Angiotensin II induces interleukin-6 expression in astrocytes: Role of reactive oxygen species and NF-κB

Previously, we showed that the bio-peptide angiotensin (Ang) II induces interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cultured astrocytes; however, the mechanism(s) involved in this effect were unknown. In the current study, we determined in brainstem and cerebellum astrocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), the effect of Ang II to induce IL-6 as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Results from this study showed that Ang II significantly induced the differential expression of IL-6 mRNA and protein levels in astrocytes from both regions of Wistar and SHRs. There were differences in the ability of Ang II to induce IL-6 mRNA and protein levels, but these differences were not apparent at all time points examined. Ang II also induced ROS generation, but there were no significant differences between ROS generation in SHR samples as compared to the Wistar samples. Ang II-induced IL-6 levels were mediated via the AT1/Nuclear Factor Kappa beta/ROS pathway. Overall, our findings suggest that there may be dysregulation in IL-6 production from astrocytes, contributing to differences observed in SHRs versus its normotensive control. Elucidating the mechanisms involved in Ang II pro-inflammatory effects in the central nervous system may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that can be harnessed not just to treat hypertension, but other Ang II-mediated diseases as well.