Endothelial cell Orai1 is essential for endothelium-dependent contraction of mouse carotid arteries in normotensive and hypertensive mice

Endothelium-dependent contraction (EDC) exists in blood vessels of normotensive animals, but is exaggerated in hypertension. An early signal in EDC is cytosolic Ca2+ rise in endothelial cells. In this study we investigated the functional role of Orai1, a major endothelial cell Ca2+ entry channel, in EDC. Hypertension model was established in WT mice by intake of L-NNA in the drinking water (0.5 g/L) for 4 weeks or osmotic pump delivery of Ang II (1.5 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 2 weeks. In TRPC5 KO mice, the concentration of L-NNA and Ang II were increased to 1 g/L or 2 mg·kg-1·d-1, respectively. Arterial segments were prepared from carotid arteries and aortas, and EDC was elicited by acetylcholine in the presence of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. We showed that low concentration of acetylcholine (3-30 nM) initiated relaxation in phenylephrine-precontracted carotid arteries of both normotensive and hypertensive mice, while high concentration of acetylcholine (0.1-2 μM) induced contraction. Application of selective Orai1 inhibitors AnCoA4 (100 μM) or YM58483 (400 nM) had no effect on ACh-induced relaxation but markedly reduced acetylcholine-induced EDC. We found that EDC was increased in hypertensive mice compared with that of normotensive mice, which was associated with increased Orai1 expression in endothelial cells of hypertensive mice. Compared to TRPC5 and TRPV4, which were also involved in EDC, endothelial cell Orai1 had relatively greater contribution to EDC than either TRPC5 or TRPV4 alone. We identified COX-2, followed by PGF2α, PGD2 and PGE2 as the downstream signals of Orai1/TRPC5/TRPV4. In conclusion, Orai1 coordinates together with TRPC5 and TRPV4 in endothelial cells to regulate EDC responses. This study demonstrates a novel function of Orai1 in EDC in both normotensive and hypertensive mice, thus providing a general scheme about the control of EDC by Ca2+-permeable channels.

Chronic in vivo or acute in vitro resveratrol attenuates endothelium-dependent cyclooxygenase-mediated contractile signaling in hypertensive rat carotid artery

Exaggerated cyclooxygenase (COX) and thromboxane-prostanoid (TP) receptor-mediated endothelium-dependent contraction can contribute to endothelial dysfunction. This study examined the effect of resveratrol (RSV) on endothelium-dependent contraction and cell signaling in the common carotid artery (CCA) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Acetylcholine (Ach)-stimulated endothelium-dependent nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-mediated relaxation in precontracted SHR CCA was impaired (maximum 73 ± 6% vs. 87 ± 5% in WKY) (P < 0.05) by competitive COX-mediated contraction. Chronic (28-day) treatment in vivo (drinking water) with a ∼0.075 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) RSV dose affected neither endothelium-dependent relaxation nor endothelium-dependent contraction and associated prostaglandin (PG) production evaluated in non-precontracted NOS-blocked CCA. In contrast, a chronic ∼7.5 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) RSV dose improved endothelium-dependent relaxation (94 ± 6%) and attenuated endothelium-dependent contraction (58 ± 4% vs. 73 ± 5% in No-RSV) and PG production (183 ± 43 vs. 519 ± 93 pg/ml) in SHR CCA, while U46619-stimulated TP receptor-mediated contraction was unaffected. In separate acute in vitro experiments, 20-μM RSV preincubation attenuated endothelium-dependent contraction (6 ± 4% vs. 62 ± 2% in No Drug) and PG production (121 ± 15 vs. 491 ± 93 pg/ml) and attenuated U46619-stimulated contraction (134 ± 5% vs. 171 ± 4%) in non-precontracted NOS-blocked SHR CCA. Compound C, a known AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, did not prevent the RSV attenuating effect on Ach- and U46619-stimulated contraction but did prevent the RSV attenuating effect on PG production (414 ± 58 pg/ml). These data demonstrate that RSV can attenuate endothelium-dependent contraction both by suppressing arterial wall PG production, which may be partially mediated by AMPK, and by TP receptor hyporesponsiveness, which does not appear to be mediated by AMPK.

Hydrogen peroxide is an endothelium-dependent contracting factor in rat renal artery

In addition to endothelium-derived relaxing factor and hyperpolarizing factor, vascular endothelium also modulates smooth muscle tone by releasing endothelium-derived contracting factor(s) (EDCF), but the identity of EDCF remains obscure. We studied here the involvement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in endothelium-dependent contraction (EDC) of rat renal artery to acetylcholine (ACh). ACh (10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) M) induced a transient contraction of rat renal artery with intact endothelium in a concentration-related manner, but not in the artery with endothelium removed. In phenylephrine-precontracted renal arteries, ACh induced an endothelium-dependent relaxation response at lower concentrations (10(-8)-10(-6) M), and a relaxation followed by a contraction at higher concentrations (10(-5) M). Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) M) enhanced the EDC to ACh. Catalase (1000 U ml(-1)) reduced the EDC to ACh. H2O2 (10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) M) induced a similar transient contraction of the renal arteries as ACh, but in an endothelium-independent manner. Inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase and cyclooxygenase by diphenylliodonium chloride and diclofenac greatly attenuated ACh-induced EDC, while inhibition of xanthine oxidase (allopurinol) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (17-octadecynoic acid) did not affect the contraction. Antagonist of thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin H2 receptors (SQ 29548) and thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor (furegrelate) attenuated the contraction to ACh and to H2O2. In isolated endothelial cells, ACh (10(-5) M) induced a transient H2O2 production detected with a fluorescence dye sensitive to H2O2 (2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate). The peak concentration of H2O2 was 5.1 x 10(-4) M at 3 min and was prevented by catalase. Taken together, these results show that ACh triggers H2O2 production through NAD(P)H oxidase activation in the endothelial cells, and that ACh and H2O2 share the same signaling pathway in causing smooth muscle contraction. Therefore, H2O2 is most likely the EDCF in rat renal artery in response to ACh stimulation.

Thrombin causes endothelium-dependent biphasic regulation of vascular tone in the porcine renal interlobar artery

Using a method employing front-surface fura-2 fluorometry to measure the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration, [Ca(2+)](i), the mechanism of endothelium-dependent regulation of vascular tone by thrombin was studied in porcine renal interlobar arterial strips. At concentrations lower than 3 u ml(-1), thrombin evoked only early transient relaxation, while at 3 u ml(-1) and higher concentrations, thrombin caused an early relaxation and a subsequent transient contraction. Both thrombin-induced relaxation and contraction were abolished by removing the endothelium. Similar biphasic responses were observed with a protease-activated receptor-1-activating peptide. Early relaxation was associated with a decrease in [Ca(2+)](i), while the transient contraction was not associated with a change in [Ca(2+)](i) of smooth muscle cells. A thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2))/prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)) receptor antagonist (10(-5) M ONO-3708) completely inhibited the thrombin-induced contraction, whereas a thromboxane A(2) synthase inhibitor (10(-5) M OKY-046) only partly inhibited it. When the thrombin-induced contraction was inhibited by ONO-3708, either pretreatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) or an increase in the amount of external K(+) to 40 mM did not abolish thrombin-induced relaxation during phenylephrine-induced sustained contraction. However, the combination of pretreatment with L-NAME and an elevation of external K(+) to 40 mM completely abolished the relaxation. There was no significant difference in the concentration-dependent effects of thrombin on the initial early relaxation between conditions in which the contractile components either were or were not inhibited. Thrombin is thus considered to mainly activate protease-activated receptor-1 and cause a biphasic response, early relaxation and a transient contraction, in the porcine renal interlobar artery in an endothelium-dependent manner. The thrombin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was mediated by nitric oxide and hyperpolarizing factors, while the contraction was mediated by TXA(2) and PGH(2).

Endothelium-dependent relaxation followed by contraction mediated by NK(1) receptors in precontracted rabbit intrapulmonary arteries

In the present study, we examined whether substance P (SP) and SP methyl ester (SPME), a selective NK(1) agonist, cause biphasic responses consisting of endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) and contraction (EDC) in precontracted rabbit intrapulmonary arteries. In arteries contracted with PGF(2alpha) (2x10(-6) M), SP as well as SPME caused only EDR at low concentration (10(-9) M) and EDR followed by EDC at higher concentrations, indicating the involvement of NK(1) receptors. The SP (10(-8) M)-induced EDR was abolished in arteries moderately contracted by PGF(2alpha) (5x10(-7) M) and the EDC in arteries maximally contracted by PGF(2alpha) (10(-5) M), indicating that EDR and EDC are inversely dependent on preexisting tone. Indomethacin (10(-8) - 10(-6) M), a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, and ozagrel (10(-8) - 10(-6) M), a TXA(2) synthetase inhibitor attenuated the EDC in the SPME (10(-7) M)-induced biphasic response and markedly potentiated the EDR. AA-861 (10(-8) - 10(-6) M), a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, did not affect the EDR or EDC. L-N(G)-nitro-arginine methyl ester (10(-5) - 10(-4) M), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated the EDR and slightly potentiated the EDC. CP-99994 (10(-10) - 10(-8) M), an NK(1) antagonist, attenuated the EDC and potentiated the EDR in the SPME (10(-7) M)-induced biphasic response, while the NK(2) antagonist SR-48968 (10(-9) - 10(-7) M) had no effect. CP-99994 attenuated the SPME (10(-7) M)-induced EDC under EDR-blockade to a greater extent than the EDR under EDC-blockade, indicating that CP-99994 enhanced the EDR component by preferential inhibition of the EDC component. In conclusion, NK(1) agonists caused a biphasic endothelium-dependent response (EDR and EDC) in submaximally precontracted intrapulmonary arteries. The EDC and EDR mediated by NK(1) receptors may play physiological and/or pathophysiological roles in modulation of vascular tone.

The mechanism of bradykinin-induced endothelium-dependent contraction and relaxation in the porcine interlobar renal artery

The mechanism of endothelium-dependent regulation of vascular tone of bradykinin was investigated by simultaneously monitoring the changes in the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration and the force of smooth muscle in fura-2-loaded strips of the porcine renal artery with endothelium. During phenylephrine-induced sustained contraction, bradykinin (>3x10(-9) M) caused endothelium-dependent triphasic changes in the force of the strips, composed of an initial relaxation, a subsequent transient contraction and a late sustained relaxation. At low concentrations (10(-10) - 10(-9) M), bradykinin caused an endothelium-dependent biphasic relaxation with no contraction. A thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2))/prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)) receptor antagonist (10(-5) M ONO-3708) completely inhibited, while a TXA(2) synthase inhibitor (10(-5) M OKY-046) only partially inhibited, the transient contraction induced by bradykinin. Under conditions where the bradykinin-induced contraction was inhibited by ONO-3708 during the phenylephrine-induced contraction, bradykinin induced only a transient relaxation in the presence of N(Omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). This transient relaxation was inhibited when the precontraction was initiated by phenylephrine plus 40 mM extracellular K(+). The removal of L-NAME from this condition caused a partial reappearance of the initial relaxation and a complete reappearance of the sustained relaxation. In conclusion, bradykinin caused the endothelium-dependent triphasic regulation of vascular tone in the porcine renal artery. The concentrations of bradykinin required to induce a contraction was higher than that required to induce relaxation. Both TXA(2) and PGH(2) were involved in the bradykinin-induced contraction. The initial relaxation was mediated by nitric oxide and hyperpolarizing factors while the sustained relaxation depended on nitric oxide.

Thapsigargin-induced endothelium-dependent triphasic regulation of vascular tone in the porcine renal artery

1. To elucidate the role of thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells in the regulation of vascular tone, changes in Ca2+ and force of smooth muscle were simultaneously monitored in fura-2-loaded strips of porcine renal artery. 2. During phenylephrine-induced sustained contraction, thapsigargin caused an endothelium-dependent triphasic response; an initial relaxation, a subsequent transient contraction, and a sustained relaxation. The initial relaxation and the contraction were associated with a decrease and an increase in [Ca2+]i, respectively. There was no apparent [Ca2+]i decrease during the sustained relaxation. Thapsigargin-induced responses were observed at 10-8 M and higher concentrations, with the maximum response observed at 10-6 M. 3. The transient contraction was inhibited by a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor (10-5 M indomethacin), a thromboxane A2 (TXA2)/prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) receptor antagonist (10-5 M ONO-3708), and a TXA2 synthase inhibitor (10-5 M OKY-046). 4. During the phenylephrine-induced contraction in the presence of indomethacin, thapsigargin caused an initial, but not a sustained relaxation, in the presence of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME). During the contraction induced by phenylephrine plus 40 mM K+-depolarization in the presence of indomethacin, thapsigargin induced both a transient and a sustained relaxation. However, these relaxations were completely abolished in the presence of L-NAME. 5. Thapsigargin caused a large Ca2+ elevation in cultured endothelial cells of the renal artery. The concentration-response relation was thus similar to that for force development in the arterial strips. 6. In conclusion, thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells led to triphasic changes in the tone of the porcine renal artery. The endothelium-dependent contraction was mediated mainly by TXA2. Nitric oxide and hyperpolarizing factor are both involved in the initial relaxation. However, a sustained relaxation was observed which mainly depended on nitric oxide.