Inhibition of thrombin-induced contractile responses by protein kinase inhibitors in porcine pulmonary arteries

Pregnancy reduces RhoA/Rho kinase and protein kinase C signaling pathways downstream of thromboxane receptor activation in the rat uterine artery

During pregnancy, reduced vascular responses to constrictors contribute to decreased uterine and total vascular resistance. Thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) is a potent vasoconstrictor that exerts its actions via diverse signaling pathways, and its biosynthesis increases in preeclampsia. In this study, we hypothesized that maternal vascular responses to TxA(2) will be attenuated via Rho kinase, PKC, p38 MAPK, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Isolated ring segments of uterine and small mesenteric arteries from late pregnant (19-21 days) and virgin rats were suspended in a myograph, and isometric force was measured. Pregnancy did not affect uterine and mesenteric artery responses to the TxA(2) analog U-46619 (10(-9)-10(-5) M), but transduction signals associated with these contractions were different between pregnant and nonpregnant rats. Inhibition of Rho kinase (10(-6) M Y-27632) reduced sensitivity to U-46619 in virgin uterine vessels but did not inhibit these contractions in pregnant uterine arteries and had no effect on mesenteric vessels. Treatment of arterial segments with a PKC inhibitor (10(-6) M bisindolylmaleimide I) reduced U-46619-induced contractions in virgin uterine and mesenteric arteries and in pregnant mesenteric arteries. Pregnant uterine arteries, however, were unresponsive to PKC inhibition. Inhibition of ERK1/2 (10(-5) M PD-98059) and p38 MAPK (10(-5) M SB-203580) reduced U46619-induced contractions in nonpregnant vessels and in pregnant uterine and mesenteric vessels. These data suggest that normal pregnancy does not affect uterine and mesenteric contractile responses to TxA(2) but reduces the contribution of Rho kinase and PKC signaling pathways to these contractions in the uterine vasculature. In contrast, the role of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in U-46619-induced uterine contractions remains unchanged with pregnancy. TxA(2)-associated transduction signals and its regulators might present potential targets for the development of new treatments for preeclampsia and other pregnancy-associated vascular diseases.

Role of tyrosine phosphorylation in U46619-induced vasoconstriction of pulmonary vasculature and its modulation by genistein, daidzein, and equol

We compared the effects of genistein with its structural derivatives daidzein and equol on excitation of pulmonary artery and vein. The concentration of genistein necessary to inhibit contractions evoked by U46619 (1nM-100 microM) ranged from 10 to 100 microM. Genistein (55 microM) reduced KCl-responses by approximately 50% and essentially abolished those evoked by U46619. Daidzein was much less effective against either agonist, and equol was ineffective against U46619. A23187-evoked contractions were markedly reduced by all 3 isoflavones, but caffeine-evoked contractions were not. Using the Western blot technique, we found many proteins were tyrosine phosphorylated within 30 seconds after stimulation with U46619, reaching a peak at 120 seconds and then falling at 300 seconds. One band at 110 kD was increased nearly 300% above baseline, while 3 others ranging from 60 to 80 kD were more than doubled in intensity. Genistein had little effect on baseline levels of phosphorylation but largely prevented the U46619-induced change; daidzein was much less effective in this respect, and equol did not significantly affect this phosphorylation. We conclude that these isoflavones provide powerful tools in the study of excitation-contraction coupling of pulmonary vasculature and that inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity may be useful clinically against pulmonary hypertension.

Protein kinases in vascular smooth muscle tone--role in the pulmonary vasculature and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is an adaptive mechanism that in the normal animal diverts blood away from poorly ventilated areas of the lung, thereby maintaining optimal ventilation-perfusion matching. In global hypoxia however, such as in respiratory disease or at altitude, it causes detrimental increases in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. The precise intracellular pathways and mechanisms underlying HPV remain unclear, although it is now recognised that both an elevation in smooth muscle intracellular [Ca2+] and a concomitant increase in Ca2+ sensitivity are involved. Several key intracellular protein kinases have been proposed as components of the signal transduction pathways leading to development of HPV, specifically Rho kinase, non-receptor tyrosine kinases (NRTK), p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase, and protein kinase C (PKC). All of these have been implicated to a greater or lesser extent in pathways leading to Ca2+ sensitisation, and in some cases regulation of intracellular [Ca2+] as well. In this article, we review the role of these key protein kinases in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) constriction, applying what is known in the systemic circulation to the pulmonary circulation and HPV. We conclude that the strongest evidence for direct involvement of protein kinases in the mechanisms of HPV concerns a central role for Rho kinase in Ca2+ sensitisation, and a potential role for Src-family kinases in both modulation of Ca2+ entry via capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) and activation of Rho kinase, though others are likely to have indirect or modulatory influences. In addition, we speculate that Src family kinases may provide a central interface between the proposed hypoxia-induced generation of reactive oxygen species by mitochondria and both the elevation in intracellular [Ca2+] and Rho kinase mediated Ca2+ sensitisation.

Homologous desensitization of calcitonin gene-related peptide-induced relaxation in rat intramural coronary arteries

We investigated the type of desensitization of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-induced responses in rat isolated intramural coronary arteries using isometric myograph and FURA-2 technique. In coronary arteries precontracted with 9,11-dideoxy-11alpha,9alpha-epoxymethanoprostaglandin F2alpha (U46619), development of tachyphylaxis to CGRP is characterized by significant attenuation of CGRP-induced maximal reduction in the tension and [Ca2+](i) during the second CGRP concentration-response curve; however, there was no further reduction in the CGRP-induced maximum relaxation during the third CGRP concentration-response curve. There was no sign of tachyphylaxis to CGRP when CGRP concentration-response curves were recorded in 36 mM K+-depolarized coronary arteries contrary to the results obtained in 300 nM U46619-precontracted coronary arteries. Preincubation with colchicine did not prevent the development of tachyphylaxis to CGRP in U46619-precontracted coronary arteries, indicating no role for endocytosis. Development of tachyphylaxis to CGRP was completely abolished by preincubating the coronary arteries with 1 microM RO 31-8220, indicating a role for protein kinases. Pre-exposure of the coronary arteries to isoprenaline or forskolin did not attenuate the CGRP-induced relaxation in these vessels, indicating that the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway is not involved. Like CGRP, the coronary arteries developed tachyphylaxis toward isoprenaline during the second exposure. However, there was no sign of tachyphylaxis to either forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) during the second exposure. In conclusion, these results suggest that development of tachyphylaxis to CGRP in U46619-precontracted coronary is related to CGRP receptor-mediated activation of protein kinase.

Mechanisms involved in carbachol-induced Ca(2+) sensitization of contractile elements in rat proximal and distal colon

1. Mechanisms involved in Ca(2+) sensitization of contractile elements induced by the activation of muscarinic receptors in membrane-permeabilized preparations of the rat proximal and distal colon were studied. 2. In alpha-toxin-permeabilized preparations from the rat proximal and distal colon, Ca(2+) induced a rapid phasic and subsequent tonic component. After Ca(2+)-induced contraction reached a plateau, guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) and carbachol (CCh) in the presence of GTP further contracted preparations of both the proximal and distal colon (Ca(2+) sensitization). Y-27632, a rho-kinase inhibitor, inhibited GTP plus CCh-induced Ca(2+) sensitization more significantly in the proximal colon than in the distal colon. 3. Y-27632 at 10 microm had no effect on Ca(2+)-induced contraction or slightly inhibited phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate-induced Ca(2+) sensitization in either proximal or distal colon. Chelerythrine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited GTP plus CCh-induced Ca(2+) sensitization in the distal colon, but not in the proximal colon. The component of Ca(2+) sensitization that persisted after the chelerythrine treatment was completely inhibited by Y-27632. 4. In beta-escin-permeabilized preparations of the proximal colon, C3 exoenzyme completely inhibited GTP plus CCh-induced Ca(2+) sensitization, but PKC(19-31) did not. In the distal colon, C3 exoenzyme abolished GTP-induced Ca(2+) sensitization. It inhibited CCh-induced sensitization by 50 % and the remaining component was inhibited by PKC(19-31). 5. These results suggest that both protein kinase C and rho pathways in parallel mediate the Ca(2+) sensitization coupled to activation of muscarinic receptors in the rat distal colon, whereas the rho pathway alone mediates this action in the proximal colon.

The influence of Lyn kinase on Na,K-ATPase in porcine lens epithelium

Na,K-ATPase is essential for the regulation of cytoplasmic Na+ and K+ levels in lens cells. Studies on the intact lens suggest activation of tyrosine kinases may inhibit Na,K-ATPase function. Here, we tested the influence of Lyn kinase, a Src-family member, on tyrosine phosphorylation and Na,K-ATPase activity in membrane material isolated from porcine lens epithelium. Western blot studies indicated the expression of Lyn in lens cells. When membrane material was incubated in ATP-containing solution containing partially purified Lyn kinase, Na,K-ATPase activity was reduced by approximately 38%. Lyn caused tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple protein bands. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis showed Lyn treatment causes an increase in density of a 100-kDa phosphotyrosine band immunopositive for Na,K-ATPase alpha1 polypeptide. Incubation with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B) reversed the Lyn-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation increase and the change of Na,K-ATPase activity. The results suggest that Lyn kinase treatment of a lens epithelium membrane preparation is able to bring about partial inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple membrane proteins, including the Na,K-ATPase alpha1 catalytic subunit.