Angiotensin II induces formation of the early growth response gene‐1 protein in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Abstract
The effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on the early growth response gene‐1 (Egr‐1) mRNA, on the Egr‐1 protein and on the phosphoinositide PI turnover signalling system was investigated in the presence and absence of EXP3174, a potent non‐peptide Ang II receptor antagonist. Ang II induced an accumulation of 3.4 kb Egr‐1 mRNA and the 80 kDa Egr‐1 protein, with a maximum at 30 min and 60 min, respectively. EXP3174 blocked the Ang II‐induced increase of inositolphosphates, Egr‐1 mRNA and the Egr‐1 protein, suggesting the involvement of the PI signalling system by the expression of the Egr‐1 gene.