Both purinergic signaling through nucleotides such as ATP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) and noradrenergic signaling through molecules such as norepinephrine regulate vascular tone and blood pressure. Pannexin1 (Panx1), which forms large-pore, ATP-releasing channels, is present in vascular smooth muscle cells in peripheral blood vessels and participates in noradrenergic responses. Using pharmacological approaches and mice conditionally lacking Panx1 in smooth muscle cells, we found that Panx1 contributed to vaso-constriction mediated by the α1 adrenoreceptor (α1AR), whereas vasoconstriction in response to serotonin or endothelin-1 was independent of Panx1. Analysis of the Panx1-deficient mice showed that Panx1 contributed to blood pressure regulation especially during the night cycle when sympathetic nervous activity is highest. Using mimetic peptides and site-directed mutagenesis, we identified a specific amino acid sequence in the Panx1 intracellular loop that is essential for activation by α1AR signaling. Collectively, these data describe a specific link between noradrenergic and purinergic signaling in blood pressure homeostasis.
Objective Hb α and eNOS form a macromolecular complex at myoendothelial junctions; the functional role of this interaction remains undefined. To test if coupling of eNOS and Hb α regulates NO signaling, vascular reactivity and blood pressure using a mimetic peptide of Hb α to disrupt this interaction. Approach and Results In silico modeling of Hb α and eNOS identified a conserved sequence of interaction. By mutating portions of Hb α, we identified a specific sequence that binds eNOS. A mimetic peptide of the Hb α sequence (Hb α X) was generated to disrupt this complex. Utilizing in vitro binding assays with purified Hb α and eNOS and ex vivo proximity ligation assays on resistance arteries, we have demonstrated that Hb α X significantly decreased interaction between eNOS and Hb α. FITC-labeling of Hb α X revealed localization to holes in the internal elastic lamina (i.e., myoendothelial junctions). To test the functional effects of Hb α X, we measured cGMP and vascular reactivity. Our results reveal augmented cGMP production and altered vasoconstriction with Hb α X. To test the in vivo effects of these peptides on blood pressure, normotensive and hypertensive mice were injected with Hb α X which caused a significant decrease in blood pressure; injection of Hb α X into eNOS−/− mice had no effect. Conclusion These results identify a novel sequence on Hb α that is important for Hb α / eNOS complex formation and is critical for nitric oxide signaling at myoendothelial junctions.
This study reports a new mechanism of cAMP mediated relaxation of Ca2+sensitized force, in smooth muscle (SM) through Epac, a GTP exchange factor for the small GTPase Rap1 which results in suppression of RhoA activity. We find that Epac selective cAMP analogue, 8‐pCPT‐2′‐O‐Me‐cAMP (007), significantly reduced agonist‐induced contractile force, in both intact and permeabilized vascular, gut and airway SM. Responses to 007 were independent of PKA and PKG. Activation of Epac resulted in increased Rap1·GTP accompanied by a significant decrease in RhoA activity and reductions in phosphorylation of RLC20 and MLCP. Transcriptional regulation of SM α‐actin and SM22, known to be regulated by RhoA, was also significantly decreased by activation of Epac. Forskolin, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX and isoproterenol significantly increased Rap1·GTP in rat aortic SM cells. Over‐expression of wild‐type Epac but not dominant negative Epac1R279E increased Rap1 activation after 007 stimulation. LPA‐induced activation of RhoA activity was reduced by treatment with 007 in WT but not Rap1B null fibroblasts. All together, our findings show a novel signaling mechanism whereby activation of Epac via cAMP results in PKA independent, Rap1 dependent Ca2+ desensitization of force in SM.
Rationale In normal and diseased vascular smooth muscle (SM), the RhoA pathway, which is activated by multiple agonists through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), plays a central role in regulating basal tone and peripheral resistance. This occurs through inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase, leading to increased phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain. While it is thought that specific agonists and GPCRs may couple to distinct RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), thus raising the possibility of selective targeting of specific GEFs for therapeutic use, this notion is largely unexplored for SM contraction. Objective We examine whether p63RhoGEF, known to couple specifically to Gαq/11 in vitro, is functional in blood vessels as a mediator of RhoA activation, and if it is selectively activated by Gαq/11 coupled agonists. Methods and Results We find that p63RhoGEF is present across SM tissues and demonstrate that silencing of the endogenous p63RhoGEF in mouse portal vein inhibits contractile force induced by endothelin-1 to a greater extent than the predominantly Gα12/13 mediated thromboxane analogue, U46619. This is because endothelin-1 acts on Gαq/11 as well as Gα12/13. Introduction of the exogenous isolated pleckstrin-homology (PH) domain of p63RhoGEF (residues 331–580) into permeabilized rabbit portal vein inhibited Ca2+ sensitized force and activation of RhoA, when phenylephrine was used as an agonist. This reinforces the results based on endothelin-1, because phenylephrine is thought to act exclusively through Gαq/11. Conclusion We demonstrate that p63RhoGEF selectively couples Gαq/11, but not Gα12/13, to RhoA activation in blood vessels and cultured cells, and thus mediates the physiologically important Ca2+ sensitization of force induced with Gαq/11 coupled agonists. Our results suggest that signaling through p63RhoGEF provides a novel mechanism for selective regulation of blood pressure.
Objective Small GTPase Rap1b controls several basic cellular phenomena and its deletion in mice leads to several cardiovascular defects, including impaired adhesion of blood cells and defective angiogenesis. We found that Rap1b knockout (Rap1b−/−) mice develop cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension. Therefore, we examined the function of Rap1b in regulation of blood pressure. Approach and Results Rap1b−/− mice developed cardiac hypertrophy and elevated blood pressure, but maintained a normal heart rate. Correcting elevated blood pressure with losartan, an angiotensin II type I receptor alleviated cardiac hypertrophy in Rap1b−/− mice, suggesting a possibility that cardiac hypertrophy develops secondary to hypertension. The indices of renal function and plasma renin activity were normal in Rap1b−/− mice. Ex vivo, we examined whether the effect of Rap1b-deletion on smooth muscle (SM)-mediated vessel contraction and endothelium-dependent vessel dilation, two major mechanisms controlling basal vascular tone, were the basis for the hypertension. We found increased contractility upon stimulation with a thromboxane analogue or Angiotensin II or phenylephrine along with increased inhibitory phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase under basal conditions consistent with elevated basal tone and the observed hypertension. cAMP-dependent-relaxation in response to Rap1 activator, Epac, was decreased in vessels from Rap1b−/− mice. Defective endothelial release of dilatory nitric oxide (NO) in response to elevated blood flow leads to hypertension. We found that NO-dependent vasodilation was significantly inhibited in Rap1b-deficient vessels. Conclusion This is the first report to indicate that Rap1b in both SM and endothelium plays a key role in maintaining blood pressure by controlling normal vascular tone.
Objective- Sympathetic nerve innervation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a major regulator of arteriolar vasoconstriction, vascular resistance, and blood pressure. Importantly, α-adrenergic receptor stimulation, which uniquely couples with Panx1 (pannexin 1) channel-mediated ATP release in resistance arteries, also requires localization to membrane caveolae. Here, we test whether localization of Panx1 to Cav1 (caveolin-1) promotes channel function (stimulus-dependent ATP release and adrenergic vasoconstriction) and is important for blood pressure homeostasis. Approach and Results- We use in vitro VSMC culture models, ex vivo resistance arteries, and a novel inducible VSMC-specific Cav1 knockout mouse to probe interactions between Panx1 and Cav1. We report that Panx1 and Cav1 colocalized on the VSMC plasma membrane of resistance arteries near sympathetic nerves in an adrenergic stimulus-dependent manner. Genetic deletion of Cav1 significantly blunts adrenergic-stimulated ATP release and vasoconstriction, with no direct influence on endothelium-dependent vasodilation or cardiac function. A significant reduction in mean arterial pressure (total=4 mm Hg; night=7 mm Hg) occurred in mice deficient for VSMC Cav1. These animals were resistant to further blood pressure lowering using a Panx1 peptide inhibitor Px1IL2P, which targets an intracellular loop region necessary for channel function. Conclusions- Translocalization of Panx1 to Cav1-enriched caveolae in VSMCs augments the release of purinergic stimuli necessary for proper adrenergic-mediated vasoconstriction and blood pressure homeostasis.
Background: The Dbl-family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate the cytosolic GTPases of the Rho family by enhancing the rate of exchange of GTP for GDP on the cognate GTPase. This catalytic activity resides in the DH (Dbl-homology) domain, but typically GEFs are multidomain proteins containing other modules. It is believed that GEFs are autoinhibited in the cytosol due to supramodular architecture, and become activated in diverse signaling pathways through conformational change and exposure of the DH domain, as the protein is translocated to the membrane. A small family of RhoA-specific GEFs, containing the RGSL (regulators of G-protein signaling-like) domain, act as effectors of select GPCRs via Gα 12/13 , although the molecular mechanism by which this pathway operates is not known. These GEFs include p115, LARG and PDZRhoGEF (PRG).
Members of the RSK family of kinases constitute attractive targets for drug design, but a lack of structural information regarding the mechanism of selective inhibitors impedes progress in this field. The crystal structure of the N-terminal kinase domain (residues 45-346) of mouse RSK2, or RSK2(NTKD), has recently been described in complex with one of only two known selective inhibitors, a rare naturally occurring flavonol glycoside, kaempferol 3-O-(3'',4''-di-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside), known as SL0101. Based on this structure, it was hypothesized that quercitrin (quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside), a related but ubiquitous and inexpensive compound, might also act as an RSK inhibitor. Here, it is demonstrated that quercitrin binds to RSK2(NTKD) with a dissociation constant (K(d)) of 5.8 µM as determined by isothermal titration calorimetry, and a crystal structure of the binary complex at 1.8 Å resolution is reported. The crystal structure reveals a very similar mode of binding to that recently reported for SL0101. Closer inspection shows a number of small but significant differences that explain the slightly higher K(d) for quercitrin compared with SL0101. It is also shown that quercitrin can effectively substitute for SL0101 in a biological assay, in which it significantly suppresses the contractile force in rabbit pulmonary artery smooth muscle in response to Ca(2+).
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