1. Academic Validation
  2. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induced an increase in blood pressure via activation of ACE and inhibition of the bradykinin-NO pathway

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induced an increase in blood pressure via activation of ACE and inhibition of the bradykinin-NO pathway

  • Environ Pollut. 2019 Apr;247:927-934. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.099.
Ting Deng 1 Xiaoman Xie 1 Jiufei Duan 1 Mingqing Chen 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China.
  • 2 Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

Epidemiological studies and animal experiments have suggested that exposure to Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is strongly associated with an increase in blood pressure. However, the mechanisms that result in the detrimental effects of DEHP exposure on blood pressure are unclear. In our study, mice were orally exposed to DEHP dosages of 0.1, 1, 10 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks. The results showed that DEHP could induce a significant increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate, and a significant thickening of the ventricular wall. To explore the underlying mechanism, we measured the level of: angiotensin converting Enzyme (ACE); bradykinin B2 receptor (BK2R); endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS); bradykinin and Ca2+ in cardiac cytoplasm as well as in serum nitric oxide (NO). The results suggested that DEHP could induce an increase in ACE levels, and a decrease in bradykinin levels. Moreover, BK2R, Ca2+, eNOS and NO decreased when mice were exposed to 10 mg/kg/day DEHP. Interestingly, 5 mg/kg/day angiotensin converting Enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) treatment inhibited the increase in blood pressure, and inhibited the decrease in the levels of BK2R, Ca2+, eNOS, and NO, that were induced by DEHP exposure. Our results suggest that DEHP might increase blood pressure by activating ACE expression, and inhibiting the bradykinin-NO pathway.

Keywords

ACE; Blood pressure; Bradykinin-NO pathway; Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

Figures
Products