Reduced basal nitric oxide bioavailability and platelet activation in young spontaneously hypertensive rats

The SWELL1-LRRC8 complex regulates endothelial AKT-eNOS signaling and vascular function

The endothelium responds to numerous chemical and mechanical factors in regulating vascular tone, blood pressure, and blood flow. The endothelial volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) has been proposed to be mechanosensitive and thereby sense fluid flow and hydrostatic pressure to regulate vascular function. Here, we show that the leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8a, LRRC8A (SWELL1), is required for VRAC in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Endothelial LRRC8A regulates AKT-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling under basal, stretch, and shear-flow stimulation, forms a GRB2-Cav1-eNOS signaling complex, and is required for endothelial cell alignment to laminar shear flow. Endothelium-restricted Lrrc8a KO mice develop hypertension in response to chronic angiotensin-II infusion and exhibit impaired retinal blood flow with both diffuse and focal blood vessel narrowing in the setting of type 2 diabetes (T2D). These data demonstrate that LRRC8A regulates AKT-eNOS in endothelium and is required for maintaining vascular function, particularly in the setting of T2D.

Hypertension alters phosphorylation of VASP in brain endothelial cells

Hypertension impairs cerebral vascular function. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) mediates active reorganization of the cytoskeleton via membrane ruffling, aggregation and tethering of actin filaments. VASP regulation of endothelial barrier function has been demonstrated by studies using VASP(-/-) animals under conditions associated with tissue hypoxia. We hypothesize that hypertension regulates VASP expression and/or phosphorylation in endothelial cells, thereby contributing to dysfunction in the cerebral vasculature. Because exercise has direct and indirect salutary effects on vascular systems that have been damaged by hypertension, we also investigated the effect of exercise on maintenance of VASP expression and/or phosphorylation. We used immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry to examine the effect of hypertension on VASP expression and phosphorylation in brain endothelial cells in normotensive [Wistar-Kyoto (WKY)] and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats under normal and exercise conditions. In addition, we analyzed VASP regulation in normoxia- and hypoxia-induced endothelial cells. Brain endothelial cells exhibited significantly lower VASP immunoreactivity and phosphorylation at the Ser157 residue in SHR versus WKY rats. Exercise reversed hypertension-induced alterations in VASP phosphorylation. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry indicated reduction in VASP phosphorylation in hypoxic versus normoxic endothelial cells. These results suggest that diminished VASP expression and/or Ser157 phosphorylation mediates endothelial changes associated with hypertension and exercise may normalize these changes, at least in part, by restoring VASP phosphorylation.

Simultaneous renal hypertension and type 2 diabetes exacerbate vascular endothelial dysfunction in rats

Despite the high rate of occurrence of both diabetes and hypertension in humans, the cardiovascular effects of the two conditions have not been investigated when they occur simultaneously. Thus this study examined the vascular effects of simultaneous type 2 diabetes and renal hypertension on endothelial function. Serum malondialdehyde and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured, glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed, and concentration-response to phenylephrine (PE) in the absence and presence of nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were conducted on aortic rings from diabetic control, type 2 diabetes, sham-operated, renal hypertensive, and simultaneous type 2 diabetes plus hypertension rats respectively. Hypertension, diabetes, and simultaneous diabetes and hypertension were associated with either increased or decreased maximal responses (E(max)) of PE dependent on in the presence or absence of l-NAME. There was also increased serum malondialdehyde and decreased E(max) of acetylcholine. Thus simultaneous hypertension and diabetes caused a greater decrease in E(max) of acetylcholine compared to that seen with either diabetes or hypertension alone higher than that seen in hypertension. The blood glucose during GTT was lower than that seen in diabetes groups. Thus simultaneous type 2 diabetes and the SBP was renal hypertension is associated with improved glucose tolerance, but with further deterioration of endothelial dysfunction compared with either condition alone.

Oxidative stress impairs vasorelaxation induced by the soluble guanylyl cyclase activator BAY 41-2272 in spontaneously hypertensive rats

BACKGROUND

BAY 41-2272 (5-cyclopropyl-2-[1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl]-pyrimidin-4-ylamine) relaxes mesenteric arteries (MA) in a synergistic fashion with nitric oxide (NO). We hypothesized that the relaxation to BAY 41-2272 is decreased in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) because of the reduced NO bioavailability in this strain and that relaxation would be improved by inhibiting the oxidative stress. We aimed to evaluate the influence of oxidative stress in BAY 41-2272-induced vasorelaxation in isolated MA from SHR.

METHODS

MA function was evaluated by concentration-response curves to BAY 41-2272. We measured protein expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and human-antigen R (HuR) (sGC mRNA-stabilizing protein), sGC activity and plasma levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant status (TAS).

RESULTS

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent and -independent relaxation induced by BAY 41-2272 (0.0001-1 micromol/l) was impaired in SHR compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY). We observed reduced expression of eNOS, sGC and HuR, and decreased sGC activity in SHR. Plasma levels of SOD and TAS were also diminished in SHR. Incubation with SOD or indomethacin increased relaxation to BAY 41-2272 in SHR. Furthermore, acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation was increased in the presence of BAY 41-2272 or SOD, apocynin, or indomethacin.

CONCLUSION

Augmented oxidative stress in SHR impaired cGMP-dependent and -independent relaxation induced by BAY 41-2272, by decreasing NO bioavailability and sGC expression and by increasing contractile activity. Inhibiton of oxidative stress improved the relaxation of BAY 41-2272 in SHR. BAY 41-2272 might be an alternative therapeutic tool for hypertension if administrated with antioxidant compounds.

Inhibition of platelet activation in rats with severe congestive heart failure by a novel endothelial nitric oxide synthase transcription enhancer

AIMS

Increased risk of thrombo-embolic events in congestive heart failure (CHF) has been attributed to a hypercoagulable state including vascular endothelial dysfunction and reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) as well as platelet activation. We investigated whether treatment with a novel endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-transcription enhancer positively modulates systemic NO bioavailability and reduces platelet activation in rats with CHF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

After experimental myocardial infarction, male Wistar rats were treated with either placebo or the eNOS-transcription enhancer, AVE9488 (25 ppm/day) for 10 weeks. In rats with severe CHF (left ventricular end-diastolic pressure >15 mmHg), platelet vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP)-phosphorylation reflecting the integrity of the NO/cGMP pathway was significantly reduced (mean immunofluorescence at Ser(157): Sham, 61.4 +/- 9.1; CHF-Placebo, 37.4 +/- 4.9; P < 0.05; Ser(239): Sham, 18.1 +/- 2.5; CHF-Placebo, 13.2 +/- 0.6; P < 0.05). Platelet surface expression of P-selectin and glycoprotein 53 were increased in CHF rats compared with sham-operated animals. Chronic treatment with AVE9488 significantly enhanced platelet VASP-phosphorylation in CHF rats (Ser(157): 70.4 +/- 16.2; Ser(239): 19.3 +/- 1.8). In parallel, platelet surface expression of P-selectin and glycoprotein 53 was reduced in the treatment group.

CONCLUSION

Platelet activation was evident in CHF rats. Therapy with the eNOS-transcription enhancer, AVE9488, reduced platelet activation in parallel to normalization of platelet NO bioavailability.

Sickle cell disease vasculopathy: a state of nitric oxide resistance

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy characterized by microvascular vaso-occlusion with erythrocytes containing polymerized sickle (S) hemoglobin, erythrocyte hemolysis, vasculopathy, and both acute and chronic multiorgan injury. It is associated with steady state increases in plasma cell-free hemoglobin and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hereditary and acquired hemolytic conditions release into plasma hemoglobin and other erythrocyte components that scavenge endothelium-derived NO and metabolize its precursor arginine, impairing NO homeostasis. Overproduction of ROS, such as superoxide, by enzymatic (xanthine oxidase, NADPH oxidase, uncoupled eNOS) and nonenzymatic pathways (Fenton chemistry), promotes intravascular oxidant stress that can likewise disrupt NO homeostasis. The synergistic bioinactivation of NO by dioxygenation and oxidation reactions with cell-free plasma hemoglobin and ROS, respectively, is discussed as a mechanism for NO resistance in SCD vasculopathy. Human physiological and transgenic animal studies provide experimental evidence of cardiovascular and pulmonary resistance to NO donors and reduced NO bioavailability that is associated with vasoconstriction, decreased blood flow, platelet activation, increased endothelin-1 expression, and end-organ injury. Emerging epidemiological data now suggest that chronic intravascular hemolysis is associated with certain clinical complications: pulmonary hypertension, cutaneous leg ulcerations, priapism, and possibly stroke. New therapeutic strategies to limit intravascular hemolysis and ROS generation and increase NO bioavailability are discussed.

Role of Ena/VASP proteins in homeostasis and disease

The actin cytoskeleton is required for many important processes during embryonic development. In later stages of life, important homeostatic processes depend on the actin cytoskeleton, such as immune response, haemostasis and blood vessel preservation. Therefore, the function of the actin cytoskeleton must be tightly regulated, and aberrant regulation may cause disease. A growing number of proteins have been described to bind and regulate the actin cytoskeleton. Amongst them, Ena/VASP proteins function as anti-capping proteins, thereby directly modulating the actin ultrastructure. Ena/VASP function is regulated by their recruitment into protein complexes downstream of plasma membrane receptors and by phosphorylation. As regulators of the actin ultrastructure, Ena/VASP proteins are involved in crucial cellular functions, such as shape change, adhesion, migration and cell-cell interaction and hence are important targets for therapeutic intervention. In this chapter, we will first describe the structure, function and regulation of Ena/VASP proteins. Then, we will review the involvement of Ena/VASP proteins in the development of human diseases. Growing evidence links Ena/VASP proteins to important human diseases, such as thrombosis, cancer, arteriosclerosis, cardiomyopathy and nephritis. Finally, present and future perspectives for the development of therapeutic molecules interfering with Ena/VASP-mediated protein-protein interactions are presented.

The CX3C Chemokine Fractalkine Induces Vascular Dysfunction by Generation of Superoxide Anions

OBJECTIVE

The chemokine fractalkine activates platelets and induces leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium. Expression of fractalkine and its receptor, CX3CR1, is elevated in coronary artery disease. We assessed the effects of fractalkine on vascular function in isolated rat aorta.

METHODS AND RESULTS

CX3CR1 expression was demonstrated in rat aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fractalkine (up to 1 microg/mL) did not directly induce contractile or relaxant responses when applied to rat aortic rings in organ baths. Short-term incubation with fractalkine (1 microg/mL) for 5 minutes did not affect vascular reactivity. Pretreatment of isolated rat aortic rings with fractalkine for 2 hours impaired acetylcholine-induced nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation after preconstriction with phenylephrine in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration response to the NO donor DEA-NONOate was significantly shifted to the right. The radical scavenger tiron normalized the attenuated acetylcholine-induced relaxation after fractalkine incubation. Aortic superoxide formation was enhanced by fractalkine, which was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium but not by inhibitors of xanthine oxidase or NO synthase.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to its role as a chemokine and adhesion molecule, fractalkine induces vascular dysfunction by stimulating vascular reactive oxygen species resulting in reduced NO bioavailability.

The L-arginine/NO pathway in the early phases of platelet stimulation by collagen

Nitric oxide production, L-arginine transport and intracellular [Ca2+] changes in human platelets stimulated without stirring by low doses of collagen have been evaluated. Collagen decreased in a dose-dependent manner the nitric oxide formation. A reduction of about 30% of the basal level was produced by 5 microg/mL. Aspirin did not change the collagen effect. The inhibition was reversed by EGTA. Moreover collagen reduced L-arginine uptake. The exposure of platelets to 5 microg/mL collagen diminished of about 30% L-arginine transport. The specific involvement of the system y+ is suggested. In addition in FURA 2-loaded platelets collagen induced a dose-dependent slow sustained [Ca2+] rise that was almost completely cancelled by EGTA. Finally the treatment of whole platelets with collagen affected in a dose-dependent manner the maximal nitric oxide formation, suggesting a direct effect at the level of nitric oxide synthase enzyme. The phosphorylation of specific serine/threonine residues regulated by protein kinase C could be involved. In conclusion during the early phases of platelet stimulation with collagen nitric oxide formation is diminished. This reduction can be due to a lower availability of L-arginine for cytosolic nitric oxide synthase and/or to a decreased activity related to modifications of the enzyme.