Elevated MR Activity in Aged Rat VSMCs Promotes a Proinflammatory Phenotype Via ERK1/2 MAPK and EGFR-Dependent Pathways

Arterial aging is a predominant risk factor for the onset of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, myocardial infarction or stroke. Aging is associated with intravascular renin-angiotensin-system activation, increased vascular stiffness, intimal-media thickening, and a proinflammatory phenotype. Little is known about the influence of aldosterone on arterial aging. Hence, we hypothesized that aldosterone and MR activation might contribute to and possibly accelerate the arterial aging process. We demonstrate increased mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression in whole aortae and early passage aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from aged (30 months) compared to adult (8 months) F344XBN rats. Sensitivity to aldosterone-induced ERK1/2 MAPK activity is increased in aged cells. MR blockade and ERK1/2 MAPK inhibition prevent age-associated increase of TGF-β, ICAM-1, and pro-collagen-1. Aldosterone increases expression of proinflammatory marker proteins, shifting the phenotype of adult VSMCs towards the proinflammatory phenotype of aged rats. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression is increased with age and by aldosterone, and inhibition of EGFR tyrosine kinase decreases age-associated proinflammatory marker expression. Our data support the hypothesis that increased constitutive MR signalling may promote and amplify age-associated inflammation that accompanies arterial aging through increased AngII-stimulated expression of MR and enhanced sensitivity to aldosterone-mediated ERK1/2 activation, likely related to increased EGFR expression.