Abstract-The endothelium plays a key role in the control of vascular tone and alteration in endothelial cell function contributes to several cardiovascular disease states. Endothelium-dependent dilation is mediated by NO, prostacyclin, and an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). EDHF signaling is thought to be initiated by activation of endothelial Ca 2ϩ

Among the TRPC subfamily of TRP (classical transient receptor potential) channels, TRPC3, -6, and -7 are gated by signal transduction pathways that activate C-type phospholipases as well as by direct exposure to diacylglycerols. Since TRPC6 is highly expressed in pulmonary and vascular smooth muscle cells, it represents a likely molecular candidate for receptor-operated cation entry. To define the physiological role of TRPC6, we have developed a TRPC6-deficient mouse model. These mice showed an elevated blood pressure and enhanced agonist-induced contractility of isolated aortic rings as well as cerebral arteries. Smooth muscle cells of TRPC6-deficient mice have higher basal cation entry, increased TRPC-carried cation currents, and more depolarized membrane potentials. This higher basal cation entry, however, was completely abolished by the expression of a TRPC3-specific small interference RNA in primary TRPC6 ؊/؊ smooth muscle cells. Along these lines, the expression of TRPC3 in wild-type cells resulted in increased basal activity, while TRPC6 expression in TRPC6 ؊/؊ smooth muscle cells reduced basal cation influx. These findings imply that constitutively active TRPC3-type channels, which are up-regulated in TRPC6-deficient smooth muscle cells, are not able to functionally replace TRPC6. Thus, TRPC6 has distinct nonredundant roles in the control of vascular smooth muscle tone.The TRP (transient receptor potential) family of ion channels is a growing group of structurally and evolutionarily related cation channels formed of several subfamilies that include the TRPC, TRPM, and TRPV classes of channels (6, 22). TRP-type ion channels are presumed to be homo-or heterotetramers (13,14), each spanning the plasma membrane six times. The founding members of this channel family are the insect TRP and TRPL channels, which are responsible for photoreceptor depolarization in response to light. Mammalian TRPCs (C stands for canonical or classical) (23, 32) are the closest mammalian structural relatives of insect TRPs. Among the TRPC channels, TRPC3, -6, and -7 are 75% identical and gated by signal transduction pathways that activate C-type phospholipases (3, 32) as well as by direct exposure to diacylglycerols (DAG) (15). TRPC3, -6, and -7 interact physically and, upon coexpression, coassemble to form functional channels (14). Expression of TRPC3 and TRPC7 in HEK 293 cells, but not of TRPC6, reveals constitutively active cation channels that are permeable not only to monovalent but also to divalent cations such as Ca 2ϩ , Ba 2ϩ , and Mn 2ϩ (7,23,33). In contrast to members of other TRP families, the functional importance of most members of the TRPC subfamily is still poorly understood. A TRPC channel for which considerable evidence has accumulated for a specific role is TRPC6, which has been proposed to regulate smooth muscle function. The TRPC6 mRNA was originally isolated from mouse brain and was also identified in lung cells (4). By comparative biophysical characterization and gene suppression using antisense oligonucleot...

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Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by widespread endothelial damage with hypertension, proteinuria, glomeruloendotheliosis and elevated soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1), a natural occurring antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Cancer patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy exhibit similar symptoms. We suggested that a decrease in circulating sFlt-1 would alleviate the symptoms associated with PE. Adenoviral (Adv) overexpression of sFlt-1 induced proteinuria, caused glomerular damage and increase in blood pressure in female Balb/c mice. Circulating level of sFlt-1 above 50 ng/ml plasma induced severe vascular damage and glomerular endotheliosis. Albumin concentration in urine was elevated up to 30-fold, compared to control AdvGFP-treated animals. The threshold of kidney damage was in the range of 20–30 ng/ml sFlt-1 in plasma (8–15 ng/ml in urine). Co-administration of AdvsFlt-1 with AdvVEGF to neutralize circulating sFlt-1 resulted in more than a 70% reduction in free sFlt-1 in plasma, more than 80% reduction in urine and rescued the damaging effect of sFlt-1 on the kidneys. This demonstrates that below a critical threshold sFlt-1 fails to elicit damage to the fenestrated endothelium and that co-expression of VEGF is able to rescue effects mediated by sFlt-1 overexpression.

AA (arachidonic acid) hydroxylation to 20-HETE (20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid) influences renal vascular and tubular function. To identify the CYP (cytochrome P450) isoforms catalysing this reaction in the mouse kidney, we analysed the substrate specificity of Cyp4a10, 4a12a, 4a12b and 4a14 and determined sex- and strain-specific expressions. All recombinant enzymes showed high lauric acid hydroxylase activities. Cyp4a12a and Cyp4a12b efficiently hydroxylated AA to 20-HETE with V(max) values of approx. 10 nmol x nmol(-1) x min(-1) and K(m) values of 20-40 microM. 20-Carboxyeicosatetraenoic acid occurred as a secondary metabolite. AA hydroxylase activities were approx. 25-75-fold lower with Cyp4a10 and not detectable with Cyp4a14. Cyp4a12a and Cyp4a12b also efficiently converted EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) into 19/20-OH- and 17,18-epoxy-EPA. In male mice, renal microsomal AA hydroxylase activities ranged between approx. 100 (NMRI), 45-55 (FVB/N, 129 Sv/J and Balb/c) and 25 pmol x min(-1) x mg(-1) (C57BL/6). The activities correlated with differences in Cyp4a12a protein and mRNA levels. Treatment with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone induced both 20-HETE production and Cyp4a12a expression more than 4-fold in male C57BL/6 mice. All female mice showed low AA hydroxylase activities (15-25 pmol x min(-1) x mg(-1)) and very low Cyp4a12a mRNA and protein levels, but high Cyp4a10 and Cyp4a14 expression. Renal Cyp4a12b mRNA expression was almost undetectable in both sexes of all strains. Thus Cyp4a12a is the predominant 20-HETE synthase in the mouse kidney. Cyp4a12a expression determines the sex- and strain-specific differences in 20-HETE generation and may explain sex and strain differences in the susceptibility to hypertension and target organ damage.

Abstract-Mas codes for a G protein-coupled receptor that is implicated in angiotensin-(1-7) signaling. We studied the cardiovascular phenotype of Mas-deficient mice backcrossed onto the FVB/N genetic background using telemetry and found that they exhibit higher blood pressures compared with controls. These Mas Ϫ/Ϫ mice also had impaired endothelial function, decreased NO production, and lower endothelial NO synthase expression. Reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase catalytic subunit gp91 phox protein content determined by Western blotting was higher in Mas Ϫ/Ϫ mice than in controls, whereas superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were reduced. The superoxide dismutase mimetic, Tempol, decreased blood pressure in Mas Ϫ/Ϫ mice but had a minimal effect in control mice. Our results show a major cardiovascular phenotype in Mas Ϫ/Ϫ mice. Mas-deletion results in increased blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and an imbalance between NO and reactive oxygen species. Our animals represent a promising model to study angiotensin-(1-7)-mediated cardiovascular effects and to evaluate Mas agonistic compounds as novel cardioprotective and antihypertensive agents based on their beneficial effects on endothelial function. Key Words: Mas-deficient mice Ⅲ endothelial function Ⅲ Ang-(1-7) Ⅲ reactive oxygen species Ⅲ NO T he Mas protooncogene codes for a peptide receptor that transduces extracellular signals to G proteins. Although Mas was once thought to be an angiotensin (Ang) II receptor, recent studies have shown that it binds to the heptapeptide Ang-(1-7). 1,2 Indeed, most of the Mas-mediated effects counteract those described for Ang II. Recently, Mas has been characterized as a physiological antagonist of the Ang II receptor Ang II type 1 (AT 1 ) by forming hetero-oligomers. 3 Moreover, acting through Mas, Ang-(1-7) has been shown to reduce blood pressure, to inhibit cell growth and proliferation, and to produce cardioprotective effects. 4 -8 Mas is expressed in vascular endothelium, 9 which, at the same time, is an important site for Ang-(1-7) generation. 10 Ang-(1-7)-induced vasodilation is endothelium dependent and occurs through NO or prostaglandin production. 9 -11 Moreover, in rats, short-term Ang-(1-7) infusion improves in vivo endothelial function primarily via NO release. 12 Along with these findings, we have shown recently that, in Mastransfected Chinese hamster ovary and human aortic endothelial cells, Ang-(1-7) induces Mas-mediated release of NO through site-specific phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). 13 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as intracellular and intercellular second messengers and modulate endothelial function. The balance between ROS and NO seems to be an important modulator for cardiovascular functions and thereby profoundly influences blood pressure regulation. Under pathological conditions, reduction of NO bioavailability, together with elevation of ROS content (oxidative stress), results in vascular dysfunction. 14 In fact, ...

Objective-Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) serve as endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factors (EDHF), but may also affect vascular function by other mechanisms. We identified a novel interaction between EETs and endothelial NO release using soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) Ϫ/Ϫ and ϩ/ϩ mice. Methods and Results-EDHF responses to acetylcholine in pressurized isolated mesenteric arteries were neither affected by the sEH inhibitor, N-adamantyl-NЈ-dodecylurea (ADU), nor by sEH gene deletion. However, the EDHF responses were abolished by catalase and by apamin/charybdotoxin (ChTx), but not by iberiotoxin, nor by the cytochrome P450 inhibitor PPOH. All four EETs (order of potency: 8,9-EET Ͼ14,15-EETϷ5,6-EET Ͼ11,12-EET) and all 4 dihydroxy derivatives (14,15-DHETϷ8,9-DHETϷ11,12-DHET Ͼ5,6-DHET) produced dose-dependent vasodilation. Endothelial removal or L-NAME blocked 8,9-EET and 14,15-DHET-dependent dilations. The effects of apamin/ChTx were minimal. 8,9-EET and 14,15-DHET induced NO production in endothelial cells. ADU (100 g/mL in drinking water) lowered blood pressure in angiotensin II-infused hypertension, but not in L-NAME-induced hypertension. Blood pressure and EDHF responses were similar in L-NAME-treated sEH ϩ/ϩ and Ϫ/Ϫ mice. Conclusions-Our data indicate that the EDHF response in mice is caused by hydrogen peroxide, but not by P450 eicosanoids. Moreover, P450 eicosanoids are vasodilatory, largely through their ability to activate endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and NO release. Key Words: eicosanoids Ⅲ soluble epoxide hydrolase Ⅲ NO synthase Ⅲ L-NAME Ⅲ EDRF T he endothelium releases nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). 1,2 Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P450 epoxygenase (CYP)-derived metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) that may be EDHFs. 3,4 Other candidates include K ϩ ions and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). [5][6][7] Endothelial cell hyperpolarization spreads to adjacent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through myo-endothelial gap junctions. 8,9 Calcium-activated potassium channels, most probably the SK4 (IK Ca ) and SK3 (SK Ca ) expressed on the endothelium, are the end-cellular gateway mediating hyperpolarization, and subsequent EDHF relaxation. 2,4,10 -13 EETs convincingly cause hyperpolarization. 14 -16 They can induce vasodilation in certain vascular beds by increasing the open-state probability of calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels. 4,15,17 The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) metabolizes EETs to dihydroxy derivatives (DHET). sEH inhibition could enhance EET activity. 18 Blood pressure decreased in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) given an sEH inhibitor. 19 sEH inhibition also lowered blood pressure in rats given angiotensin II (Ang II). 20 Thus, sEH could contribute to Ang IIinduced hypertension 21 and salt-sensitivity. 22 Even desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension was ameliorated with sEH inhibition. 23 Finally, male sEH genedeleted (Ϫ/Ϫ) mice had lower blood pressures than sEH ϩ/ϩ mice. 24 EETs coul...

We aimed to identify genetic variants associated with heart failure by using a rat model of the human disease. We performed invasive cardiac hemodynamic measurements in F2 crosses between spontaneously hypertensive heart failure (SHHF) rats and reference strains. We combined linkage analyses with genome-wide expression profiling and identified Ephx2 as a heart failure susceptibility gene in SHHF rats. Specifically, we found that cis variation at Ephx2 segregated with heart failure and with increased transcript expression, protein expression and enzyme activity, leading to a more rapid hydrolysis of cardioprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. To confirm our results, we tested the role of Ephx2 in heart failure using knockout mice. Ephx2 gene ablation protected from pressure overload-induced heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. We further demonstrated differential regulation of EPHX2 in human heart failure, suggesting a cross-species role for Ephx2 in this complex disease.