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Längst N, Adler J, Schweigert O, Kleusberg F, Cruz Santos M, Knauer A, Sausbier M, Zeller T, Ruth P, Lukowski R. Cyclic GMP-Dependent Regulation of Vascular Tone and Blood Pressure Involves Cysteine-Rich LIM-Only Protein 4 (CRP4). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9925. [PMID: 34576086 PMCID: PMC8466836 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The cysteine-rich LIM-only protein 4 (CRP4), a LIM-domain and zinc finger containing adapter protein, has been implicated as a downstream effector of the second messenger 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in multiple cell types, including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). VSMCs and nitric oxide (NO)-induced cGMP signaling through cGMP-dependent protein kinase type I (cGKI) play fundamental roles in the physiological regulation of vascular tone and arterial blood pressure (BP). However, it remains unclear whether the vasorelaxant actions attributed to the NO/cGMP axis require CRP4. This study uses mice with a targeted deletion of the CRP4 gene (CRP4 KO) to elucidate whether cGMP-elevating agents, which are well known for their vasorelaxant properties, affect vessel tone, and thus, BP through CRP4. Cinaciguat, a NO- and heme-independent activator of the NO-sensitive (soluble) guanylyl cyclase (NO-GC) and NO-releasing agents, relaxed both CRP4-proficient and -deficient aortic ring segments pre-contracted with prostaglandin F2α. However, the magnitude of relaxation was slightly, but significantly, increased in vessels lacking CRP4. Accordingly, CRP4 KO mice presented with hypotonia at baseline, as well as a greater drop in systolic BP in response to the acute administration of cinaciguat, sodium nitroprusside, and carbachol. Mechanistically, loss of CRP4 in VSMCs reduced the Ca2+-sensitivity of the contractile apparatus, possibly involving regulatory proteins, such as myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and the regulatory light chain of myosin (RLC). In conclusion, the present findings confirm that the adapter protein CRP4 interacts with the NO-GC/cGMP/cGKI pathway in the vasculature. CRP4 seems to be part of a negative feedback loop that eventually fine-tunes the NO-GC/cGMP axis in VSMCs to increase myofilament Ca2+ desensitization and thereby the maximal vasorelaxant effects attained by (selected) cGMP-elevating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Längst
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Julia Adler
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Olga Schweigert
- Cardiovascular Systems Medicine and Molecular Translation, University Center of Cardiovascular Science, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (O.S.); (T.Z.)
- DZHK, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felicia Kleusberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Melanie Cruz Santos
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Amelie Knauer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Matthias Sausbier
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Tanja Zeller
- Cardiovascular Systems Medicine and Molecular Translation, University Center of Cardiovascular Science, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (O.S.); (T.Z.)
- DZHK, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Ruth
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Robert Lukowski
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (N.L.); (J.A.); (F.K.); (M.C.S.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
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