Angiotensin II–Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Hypertension Are Attenuated by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antisense

Background—Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a vasoconstrictor but also a growth factor. However, the Ang II type 1 receptor does not have a tyrosine kinase domain that mediates the cellular signals for mitosis. We have shown that Ang II acts via “trans”-activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to induce activation of tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). To examine whether EGFR is involved in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), we inhibited EGFR with a specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to attenuate the Ang II–induced cardiovascular hypertrophic effects. Methods and Results—The antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to EGFR (EGFR-AS) was designed and tested on Ang II–induced ERK activation in cultured VSMCs. We also investigated the effects of EGFR-AS on LVH and blood pressure (BP) in Ang II–infused hypertensive rats. In VSMCs, EGFR-AS (2.5 &mgr;mol/L) reduced EGFR expression and inhibited the Ang II–induced phosphorylation of ERK. In rats, Ang II (150 ng/h for 14 days) increased BP compared with controls (184±6 mm Hg versus 122±3 mm Hg; n=7;P <0.01). Continuous intravenous infusion of EGFR-AS (2 mg/kg) decreased BP (169±8 mm Hg; n=8;P <0.05). Ang II infusion increased the left ventricular/body weight (LV/BW) ratio compared with control rats (2.75±0.08 versus 2.33±0.07;P <0.01). EGFR-AS, but not EGFR-sense, normalized the LV/BW in Ang II–infused rats (2.32±0.06;P <0.01) and attenuated Ang II–enhanced EGFR expression and ERK phosphorylation. Conclusion—Ang II requires EGFR to mediate ERK activation in VSMCs and the heart. EGFR plays a critical role in the LVH induced by Ang II.