NO responsiveness in pulmonary artery and airway smooth muscle: the role of cGMP regulation

GPR146 regulates pulmonary vascular remodeling by promoting pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation through 5-lipoxygenase

The pathological feature of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH) is pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR), primarily attributed to the hyperproliferation and apoptosis resistance of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Existing PH-targeted drugs have difficulties in reversing PVR. Therefore, it is vital to discover a new regulatory mechanism for PVR and develop new targeted drugs. G protein-coupled receptor 146 (GPR146) is believed to participate in this process. This study aimed to investigate the role of GPR146 in PASMCs during PH. We investigated the role of GPR146 in PVR and its underlying mechanism using hypoxic PASMCs and mouse model (Sugen 5416 (20 mg/kg)/hypoxia). In our recent study, we have observed a significant increase in the expression of GPR146 protein in animal models of PH as well as in patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Through immunohistochemistry, we found that GPR146 was mainly localized in the smooth muscle and endothelial layers of the pulmonary vasculature. GPR146 deficiency induction exhibited protective effects against hypoxia-induced elevation of right ventricular systolic blood pressure (RVSP), right ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary vascular remodeling in mice. In particular, the deletion of GPR146 attenuated the hypoxia-triggered proliferation of PASMCs. Furthermore, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) was related to PH development. Hypoxia and overexpression of GPR146 increased 5-LO expression, which was reversed through GPR146 knockdown or siRNA intervention. Our study discovered that GPR146 exhibited high expression in the pulmonary vessels of pulmonary hypertension. Subsequent research revealed that GPR146 played a crucial role in the development of hypoxic PH by promoting lipid peroxidation and 5-LO expression. In conclusion, GPR146 may regulate pulmonary vascular remodeling by promoting PASMCs proliferation through 5-LO, which presents a feasible target for PH prevention and treatment.

Sildenafil potentiates bone morphogenetic protein signaling in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells and in experimental pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR-II) are responsible for the majority of cases of heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and BMPR-II deficiency contributes to idiopathic and experimental forms of PAH. Sildenafil, a potent type-5 nucleotide-dependent phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is an established treatment for PAH, but whether sildenafil affects bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in the pulmonary circulation remains unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Studies were undertaken in human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and in vivo in the monocrotaline rat model of PAH. In PASMCs, sildenafil enhanced BMP4-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5, Smad nuclear localization, and Inhibitor of DNA binding protein 1 gene and protein expression. This effect was mimicked by 8-bromo-cyclic GMP. Pharmacological inhibition or small interfering RNA knockdown of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase I inhibited the effect of sildenafil on BMP signaling. In functional studies, we observed that sildenafil potentiated the antiproliferative effects of BMP4 on PASMC proliferation. Furthermore, sildenafil restored the antiproliferative response to BMP4 in PASMCs harboring mutations in BMPR-II. In the monocrotaline rat model of PAH, which is characterized by BMPR-II deficiency, sildenafil prevented the development of pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling, and partly restored Smad1/5 phosphorylation and Inhibitor of DNA binding protein 1 gene expression in vivo in monocrotaline exposed rat lungs.

CONCLUSIONS

Sildenafil enhances canonical BMP signaling via cyclic GMP and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase I in vitro and in vivo, and partly restores deficient BMP signaling in BMPR-II mutant PASMCs. Our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of action of sildenafil in the treatment of PAH and suggest that targeting BMP signaling may be beneficial in this disease.

S-nitrosoglutathione supplementation to ovalbumin-sensitized and -challenged mice ameliorates methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction

S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is an endogenous bronchodilator present in micromolar concentrations in airway lining fluid. Airway GSNO levels decrease in severe respiratory failure and asthma, which is attributable to increased metabolism by GSNO reductase (GSNOR). Indeed, we have found that GSNOR expression and activity correlate inversely with lung S-nitrosothiol (SNO) content and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine (MCh) challenge in humans with asthmatic phenotypes (Que LG, Yang Z, Stamler JS, Lugogo NL, Kraft M. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 180: 226-231, 2009). Accordingly, we hypothesized that local aerosol delivery of GSNO could ameliorate AHR and inflammation in the ovalbumin-sensitized and -challenged (OVA) mouse model of allergic asthma. Anesthetized, paralyzed, and tracheotomized 6-wk-old male control and OVA C57BL/6 mice were administered a single 15-s treatment of 0-100 mM GSNO. Five minutes later, airway resistance to MCh was measured and SNOs were quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Duration of protection was evaluated following nose-only exposure to 10 mM GSNO for 10 min followed by measurements of airway resistance, inflammatory cells, and cytokines and chemokines at up to 4 h later. Acute delivery of GSNO aerosol protected OVA mice from MCh-induced AHR, with no benefit seen above 20 mM GSNO. The antibronchoconstrictive effects of GSNO aerosol delivered via nose cone were sustained for at least 4 h. However, administration of GSNO did not alter total BAL cell counts or cell differentials and had modest effects on cytokine and chemokine levels. In conclusion, in the OVA mouse model of allergic asthma, aerosolized GSNO has rapid and sustained antibronchoconstrictive effects but does not substantially alter airway inflammation.

Prolonged NO treatment decreases alpha-adrenoreceptor agonist responsiveness in porcine pulmonary artery due to persistent soluble guanylyl cyclase activation

A cultured porcine pulmonary artery (PA) model was used to examine the effects of prolonged nitric oxide (NO) treatment on the response of this vessel to acutely applied NO and to the alpha-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine. Two-hour treatment with the NO donor (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DETA-NO) decreased both NO and phenylephrine responsiveness. Twenty-four-hour treatment with DETA-NO resulted in a further reduction in NO responsiveness but no further reduction in phenylephrine responsiveness. Acute addition of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) had no effect on phenylephrine responsiveness in PA not treated with DETA-NO. ODQ treatment fully restored phenylephrine responsiveness in PA treated with DETA-NO. sGCbeta(1) subunit protein levels in PA tissue homogenate were 48.6 +/- 6.9, 51.6 +/- 3.5, and 41.3 +/- 2.8 ng/mg total protein for freshly prepared and 2-h and 24-h NO-treated PA, respectively. Steady-state tissue cGMP was not significantly different in control versus NO-treated PA. sGC specific activity in the absence of added NO was measured in PA homogenate and was 0.29 +/- 0.02, 1.38 +/- 0.12, and 0.53 +/- 0.08 micromol cGMP.min(-1).mg sGC(-1), in freshly prepared and 2-h and 24-h NO treated PA, respectively. Ten-minute Hb treatment completely normalized sGC basal activity in homogenates prepared from DETA-NO-treated PA, which was 0.23 +/- 0.02, 0.18 +/- 0.03, and 0.25 +/- 0.04 micromol cGMP.min(-1).mg sGC(-1), in freshly prepared and 2-h and 24-h NO-treated PA, respectively. The kinetics of the Hb reversal of NO-mediated sGC persistent activation do not support sGC covalent modification as the activation mechanism. We conclude that prolonged NO exposure results in a persistently increased sGC specific activity, which accounts for the observed alpha-adrenoreceptor agonist hyporesponsiveness.

Role of protein kinase G in nitric oxide deficiency-induced supersensitivity to nitrovasodilator in rat pulmonary artery

The aim of the present study was to examine the role of protein kinase G (G-kinase) in the mechanism of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) deficiency-induced supersensitivity to the nitrovasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in isolated rat pulmonary artery. Tension experiments and cGMP measurements were carried out on isolated rat pulmonary artery to assess the influence of NO deficiency, caused by either N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treatment or endothelium removal on the vasodilator potency of SNP. Sodium nitroprusside was more potent (pD2; 8.21 +/- 0.04) in relaxing arterial rings treated with 100microM L-NAME or denuded of the endothelium (pD2; 8.44 +/- 0.11) compared with the endothelium-intact controls (pD2; 7.61 +/- 0.05). Similarly, the tissue sensitivity to 8-Br-cGMP, a G-kinase activator, was significantly (P < 0.05) greater after L-NAME treatment (pD2; 5.04 +/- 0.09) or endothelium removal (pD2; 5.28 +/- 0.11) in comparison with the controls (pD2; 4.22 +/- 0.17). On the other hand, dibutyryl cAMP, an activator of protein kinase A, was equipotent in dilating control (pD2; 4.14 +/- 0.04) and L-NAME-treated (pD2 4.21 +/- 0.05) vessels. Further, L-NAME treatment significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the basal cGMP but enhanced SNP (1 microM)-stimulated increase in the tissue cyclic nucleotide levels (271.8 +/- 39.93 pmol/mg protein versus control: 66.19 +/- 7.18 pmol/mg protein), indicating sensitization of soluble guanylyl cyclase to NO. The increased sensitivity of G-kinase to cGMP observed in the present study suggests a novel mechanism of supersensitivity in vascular smooth muscle to nitrovasodilators in acute NO deficiency. Further, it explains the influence of ambient cGMP in determining the sensitivity of G-kinase in vascular smooth muscle.

Central Command Regulation of Circulatory Function Mediated by Descending Pontine Cholinergic Inputs to Sympathoexcitatory Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Neurons

Central command is a feedforward neural mechanism that evokes parallel modifications of motor and cardiovascular function during arousal and exercise. The neural circuitry involved has not been elucidated. We have identified a cholinergic neural circuit that, when activated, mimics effects on tonic and reflex control of circulation similar to those evoked at the onset of and during exercise. Central muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAChR) activation increased splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) as well as the range and gain of the sympathetic baroreflex via activation of mAChR in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in anesthetized artificially ventilated Sprague–Dawley rats. RVLM mAChR activation also attenuated and inhibited the peripheral chemoreflex and somatosympathetic reflex, respectively. Cholinergic terminals made close appositions with a subpopulation of sympathoexcitatory RVLM neurons containing either preproenkephalin mRNA or tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. M2 and M3 receptor mRNA was present postsynaptically in only non–tyrosine hydroxylase neurons. Cholinergic inputs to the RVLM arise only from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Chemical activation of this region produced increases in muscle activity, SNA, and blood pressure and enhanced the SNA baroreflex; the latter effect was attenuated by mAChR blockade. These findings indicate a novel role for cholinergic input from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus to the RVLM in central cardiovascular command. This pathway is likely to be important during exercise where a centrally evoked facilitation of baroreflex control of the circulation is required to maintain blood flow to active muscle.

Prolonged relaxation consistent with persistent soluble guanylyl cyclase activation in canine pulmonary artery following brief treatment with nitric oxide donors

Recent work has indicated that prolonged treatment with nitric oxide (NO) donors results in tissue storage of NO as S-nitrosothiols and N-nitrosamines. The possibility thus exists that NO treatment may result in the development of tissue stores of NO with functionally significant effects following removal of the original NO source. In these studies, the effects of 10 min treatment with two chemically distinct NO sources, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and (Z)-1-(N,N-diethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DEA-NO) were determined in canine pulmonary artery using a superfusion system that permitted continuous isometric force recording during addition and removal of the NO donors. Relaxation that persisted for up to 1 h after removal of the NO source, was demonstrated for both NO sources, but at lower concentrations relative to the relaxant EC(50) for GSNO versus DEA-NO. Persistent relaxation with both NO sources was fully reversed by both the sGC inhibitor, ODQ, and an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase, Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS, indicating that persistent relaxation was consistent with persistent activation of the sGC-cGMP signaling pathway. In separate measurements, a GSNO-induced persistent increase in both tissue cGMP ([cGMP](i)) and relaxation were fully reversed by both ODQ and the thiol reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT). The results indicate that vascular smooth muscle is capable of converting short-lived NO responses following short term exposure to NO donors by a mechanism consistent with prolonged sGC activation, resulting in persistent relaxation. Reversal of this cGMP-dependent process with DTT suggests that it occurs via mechanisms that are thiol redox sensitive.