Effect of Olmesartan on Angiotensin(1-7) Levels and Vascular Functions in Diabetes and Hypertension

Both ACE inhibitor and ARB produce inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system, so clinicians have regarded ACE inhibitor and ARB as effectively equivalent, including blood pressure lowering, improvement of congestive heart failure symptoms, inhibition of diabetic renal disease, reduction in stroke rates, and likely the prevention of new onset of diabetes mellitus. For an example, Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) trial suggested that treatment with telmisartan or Ramipril reduces the cardiovascular outcomes to similar extent in patients with vascular disease or high-risk diabetes [2]. However, despite the similarities in mechanisms of two drugs, several recent meta-analysis showed the difference in treatment effect between ACE inhibitors and ARBs in patients with high risk of cardiovascular events, and it has become clear that these two classes of medication have significant differences with regard to their pharmacological properties and their molecular/cellular profiles [3, 4].

ACE inhibitors block angiotensin II synthesis form its precursor angiotensin I. However, ARBs block AT1 receptor, and hence ultimately angiotensin II is increased by a feedback mechanism. Although the cumulative effects of angiotensin II is not clearly elucidated yet, recent studies have established a new regulatory axis in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In this axis, angiotensin(1-7) is finally produced from Angiotensin I or Angiotensin II by the catalytic activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2).

Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading risk factors for atherosclerosis and its complications including heart attacks and strokes. In addition, mortality rates are higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients [7]. The reason of cardiovascular risk in diabetes is not only related to hyperglycemia, but also commonly shares the risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, which are the characteristics of metabolic syndrome including insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that is related to low density lipoprotein, hypertension, diabetes, vascular inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and endothelial dysfunction. Angiotensin II makes an important role in this process and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α contribute as mediators.

Several clinical trials aimed at studying the benefits of RAS blockade in the diabetic complications. HOPE, RENAAL, IRMA2, IDNT, ONTARGET studies proved that ACE inhibitors or ARBs reduced the risk of diabetic complications [2, 8-11].

Recent studies proved that olmesartan, one of the ARBs, increases the activity of ACE-2 and angiotensin(1-7) level [12, 13]. 101 control subjects on no medication and 100 hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive agents, including the calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitor enalapril, and the angiotensin II receptor blockers losartan, candesartan, valsartan, telmisartan, and olmesartan, for more than 1 year were enrolled, and urinary ACE-2 level was measured. The result showed that urinary ACE-2 level was higher in the olmesartan-treated group, but not the other treatment groups, than in the control group. In addition, by multivariable regression analysis after adjustment of age, sex, and the correlated indices showed that the olmesartan was an independent predictor of urinary ACE-2 level [12]. The other study with 3 month old mice given olmesartan or hydralazine for 2 months revealed that olmesartan treatment inhibits cardiac hypertrophy independently of blood pressure not only through its AT1R blockade but partly through enhancement of ACE-2/angiotensin(1-7) [13]. However, there are some limitations. The former one was animal experiment, However, since they used many different drugs, the actual number of participants was quite small.

Therefore, understanding the change in concentration of serum ACE, ACE-2, angiotensin(1-7), and angiotensin-II should help clinicians select more appropriate drug between ACE inhibitors and ARBs with clear evidence. Moreover, since RAS antagonists are the first-line drugs for antihypertensive therapy in patients with T2DM, it is meaningful to understand the change of RAS-related factors in serum after using the drugs.

In this study, we will assess the change of serum ACE-2, angiotensin(1-7), and vascular function after using olmesartan (an ARB), compared to conventional anti-hypertensive drug, amlodipine in hypertensive patients with T2DM.