mecca, Adam P; Regenhardt, Robert W et al. (2014) The angiotensin type 2 receptor agonist Compound 21 elicits cerebroprotection in endothelin-1 induced ischemic stroke. Neuropharmacology 81:134-41
Regenhardt, Robert W; Desland, Fiona; Mecca, Adam P et al. (2013) Anti-inflammatory effects of angiotensin-(1-7) in ischemic stroke. Neuropharmacology 71:154-63
Regenhardt, Robert W; Ansari, Saeed; Azari, Hassan et al. (2013) Utilizing a cranial window to visualize the middle cerebral artery during endothelin-1 induced middle cerebral artery occlusion. J Vis Exp :e50015
Ansari, Saeed; Azari, Hassan; Caldwell, Kenneth J et al. (2013) Endothelin-1 induced middle cerebral artery occlusion model for ischemic stroke with laser Doppler flowmetry guidance in rat. J Vis Exp :
Mecca, Adam P; Regenhardt, Robert W; O'Connor, Timothy E et al. (2011) Cerebroprotection by angiotensin-(1-7) in endothelin-1-induced ischaemic stroke. Exp Physiol 96:1084-96
Mecca, Adam P; O'Connor, Timothy E; Katovich, Michael J et al. (2009) Candesartan pretreatment is cerebroprotective in a rat model of endothelin-1-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion. Exp Physiol 94:937-46