PPAR-γ agonist, pioglitazone, reduced oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress associated with L-NAME-induced hypertension in rats.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) agonist, pioglitazone, is used clinically to improve the glycemic state in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Independent of its blood glucose-lowering properties, pioglitazone ameliorates different cardiovascular disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pioglitazone on cardiovascular complications of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension and to determine the role of oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in its activity. Nitric oxide (NO) deficiency induced by chronic L-NAME administration was associated with high blood pressure (BP) and cardiac hypertrophy. L-NAME induced oxidative stress as indicated by reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities as well as increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, L-NAME increased the expression of ER stress markers, activating transcription factor-4 (ATF-4) and C/EPBα-homologous protein-10 (CHOP-10) in both heart and aorta of hypertensive rats. Activation of PPAR-γ by pioglitazone reduced BP, restored the blunted NO levels, increased endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression, and restored the antioxidant status of L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Moreover, the antihypertensive activity of pioglitazone was associated with a reduction in ER stress and this effect was PPAR-γ dependent. Interestingly, the effect of ER stress inhibitor, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) and antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), on BP, NO availability, oxidative stress and ER stress mimics the activity of pioglitazone. Taken together, our data suggests that PPAR-γ is a potential target to inhibit vascular complications and cardiac damage associated with NO-deficient HTN and puts more emphasis on the importance of ER stress in regulating PPAR-γ activity.