Yonago Acta medica 2003;46:49–55
Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme Inhibitor, Lisinopril, Reduces Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Expression of Splenic Interleukin-6 mRNA in Dehydrated Rats
Tatsuo Watanabe, Michio Miyoshi, Katsumi Nagata and Toshiaki Imoto
Division of Integrative Physiology, Department of Functional, Morphological and Regulatory Science, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8503 Japan
Angiotensin II (ANG II) has been shown to have proinflammatory properties. To investigate whether ANG II is involved in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of a pyrogenic/proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), we examined the effects of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, lisinopril, on LPS-induced fever and on the expression of IL-6 mRNA in the spleen of dehydrated rats (in which the secretion of ANG II increases). The results showed that the ACE inhibitor significantly inhibited LPS-induced fever as well as the splenic expression of IL-6 mRNA in dehydrated rats. It is suggested that endogenous ANG II may be involved in the production of IL-6 that occurs in response to LPS, and thereby contribute to the LPS-induced febrile response in dehydrated rats.
Key words: angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor; cytokine; interleukin-6; lipopolysaccharide; spleen
