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The antihypertensive action of C-phycocyanin is related to the prevention of angiotensin II-caused vascular dysfunction in chronic kidney disease

Hypertension Research volume 47, pages 1024–1032 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

C-phycocyanin (CPC) is a photosynthetic protein found in Arthrospira maxima with a nephroprotective and antihypertensive activity that can prevent the development of hemodynamic alterations caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the complete nutraceutical activities are still unknown. This study aims to determine if the antihypertensive effect of CPC is associated with preventing the impairment of hemodynamic variables through delaying vascular dysfunction. Twenty-four normotensive male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) sham + 4 mL/kg/d vehicle (100 mM of phosphate buffer, PBS) administered by oral gavage (og), (2) sham + 100 mg/kg/d og of CPC, (3) CKD induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (CKD) + vehicle, (4) CKD + CPC. One week after surgery, the CPC treatment began and was administrated daily for four weeks. At the end treatment, animals were euthanized, and their thoracic aorta was used to determine the vascular function and expression of AT1, AT2, and Mas receptors. CKD-induced systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and vascular dysfunction by reducing the vasorelaxant response of angiotensin 1–7 and increasing the contractile response to angiotensin II. Also, CKD increased the expression of the AT1 and AT2 receptors and reduced the Mas receptor expression. Remarkably, the treatment with CPC prevented SAH, renal function impairment, and vascular dysfunction in the angiotensin system. In conclusion, the antihypertensive activity of CPC is associated with avoiding changes in the expression of AT1, AT2, and Mas receptors, preventing vascular dysfunction development and SAH in rats with CKD.

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Acknowledgements

We thank INSTITUTO POLITÉCNICO NACIONAL, SECRETARÍA DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y POSGRADO-IP, and CONACyT-Mexico for financial support. The researchers are fellows of EDI, COFAA, and SNI. In addition, the study was supported by SIP-IPN (20221728, 20221521, 20221801, 20221745) and CONACyT-Mexico (Grant No: CB-252702). The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Farmacobiología. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Calzada de los Tenorios 235, Col. Granjas Coapa, 14330, Ciudad de Mexico, México

    Jorge A. Tapia-Martínez, David Centurión, Araceli Sánchez-López, Jesus H. Beltran-Ornelas & Diana L. Silva-Velasco

  2. Laboratorio de Metabolismo I, Departamento Fisiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu 399, Col. Nueva Industrial Vallejo, 07738, Ciudad de México, México

    Margarita Franco-Colin, Plácido Rojas Franco & Edgar Cano-Europa

  3. Laboratorio de Neurobiología. Laboratorio de Metabolismo I, Departamento de Fisiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Av. Wilfrido Massieu 399, Nueva Industrial Vallejo, 07738. Ciudad de México, CDMX, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico

    Vanessa Blas-Valdivia

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Tapia-Martínez, J.A., Centurión, D., Franco-Colin, M. et al. The antihypertensive action of C-phycocyanin is related to the prevention of angiotensin II-caused vascular dysfunction in chronic kidney disease. Hypertens Res 47, 1024–1032 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01572-9

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