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

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 inositol phosphates, Egr-1 mRNA and the Egr-1 protein, suggesting the involvement of the PI signalling system by the expression of the Egr-1 gene.