Vaccine combo a promising therapy for hypertension

Combined treatment with ATRQβ-001 and ADRQβ-004 vaccines shows potential as a therapeutic strategy for hypertension management, according to the preliminary findings of a study.

A research team has developed ATRQβ-001 and ADRQβ-004 vaccines, which target the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and α1D-adrenergic receptor (α1D-AR), respectively. In an animal model, the ATRQβ-001 and ADRQβ-004 vaccines were simultaneously administered in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

The researchers conducted histological and biochemical analyses to assess the antihypertensive effects and target organ protection of the combined ATRQβ-001 and ADRQβ-004 vaccines relative to those of the single vaccine.

Both vaccines provided strong antibody production, which resulted in persistently high antibody titres in SHRs. The combined administration of the two vaccines brought about significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the rats compared with the single vaccine, both prior to and following NG-nitroarginine methyl ester administration.

The combined ATRQβ-001 and ADRQβ-004 vaccines also showed superior protection against vascular remodelling, myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, and kidney injury in SHRs. Moreover, immune-related adverse effects did not occur in rats that received immunization.

Notably, the novel vaccines worked by substantially downregulating the expression of AT1R and α1D-AR.

“Preliminary findings from this investigation suggest that co-administration of the novel ATRQβ-001 and ADRQβ-004 vaccines holds potential as a groundbreaking therapeutic strategy for managing hypertension,” the researchers said.