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Hypertension Promotes Neuroinflammation, Brain Injury and Cognitive Impairment
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  • Quynh Dinh,
  • Antony Vinh,
  • Cecilia Lo,
  • David Wong Zhang,
  • Sharmelee Selvaraji,
  • Hyun Ah Kim,
  • Sophocles Chrissobolis,
  • Thiruma Valavan Arumugam,
  • Grant Drummond,
  • Christopher Sobey,
  • T. Michael De Silva
Quynh Dinh
La Trobe University
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Antony Vinh
La Trobe University
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Cecilia Lo
La Trobe University
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David Wong Zhang
La Trobe University
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Sharmelee Selvaraji
National University of Singapore
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Hyun Ah Kim
La Trobe University
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Sophocles Chrissobolis
Ohio Northern University R H Raabe College of Pharmacy
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Thiruma Valavan Arumugam
La Trobe University
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Grant Drummond
La Trobe University
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Christopher Sobey
La Trobe University
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T. Michael De Silva
La Trobe University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Background and purpose: Hypertension increases the risk for cognitive impairment and promotes vascular and renal inflammation. We tested if immune cell infiltration occurs in the brain during hypertension and if it is associated with cognitive impairment. Experimental approach: Male C57Bl/6 mice were administered vehicle, angiotensin II (0.7 mg/kg/d S.C.) or aldosterone (0.72 mg/kg/d S.C.) via osmotic minipumps. A subset of mice also received hydralazine (50 mg/kg) in their drinking water after minipump implantation. We measured systolic blood pressure, markers of inflammation, working memory and transcriptomic changes in the brain. Key results: Administration of angiotensin II or aldosterone increased blood pressure and promoted blood-brain barrier dysfunction, leukocyte accumulation and impairment of working memory in mice. When co-administered with angiotensin II, hydralazine prevented the development of these changes. In a separate cohort of mice in which angiotensin II-induced changes were first established, intervention with hydralazine lowered blood pressure but did not reverse brain inflammation or cognitive impairment. Finally, angiotensin II infusion altered the transcriptomic profile of the whole brain, as well as specifically within the hippocampus, and co-treatment with hydralazine modulated these changes. Conclusion and implications: Experimental hypertension leads to brain inflammation and impaired working memory. Cognitive impairment that develops during hypertension can be inhibited, but not readily reversed, by anti-hypertensive therapy.
17 Jul 2023Submitted to British Journal of Pharmacology
17 Jul 2023Submission Checks Completed
17 Jul 2023Assigned to Editor
17 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Nov 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
04 Mar 20241st Revision Received
15 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending