Recent studies suggest that certain acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC) are expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and are required for VSMC functions. However, electrophysiological evidence of ASIC channels in VSMCs is lacking. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that isolated cerebral artery VSMCs express ASIC-like channels. To address this hypothesis, we used RT-PCR, Western blotting, immunolabeling, and conventional whole cell patch-clamp technique. We found extracellular H+-induced inward currents in 46% of cells tested ( n = 58 of 126 VSMCs, pH 6.5–5.0). The percentage of responsive cells and the current amplitude increased as the external H+ concentration increased (pH6.0, n = 28/65 VSMCs responsive, mean current density = 8.1 ± 1.2 pA/pF). Extracellular acidosis (pH6.0) shifted the whole cell reversal potential toward the Nernst potential of Na+ ( n = 6) and substitution of extracellular Na+ by N-methyl-d-glucamine abolished the inward current ( n = 6), indicating that Na+ is a major charge carrier. The broad-spectrum ASIC blocker amiloride (20 μM) inhibited proton-induced currents to 16.5 ± 8.7% of control ( n = 6, pH6.0). Psalmotoxin 1 (PcTx1), an ASIC1a inhibitor and ASIC1b activator, had mixed effects: PcTx1 either 1) abolished H+-induced currents (11% of VSMCs, 5/45), 2) enhanced or promoted activation of H+-induced currents (76%, 34/45), or 3) failed to promote H+ activation in nonresponsive VSMCs (13%, 6/45). These findings suggest that freshly dissociated cerebral artery VSMCs express ASIC-like channels, which are predominantly formed by ASIC1b.

Chung WS, Weissman JL, Farley J, Drummond HA. ␤ENaC is required for whole cell mechanically gated currents in renal vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 304: F1428 -F1437, 2013. First published April 3, 2013 doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00444.2012.-Myogenic constrictor responses in small renal arteries and afferent arterioles are suppressed in mice with reduced levels of ␤-epithelial Na ϩ channel (␤ENaC m/m ). The underlying mechanism is unclear. Decreased activity of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) or mechanically gated ion channels and increased activity of large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels are a few possible mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine if VGCC, BK, or mechanically gated ion channel activity was altered in renal vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) from ␤ENaC m/m mice. To address this, we used whole cell patch-clamp electrophysiological approaches in freshly isolated renal VSMCs. Compared with ␤ENaC ϩ/ϩ controls, the current-voltage relationships for VGCC and BK activity are similar in ␤ENaC m/m mice. These findings suggest neither VGCC nor BK channel dysfunction accounts for reduced myogenic constriction in ␤ENaC m/m mice. We then examined mechanically gated currents using a novel in vitro assay where VSMCs are mechanically activated by stretching an underlying elastomer. We found the mechanically gated currents, predominantly carried by Na ϩ , are observed with less frequency (87 vs. 43%) and have smaller magnitude (Ϫ54.1 Ϯ 12.5 vs. Ϫ20.9 Ϯ 4.9 pA) in renal VSMCs from ␤ENaC m/m mice. Residual currents are expected in this model since VSMC ␤ENaC expression is reduced by 50%. These findings suggest ␤ENaC is required for normal mechanically gated currents in renal VSMCs and their disruption may account for the reduced myogenic constriction in the ␤ENaC m/m model. Our findings are consistent with the role of ␤ENaC as a VSMC mechanosensor and function of evolutionarily related nematode degenerin proteins.epithelial Na ϩ channel; ion channel; degenerin; myogenic constriction THE MYOGENIC RESPONSE IS AN inherent property of small arteries and arterioles in certain organs, including the kidney. The myogenic response is characterized by vasoconstriction following an increase in intraluminal pressure and vasodilation following a decrease in intraluminal pressure. Myogenic constriction is a physiologically relevant response. In the kidney, it is an important mechanism of renal autoregulation, critical for maintaining normal renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate with changes in perfusion pressure. Recent studies also suggest myogenic constriction plays an important role in protecting against pressure-related renal injury by preventing transmission of systemic pressure swings to delicate renal microvasculature (28,29,42).There are at least three ion channels that play important roles in the myogenic response; mechanically gated ion channels, voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC), and large conductance calcium activated potassium (BK) channels...

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to determine if VSMC ASIC-like currents are regulated by oxidative state. Methods: We used whole-cell patch clamp of isolated mouse cerebral VSMCs to determine if 1) reducing agents, such as DTT and GSH, and 2) inhibition of endogenous oxidase activity from NADPH and Xanthine oxidases potentiate active currents and activate electrically silent currents. Results: Pretreatment with 2 mM DTT or GSH, increased the mean peak amplitude of ASIC-like currents evoked by pH 6.0 from 0.4 ± 0.1 to 14.9 ± 3.6 pA/pF, and from 0.9 ± 0.3 to 11.3 ± 2.4 pA/pF, respectively. Pretreatment with apocynin, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, mimics the effect of the reducing agents, with the mean peak current amplitude increased from 0.9 ± 0.5 to 7.0 ± 2.6 pA/pF and from 0.5 ± 0.2 to 26.4 ± 6.8 pA/pF by 50 and 200 µM apocynin, respectively. Pretreatment with allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, also potentiates the VSMC ASIC-like activity. Conclusion: These findings suggest that VSMC ASIC-like channels are regulated by oxidative state and may be inhibited by basal endogenous oxidative sources such as NADPH and xanthine oxidase.