Desensitization of angiotensin-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Impairment of the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic cycle induced by angiotensin peptides

Plasmodium falciparum causes the most serious complications of malaria and is a public health problem worldwide with over 2 million deaths each year. The erythrocyte invasion mechanisms by Plasmodium sp. have been well described, however the physiological aspects involving host components in this process are still poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence for the role of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in reducing erythrocyte invasion by P. falciparum. Angiotensin II (Ang II) reduced erythrocyte invasion in an enriched schizont culture of P. falciparum in a dose-dependent manner. Using mass spectroscopy, we showed that Ang II was metabolized by erythrocytes to Ang IV and Ang-(1–7). Parasite infection decreased Ang-(1–7) and completely abolished Ang IV formation. Similar to Ang II, Ang-(1–7) decreased the level of infection in an A779 (specific antagonist of Ang-(1–7) receptor, MAS)-sensitive manner. 10⁻⁷ M PD123319, an AT₂ receptor antagonist, partially reversed the effects of Ang-(1–7) and Ang II. However, 10⁻⁶ M losartan, an antagonist of the AT₁ receptor, had no effect. Gs protein is a crucial player in the Plasmodium falciparum blood cycle and angiotensin peptides can modulate protein kinase A (PKA) activity; 10⁻⁸ M Ang II or 10⁻⁸ M Ang-(1–7) inhibited this activity in erythrocytes by 60% and this effect was reversed by 10⁻⁷ M A779. 10⁻⁶ M dibutyryl-cAMP increased the level of infection and 10⁻⁷ M PKA inhibitor decreased the level of infection by 30%. These results indicate that the effect of Ang-(1–7) on P. falciparum blood stage involves a MAS-mediated PKA inhibition. Our results indicate a crucial role for Ang II conversion into Ang-(1–7) in controlling the erythrocytic cycle of the malaria parasite, adding new functions to peptides initially described to be involved in the regulation of vascular tonus.

Phospholipase C-β3 and -β1 Form Homodimers, but Not Heterodimers, through Catalytic and Carboxyl-Terminal Domains

Phospholipase C-beta (PLC-beta) isoenzymes are key effectors in G protein-coupled signaling pathways. Prior research suggests that some isoforms of PLC-beta may exist and function as dimers. Using coimmunoprecipitation assays of differentially tagged PLC-beta constructs and size-exclusion chromatography of native PLC-beta, we observed homodimerization of PLC-beta3 and PLC-beta1 isoenzymes but failed to detect heterodimerization of these isoenzymes. Size-exclusion chromatography data suggest that PLC-beta3 and PLC-beta1 form higher affinity homodimers than PLC-beta2. Evidence supportive of limited PLC-beta monomer-homodimer equilibrium appears at < or =100 nM. Further assessment of homodimerization status by coimmunoprecipitation assays with differentially tagged PLC-beta3 fragments demonstrated that at least two subdomains of PLC-beta3 are involved in dimer formation, one in the catalytic X and Y domains and the other in the G protein-regulated carboxyl-terminal domain. In addition, we provide evidence consistent with the existence of PLC-beta homodimers in a whole-cell context, using fluorescent protein-tagged constructs and microscopic fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays.