TY - JOUR AB - Vascular remodeling is a common complication and pathological basis of hypertension. Transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF‑β1)/small mothers against decapentaplegic 3 (Smad3) is considered a potential therapeutic target for vascular remodeling in hypertension. The present study aimed to demonstrate the antifibrotic effects of telmisartan and examined the potential mechanisms associated with its prevention of vascular remodeling. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were treated with telmisartan (20 mg/kg), and vascular contractility, reactivity and oxidative stress were preliminarily evaluated. Vascular pathological alterations and collagen deposition were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson staining, respectively. The profibrotic factors, TGF‑β1 and Smad3 were evaluated using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The protein levels of TGF‑β1/Smad3, phosphorylated (p‑)Smad3, collagen‑1 and α-smooth muscle actin in the aorta were assessed using western blot analysis. It was found that telmisartan attenuated chronic vasoconstriction and oxidative stress in the SHRs, and improved vascular reactivity. Telmisartan also restored vascular pathological alterations and decreased collagen deposition. In the vascular wall of the SHRs, telmisartan effectively decreased the protein levels of TGF‑β1/Smad3 and p‑Smad3. Taken together, these findings indicated that telmisartan, with its antioxidant effect, prevented vascular remodeling in hypertension through preventing the TGF‑β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. AD - Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA Shenyang General Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Institute of Chinese PLA, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China AU - Shang,Peijin AU - Liu,Tianlong AU - Liu,Wenxing AU - Li,Yuwen AU - Dou,Fang AU - Zhang,Yikai AU - Sun,Lijuan AU - Zhang,Tiejun AU - Zhu,Zhihui AU - Mu,Fei AU - Ding,Yi AU - Wen,Aidong DA - 2017/10/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2017.7177 EP - 4544 IS - 4 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - vascular remodeling antioxidant effect angiotensin II transforming growth factor‑β1 collagen deposition PY - 2017 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 4537 ST - Telmisartan improves vascular remodeling through ameliorating prooxidant and profibrotic mechanisms in hypertension via the involvement of transforming growth factor-β1 T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - Telmisartan improves vascular remodeling through ameliorating prooxidant and profibrotic mechanisms in hypertension via the involvement of transforming growth factor-β1 UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.7177 VL - 16 ER -