Augmented vasoconstriction is a hallmark of hypertension and is mediated partly by hyperstimulation of G protein couple receptors (GPCRs) and downstream signaling components. Although GPCR blockade is a key component of current anti-hypertensive strategies, whether hypertension is better managed by directly targeting G proteins has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we tested whether inhibiting G q/11 proteins in vivo and ex vivo using natural cyclic depsipeptide, FR900359 (FR) from the ornamental plant, Ardisia crenata, and YM-254890 (YM) from Chromobacterium sp. QS3666, or it's synthetic analog, WU-07047 (WU), was sufficient to reverse hypertension in mice. All three inhibitors blocked G protein-dependent vasoconstriction, but to our surprise YM and WU and not FR inhibited K +-induced Ca 2+ transients and vasoconstriction of intact vessels. However, each inhibitor blocked whole-cell L-type Ca 2+ channel current in vascular smooth muscle cells. Subcutaneous injection of FR or YM (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) in normotensive and hypertensive mice elicited bradycardia and marked blood pressure decrease, which was more severe and long lasting after the injection of FR relative to YM (FR t1/2 ≅ 12 hr vs. YM t1/2 ≅ 4 hr). In deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension mice, chronic injection of FR (0.3 mg/kg, s.c., daily for seven days) reversed hypertension (vehicle SBP: 149 ± 5 vs. FR SBP: 117 ± 7 mmHg), without any effect on heart rate. Our results together support #

Background Decreased uterine blood flow is known to contribute to pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Previously, we showed that the loss of regulator of G protein signaling 2 ( RGS 2), a GTP ase activating protein for G q/11 and G i/o class G proteins, decreases uterine blood flow in the nonpregnant state in mice. Here, we examined the effects of the absence of RGS 2 and 5 on uterine blood flow and uterine vascular structure and function at early, mid, and late gestation, as well as peripartum period in mice. Methods and Results Abdominal Doppler ultrasonography was performed on adult female wild‐type, Rgs2 −/− , and Rgs5 −/− mice at pre‐pregnancy, gestational days 10, 15, and 18, and postpartum day 3. Uterine artery structure and function were also assessed by vessel myograph studies. At mid‐pregnancy, uterine blood flow decreased in both Rgs2 −/− and Rgs5 −/− mice, whereas resistive index increased only in Rgs2 −/− mice. In uterine arteries from wild‐type mice, mRNA expression of RGS 2 and 4 increased, whereas RGS 5 expression remained elevated at mid‐pregnancy. These changes in gene expression were unique to uterine arteries because they were absent in mesenteric arteries and the aorta of wild‐type mice. In Rgs2 −/− mice, uterine artery medial cross‐sectional area and G protein–coupled receptor‐mediated vasoconstriction increased in mid‐pregnancy, implicating a role for RGS 2 in structural and functional remodeling of uterine arteries during pregnancy. In contrast, RGS 5 absence increased vasoconstriction only in the peripartum period. Conclusions These data together indicate that RGS 2 plays a critical role in the structural and functional remodeling of uterine arteries to impact uterine blood flow during pregnancy. Targeting the signaling pathway regulated by RGS 2 may therefore be a therapeutic strategy for ameliorating utero‐placental perfusion disorders during pregnancy.

IntroductionWhen administered during pregnancy, antibodies and other biologic drugs that contain the Fc part of the IgG molecule can traverse the placenta. Although it is generally accepted that the FcRn receptor mediates this process, gaps remain in our understanding of underlying details in humans and in common laboratory animal species.MethodsWe expanded our previous studies in timed-pregnant guinea pigs to both measure the transport of human (h) IgG at earlier gestation ages in vivo and evaluate FcRn function in vitro using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Madin–Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) that express guinea pig (gp) FcRn.ResultsIn timed-pregnant guinea pigs both the average concentration of hIgG in the fetus and its ratio to maternal hIgG concentration increase exponentially with gestation age. Thus, hIgG fetal:maternal concentration ratios increase from an average of 1% to 3%, 17%, and 76% on GD ~26, 35, 46, and 54, respectively. In vitro, gpFcRn immobilized on a solid surface can bind hIgG and gpIgG preparations in a similar manner. All engineered human Fc isotype-specific constructs were internalized by MDCK-gpFcRn cells at significant levels. While not significant, their recycling and hIgG transcytosis by this cell line also trend higher than background controls.DiscussionPregnant guinea pigs exhibit similarities with humans in the degree and timing of trans-placental transfer as well as the ability of their FcRn to bind and internalize hIgG in vitro. Further studies are needed to guide building appropriate systems for the evaluation of FcRn mediated function of human immunoglobulin therapies.

No abstract

Renal dysfunction is a hallmark of spinal cord injury (SCI). Several SCI sequalae are implicated, however, the exact pathogenic mechanism of renal dysfunction is unclear. Herein, we found that T3 (T3Tx) or T10 (T10Tx) complete thoracic spinal cord transection induced hypotension, bradycardia, and hypothermia immediately after injury. T3Tx-induced hypotension but not bradycardia or hypothermia slowly recovered to levels in T10Tx SCI and uninjured mice ~16 h after injury as determined by continuous radiotelemetry monitoring. Both types of thoracic SCI led to a marked decrease in albuminuria and proteinuria in all phases of SCI, while the kidney injury marker, NGAL, rapidly increased in the acute phase, remaining elevated in the chronic phase of T3Tx SCI. Renal interstitial and vascular elastin fragmentation after SCI were worsened during chronic T3Tx SCI. In the chronic phase, renal vascular resistance response to a step increase in renal perfusion pressure or a bolus injection of Ang II or NE was almost completely abolished after T3Tx SCI. Bulk RNAseq analysis showed enrichment of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and chemokine signaling in the kidney from T3Tx SCI mice. Serum levels of interleukin 6 was elevated in the acute but not chronic phase of T3Tx and T10Tx SCI, while serum amyloid A1 level was elevated in both acute and chronic phases. We conclude that tissue fibrosis and hemodynamic impairment are involved in renal dysfunction resulting from thoracic SCI; these pathological alterations, exacerbated by high thoracic-level injury, is mediated at least partly by renal microvascular ECM remodeling.

Transition metal catalysts have been demonstrated in principle for temporal and spatial control of reactions, but this technology has yet to be broadly applied as a tool for biological study and cellular manipulation. Here we demonstrate the use of a ruthenium complex catalyst as a novel approach for spatial and temporal release of a pro‐drug inside cells, namely the transition of caged H89 to active H89, a Protein Kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. We synthesized caged H89 by protecting H89 as an allyl carbamate. We designed the system to intracellularly generate an active H89 inhibitor from caged H89 following addition of the ruthenium metal catalyst with the goal of inhibiting the catalytic activity of PKA and therefore reducing the phosphorylation of perilipin 1. The ruthenium catalyst activity was monitored by assessing the phosphorylation of perilipin 1, which is phosphorylated by PKA on 6 serine residues and not phosphorylated by other kinases. Experiments were performed on cell lines expressing endogenous perlipin 1, differentiated 3T3L1 cells and Y1 adrenal cells. Our results show that in its active state, H89 inhibited phosphorylation activity of PKA on substrates such as perilipin whereas the caged form of H89 lacked inhibitory activity. Experiments are planned for use of the ruthenium catalyst after the H89 and caged H89 incubation steps to determine the ability of the catalyst to activate caged H89 intracellularly. Grant Funding Source: Supported by The Royal Society of Chemistry

Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins are crucial in mediating vascular smooth muscle contraction via the regulation of heterotrimeric G proteins, affecting blood pressure and arterial blood flow. Previous studies by others and us showed that RGS2 deficiency augments vascular tone and impairs uterine blood flow (UBF) in non-pregnant mice, and that an Rgs2 loss-of-function mutation is linked to preeclampsia in humans; however, the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that increased RGS2 expression and/or function facilitates placental perfusion by promoting vasodilation and UBF. We determined gene expression throughout pregnancy and post-partum period by real-time qPCR, while uterine blood flow and blood pressure were examined by ultrasound and carotid artery catheterization, respectively, under anesthesia. RGS2 expression decreased markedly by pregnancy day 10 (0.049 ± 0.013 vs. 0.023 ± 0.017) but returned to non-pregnancy level by day 15 (0.049 ± 0.013 vs. 0.041 ± 0.008,) in wild type mice. The pattern of changes in impedance to UBF mimicked gene expression profile in WT mice; in contrast, impedance remained elevated in Rgs2-/- mice at pregnancy day 15 (RI; WT: 0.516 ± 0.027, vs. RGS2-/-: 0.714 ± 0.020). Systemic blood pressure was similar between WT and Rgst2-/- mice at all stages of pregnancy. The results together indicate that RGS2 promotes uterine perfusion during pregnancy independently of its blood pressure effects. These findings are clinically relevant as selective targeting of G protein signaling could improve utero-placental hypoperfusion during pregnancy and prevent the development of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia.

This study determined the effect of chronic isoproterenol (ISO) treatment on cardiac structure and function in male mice without or with dual loss of regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) 2 and 5. RGS2 and 5 act as GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) that preferentially terminate signaling via G q/11 - and G i/o class G proteins, by accelerating GTP hydrolysis. Deletion of either RGS2 or 5 increases susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of dual absence of the two RGS proteins on normal physiology and disease are unknown. Using mice concurrently lacking RGS2 and 5 ( Rgs2/5 dbKO) and wild type (WT) cohort, we determined how the dual absence of both RGS proteins affects cardiac response to chronic β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. WT and Rgs2/5 dbKO mice were infused with saline or 30 μg/g/day of ISO for 3 or 14 days. At baseline, Rgs2/5 dbKO mice showed cardiac hypertrophy (WT: 9.06 ± 0.34 vs. dbKO: 10.16 ± 0.32 mg/mm tibia length; p <0.05) and left ventricular chamber dilation by echocardiography, without tissue fibrosis. ISO infusion for 3 days caused and augmented cardiac hypertrophy in WT (SAL: 9.65 ± 0.38 vs. ISO: 11.68 ± 0.45 mg/mm tibia length; p <0.05) and Rgs2/5 dbKO (SAL: 9.97 ± 0.43 vs. ISO: 12.57 ± 0.69 mg/mm tibia length; p <0.01) mice, respectively, as well as interstitial fibrosis and increased expression of hypertrophic and heart failure gene markers, including Nppa , Serca , Mybpc3 and Tnni3 . Sub-chronic ISO infusion also caused a greater decrease in percent fractional shortening by day 3, in Rgs2/5 dbKO relative to WT mice (WT: -4.22 ± 4.15 vs. dbKO: -7.69 ± 3.86 %; p <0.05). In WT mice, cardiac hypertrophy and left ventricular dilation were lower after 14-day compared to 3-day ISO infusion, but similar to saline-treated control levels (ΔSAL to 3d-ISO: 21.04 ± 0.82 vs. ΔSAL to 14d-ISO: 15.05 ± 0.66 %; p <0.05). This was accompanied by a robust increase in Rgs5 but not Rgs2 mRNA expression in WT mice. In contrast, Rgs2/5 dbKO mice continued to show abnormal cardiac structure and function after 14-day ISO infusion. Together, these data suggest that increased expression of RGS5 compensates for the lack of change in RGS2 expression and/or function and protects against transition from ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure.