C3 in the DOCA salt hypertension model
An increased expression of likely harmful C3 is also observed in another
mouse-based hypertension model. The perivascular adipose tissue in the
DOCA salt treated mice displays a clear increase in C3 expression (Ruan
et al., 2015). Bone marrow transplantation from C3 knockout mice into
wild type mice lowered vascular injury in DOCA salt exposed mice. This
was accompanied by a greatly reduced deposition of C5a in the
perivascular adipose tissue after transplantation of C3 deficient bone
marrow. In addition, treatment with a C5aR peptide agonist aggravated
vascular hypertrophy and fibrosis in DOCA salt treated mice. No effect
on blood pressure was found (Ruan & Gao, 2019). These findings suggest
that C3 from bone marrow derived cells contribute to the DOCA salt
hypertensive vascular remodeling process largely via the downstream
generation of C5a, most likely via C3/C5 convertase formation.