高糖增强兔血管平滑肌细胞对内皮素—1的增殖反应性

目的;观察高糖对内皮素－１促兔主动脉血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响。方法：ＶＳＭＣ分别培养于含正常葡萄糖,高糖或高渗的培养基中,「＾３Ｈ」胸腺嘧啶掺入法检测ＤＮＡ合成速率,蛋白质印迹法检测磷酸化ｐ４４／４２ ＭＡＰＫ的表达。结果：在１０＾－１２至１０＾－８ｍｏｌ．Ｌ＾－１浓度范围内,ＥＴ－１浓度依赖方式增加ＶＳＭＣ的「＾３Ｈ」胸腺嘧啶掺入及磷酸化ｐ４４／ｐ４２ＭＡＰＫ的表达。     

高糖增强兔血管平滑肌细胞对内皮素-1的增殖反应性(英文)

观察高糖对内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）促兔主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）增殖的影响．方法： ＶＳＭＣ分别培养于含正常葡萄糖、高糖或高渗（５．５，２５，葡萄糖 ５．５＋甘露醇 １９．５ ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）的培养基中［３Ｈ］胸腺嘧啶掺入法检测ＤＮＡ合成速率，蛋白质印迹法检测磷酸化 ｐ４４／４２ ＭＡＰＫ的表达．结果：在 １０至 １０－８ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１浓度范围内， ＥＴ－１以浓度依赖方式增加 ＶＳＭＣ的［３Ｈ］胸腺嘧啶掺入及磷酸化ｐ４４／４２ ＭＡＰＫ的表达，从 １０－１１到 １０－８ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，培养于高糖的 ＶＳＭＣ对相同浓度 ＥＴ－１的增殖反应性高于正常糖或高渗培养条件下的ＶＳＭＣ（Ｐ＜ ０．０５，或 Ｐ＜ ０．０１），而在后两种条件下，ＶＳＭＣ对ＥＴ－１的增殖反应无显著差别．同样，在高糖条件下，ＥＴ－１诱导的ＶＳＭＣ磷酸化ｐ４４／４２ＭＡＰＫ的表达较正常糖和高渗ＶＳＭＣ增加 ６０％－６５％结论：高糖增强ＶＳＭＣ对ＥＴ－１的增殖反应性，可能与磷酸化的 ｐ４４／４２ ＭＡＰＫ高表达有关     

A delayed ATP-elicited K+ current in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from mouse aorta

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) activated two sequential responses in freshly isolated mouse aortic smooth muscle cells. In the first phase, ATP activated Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) or Cl(-) currents and the second phase was the activation of a delayed outward current with a reversal potential of -75.9 +/- 1.4 mV. A high concentration of extracellular K(+) (130 mM) shifted the reversal potential of the delayed ATP-elicited current to -3.5 +/- 1.3 mV. The known K(+)-channel blockers, iberiotoxin, charybdotoxin, glibenclamide, apamin, 4-aminopyridine, Ba(2+) and tetraethylammonium chloride all failed to inhibit the delayed ATP-elicited K(+) current. Removal of ATP did not decrease the amplitude of the ATP-elicited current back to the control values. The simultaneous recording of cytosolic free Ca(2+) and membrane currents revealed that the first phase of the ATP-elicited response is associated with an increase in intracellular Ca(2+), while the second delayed phase develops after the return of cytosolic free Ca(2+) to control levels.ATP did not activate Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) currents, but did elicit Ca(2+)-independent K(+) currents, in cells dialyzed with ethylene glycol-bis (2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The delay of activation of Ca(2+)-independent currents decreased from 10.5 + 3.4 to 1.27 +/- 0.33 min in the cells dialyzed with 2 mM EGTA. Adenosine alone failed to elicit a Ca(2+)-independent K(+) current but simultaneous application of ATP and adenosine activated the delayed K(+) current. Intracellular dialysis of cells with guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) transformed the Ca(2+)-independent ATP-elicited response from a sustained to a transient one. A phospholipase C inhibitor, U73122 (1 microM), was shown to abolish the delayed ATP-elicited response. These results indicate that the second phase of the ATP-elicited response was a delayed Ca(2+)-independent K(+) current activated by exogenous ATP. This phase might represent a new vasoregulatory pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Inhibition by sodium nitroprusside of a calcium store depletion-activated non-selective cation current in smooth muscle cells of the mouse anococcygeus.

1. The effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the non-selective cation current activated in response to intracellular calcium store depletion were studied using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in single smooth muscle cells isolated from the mouse anococcygeus. Voltage-dependent calcium currents were blocked with extracellular nifedipine, and caesium and tetraethylammonium chloride were used to block voltage-dependent potassium currents. Calcium stores were depleted with caffeine (10 mM), carbachol (50 microM) or cyclopiazonic acid (CPA 10 microM; an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum [SR] calcium-ATPase). 2. At a holding potential of -40 mV, both CPA and caffeine activated inward currents which consisted of two clearly distinguishable components; an initial transient current followed by a smaller sustained current. In the case of CPA, the amplitudes of the transient and sustained components were 19.7 +/- 2.1 pA and 3.5 +/- 0.3 pA respectively, whilst the equivalent values for caffeine were 188 +/- 21 and 4.8 +/- 0.3 pA. As described previously, the transient current results from activation of a calcium-dependent chloride conductance whilst the sustained current is a non-selective cation current, activated following intracellular calcium store depletion. 3. The muscarinic receptor agonist, carbachol, also activated a transient followed by a sustained current with amplitudes of 238 +/- 55 and 4.7 +/- 0.5 pA respectively. Superimposed on the sustained current were regular, oscillations of calcium-activated chloride current. 4. Both the transient and the sustained currents activated by CPA were absent in cells pretreated with SNP (10 microM). Application of SNP to a cell following activation of the sustained current by CPA inhibited the current by 88.6 +/- 3.8%. SNP (10 microM) did not inhibit the transient current activated by caffeine but abolished the sustained current. 5. SNP (10 microM) had no effect on the initial transient current activated by carbachol (50 microM). However, it did inhibit the oscillations in the inward current. In recordings from cells bathed in extracellular solution containing the chloride channel blocker, anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (A-9-C; 1 mM), carbachol activated only a sustained current. This current was inhibited by 88.1 +/- 6.5% by a concomitant application of SNP (10 microM) and was absent in cells pretreated with the nitrovasodilator. 6. The effects of SNP on the currents activated by caffeine (10 mM) were mimicked by 8-bromo-cyclic GMP (200 microM); thus the nucleotide had no effect on the transient current activated by caffeine but abolished the sustained current. The effects of SNP, but not those of 8-bromo-cyclic GMP, were inhibited by the nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, 1H-[1, 2, 4]oxadiazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ; 1 microM). ODQ alone produced a significant increase in the size of the sustained current activated by caffeine (7.8 +/- 0.7 pA). 7. These findings suggest that SNP activates guanylyl cyclase to inhibit the non-selective cation current activated as a result of intracellular calcium store depletion in mouse anococcygeus cells. Since the non-selective cation current appears to underlie the calcium entry process responsible for maintaining the sustained contractions to agonists in this tissue, this action of SNP may represent an important mechanism by which nitrates relax non-vascular smooth muscle.     

KATP通道开放剂吡那地尔对兔肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的 :研究吡那地尔 (pinacidil,Pin)对内皮素 1(ET 1)诱导培养的兔肺动脉平滑肌细胞 (PASMC)增殖的影响。方法 :内皮素 1刺激培养兔PASMC增殖模型 ;以氚 胸腺嘧啶核苷 ([3 H] TdR)掺入法观察细胞增殖及脱氧核糖核苷酸 (DNA)合成 ;流式细胞仪技术检测兔PASMC细胞周期。结果 :吡那地尔可剂量依赖性的抑制内皮素 1所致的 [3 H] TdR掺入量增多 ,阻止兔PASMC由静止期 (G0 G1期 )进入DNA合成期 (S期 )和有丝分裂期 (G2 M期 )。ATP敏感性钾通道 (KATP)阻断剂格列本脲可拮抗吡那地尔对 [3 H] TdR掺入的抑制作用。结论 :吡那地尔可能通过激活KATP通道抑制内皮素 1诱导兔肺动脉平滑肌细胞的增殖 ,可望用于治疗肺动脉高压时所致的肺动脉重构。     

内皮素对大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞膜钾通道的影响

目的观察内皮素(ET-1)对大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞(PASMCs)膜电压门控钾通道(K_V)的作用。方法用全细胞膜片钳记录方法研究ET-1对膜电位(E_m)、膜电容(C_m)、电压门控钾电流(IK_V)的影响。结果ET-1可引起PASMCs去极化,并抑制IK_V,抑制IK_V时间明显早于其对E_m变化的影响,ET-1对IK_V的影响呈可逆性和浓度依赖性,在有钙的环境中,ET-1对IK_V峰电流的抑制率明显高于无钙时。结论ET-1可浓度依赖性的抑制IK_V,使常氧大鼠PASMCs去极化,且ET-1对IK_V的抑制作用早于对E_m的影响,这些作用不完全依赖于钙的参与,但钙可加强ET-1对IK_V的抑制作用。     

Calcium-independent activation of the contractile apparatus in smooth muscle of mouse aorta by protein phosphatase inhibition

Smooth muscle contraction is primarily regulated by reversible phosphorylation of the 20-kDa light chains of myosin (MLC(20)) involving Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP).The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the protein phosphatases (PP) type 1 (PP1) and type 2A (PP2A) inhibitor cantharidin (Cant), its structural analogue endothall (ETA) and microcystin LR (MC) on force of contraction and MLC(20)-phosphorylation in arterial smooth muscle of mouse aorta. Cant increased force of contraction and MLC(20)-phosphorylation in intact arterial rings of mouse aorta in the presence of Ca(2+) whereas ETA and MC were ineffective under the same experimental conditions. In contrast, all compounds induced contraction and led to enhanced MLC(20)-phosphorylation in nominally Ca(2+)-free solution in fibers of mouse aorta permeabilised (skinned) with Triton X-100.In addition, Western blot analysis revealed that skinning of mouse aorta did not result in a loss of PP1 and PP2A compared to intact rings. Thus, both PP must be tightly bound to structural proteins, e.g. myosin. The findings indicate a Ca(2+)-independent mechanism of smooth muscle contraction involving inhibition of PP1- and/or PP2A-activities leading to enhanced force and MLC(20)-phosphorylation of arterial smooth muscle.     

Vascular smooth muscle relaxation by alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking action of denopamine in isolated rabbit aorta.

We investigated the mechanism of vascular relaxation by denopamine (Deno), an oral positive inotropic agent that has selective beta 1-adrenergic action. Deno relaxed, dose-dependently (0.1-30 microM), ring segments of rabbit aorta, which were partially precontracted with 1 microM phenylephrine (Phe) or norepinephrine (NE), but did not relax those precontracted with 5 microM prostaglandin F2 alpha or 40 mM K+. The relaxation was not significantly inhibited by pretreatment with 10 microM propranolol or metoprolol. Deno produced parallel shifts in concentration-response curves to Phe, but this was not true for clonidine. The Schild plot analysis resulted in a linear regression of a slope of 1.075 +/- 0.063, which was not significantly different from unity, and the pA2 value of Deno against Phe was 5.57 +/- 0.02. The specific binding of [3H]prazosin to a rabbit aorta membrane preparation was displaced in a concentration-dependent manner by the simultaneous addition of Deno. The slope of a Hill plot was not significantly different from unity (1.102 +/- 0.147). The pK1 value for Deno calculated from the displacement curve was 5.29 +/- 0.17, which was not significantly different from the pA2 value of Deno. In conclusion, vascular smooth muscle relaxation by Deno was mediated by the blocking effect of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Thus, these findings suggest that Deno may be effective in the treatment of congestive heart failure because it elicits a positive inotropic effect by beta 1-adrenergic action and vasodilation by alpha 1-adrenergic blocking action.     

Dexamethasone potentiates production of inositol trisphosphate evoked by endothelin-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells.

To investigate the possibility of participation of glucocorticoids in the action of endothelin-1 (ET-1), the effect of glucocorticoids on ET-1-induced inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production was studied in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). ET-1 transiently increased IP3 in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with 1 microM dexamethasone for 48 h shifted the dose-response curve of ET-1-induced IP3 production to the left; i.e., it significantly reduced the half-maximal effective concentration of ET-1 (from 50 to 10 nM). This action of dexamethasone required a minimum of 12 h of incubation. A glucocorticoid antagonist, RU 38486, completely blocked this effect. To elucidate the interaction with prostaglandin, we used indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. Treatment with 1 microM indomethacin shifted the dose-response curve of ET-1-induced IP3 production to the left, but this shift was significantly less than that observed after treatment with dexamethasone and no additive effect between indomethacin and dexamethasone was noted. Glucocorticoids potentiate the IP3 production response to ET-1 in cultured VSMC, and this action of glucocorticoids depends partially on prostaglandin inhibition. These results suggest that glucocorticoids play an important role in modulation of ET-1 action.     

Interactions between cell death induced by statins and 7-ketocholesterol in rabbit aorta smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 7-Ketocholesterol, an oxysterol present in atherosclerotic lesions, induces smooth muscle cell (SMC) death, thereby destabilizing plaques. Statins protect patients from myocardial infarction, though they induce SMC apoptosis. We investigated whether statins and 7-ketocholesterol exerted additive cell death effects. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Cultured rabbit aorta SMCs (passage 2-6) were exposed to 7-ketocholesterol with or without fluvastatin, simvastatin or pravastatin. Uptake of neutral red (NR), monolayer protein, cleavage of the pan-caspase substrate Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-rhodamine110, cell morphology (light and electron microscopy) and processing of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3, immunoblot) were determined. KEY RESULTS: NR uptake declined upon 18 h exposure to 25 microM 7-ketocholesterol (-41+/-3%, n=13), 100 microM fluvastatin (-59%) or 30-100 microM simvastatin (-28 to -74%). Oxysterol and high statin concentrations exerted additive effects, but lower concentrations (fluvastatin 10-30 microM, simvastatin 1-10 microM) partly reversed viability loss. 7-Ketocholesterol caused intense cytoplasmic vacuolization, processing of LC3-I to LC3-II, but little caspase activation (increase 29.5%). Fluvastatin (10-100 microM, 70-545% increase) and simvastatin (3-100 microM 43-322% increase) induced caspase activation without LC3 processing, but failed to activate caspases in 7-ketocholesterol-treated SMCs. Pravastatin up to 100 microM was always inactive. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: 7-Ketocholesterol caused SMC death, mainly via autophagic vesicle formation with LC3 processing, whereas lipophilic statins evoked SMC apoptosis. Cell death following 7-ketocholesterol and low statin concentrations were not additive, presumably because the autophagic process interfered with statin-induced caspase activation. This further illustrates that drug effects in normal SMCs are not necessarily predictive for activities in atherosclerotic settings.     

家兔动脉血管平滑肌细胞培养方法的改进

目的提高家兔血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth mus-cle cell,VSMC)体外培养的成功率。方法以传统的主动脉平滑肌细胞培养方法中的组织块贴壁法为基础,从动物选择、培养基配制、血管取材、组织块的大小和接种间距、培养液的量及换液量、细胞传代的时机等多个重要环节进行改进;用倒置显微镜、电镜对培养细胞进行形态学观察,并用平滑肌细胞特异性α-肌动蛋白(α-actin)单克隆抗体免疫组织化学方法进行鉴定。结果台盼蓝检查传代细胞的存活率大于97%;光镜下见培养细胞平行排列呈长梭形及"峰、谷"样结构特征;免疫组织化学染色鉴定培养细胞中VSMC的纯度为97%;电镜技术观察到VSMC完整的超微结构。结论此培养方法能提高动脉平滑肌细胞原代培养的成功率,传代后血管平滑肌细胞生物学特征的稳定性好,可作为研究血管平滑肌细胞生物学行为的有效模型。     

Effect of trimebutine on voltage-activated calcium current in rabbit ileal smooth muscle cells.

1. The effect of trimebutine on the voltage-dependent inward Ca2+ current was investigated by the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique in single smooth muscle cells from rabbit ileum. 2. Trimebutine (3-100 microM) reduced the Ca2+ current in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect on the Ca2+ current was also dependent on the holding potential. The Ca2+ current after a low holding potential was inhibited to a greater extent than that after a high membrane potential: the IC50 values were 7 microM and 36 microM at holding potentials of -40 mV and -60 mV, respectively. The Ca2+ current elicited from a holding potential of -80 mV could not be reduced by as much as 50% of the control by trimebutine at concentrations as high as 100 microM. 3. Trimebutine (30 microM) shifted the voltage-dependent inactivation curve for the Ca2+ current by 18 mV in the negative direction. The affinity of the drug for Ca2+ channels was calculated to be 36 times higher in the inactivated state than in the closed-available state. 4. Blockade of the Ca2+ current by trimebutine, unlike verapamil, was not use-dependent. 5. The results suggest that trimebutine inhibits the voltage-dependent inward Ca2+ current through a preferential binding to Ca2+ channels in the inactivated state in the smooth muscle cell from rabbit ileum. The inhibitory effect of trimebutine on gastrointestinal motility is discussed in the light of the present findings.     

Carbon monoxide inhibits endothelin-1 release by human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor with mitogenic properties. This 21-amino-acid protein, released in the vasculature by endothelial and smooth muscle cells, has been implicated in pulmonary hypertension. More recently, evidence has accumulated for a role of the heme oxygenase system in pulmonary hypertension. Heme oxygenase catalyses the breakdown of heme to produce carbon monoxide, biliverdin and free iron. Here we show that a carbon monoxide-releasing molecule, but not biliverdin, inhibits endothelin-1 release from serum-stimulated human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Under certain conditions, carbon monoxide appears to act as an endogenous break on endothelin-1 release.     

Oxidative stress increases endothelin-1 synthesis in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells.

Endothelins, nitric oxide, and oxygen-derived free radicals decisively regulate vascular tone. An imbalance in the biosynthesis of these substances in pathophysiologic conditions may trigger vasospasm and promote the development of atherosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that oxygen-derived free radicals can increase the synthesis of endothelin-1 in cultured endothelial cells. Interestingly, conditions of increased oxidative stress within smooth muscle cells as induced by angiotensin II infusion or hypercholesterolemia have been shown to be associated with increased autocrine synthesis of endothelin-1. Because endothelin-1 formed in smooth muscle cells can trigger hypersensitivity to vasoconstrictors, we tested whether oxidative stress per se may affect endothelin expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Cultured human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were exposed to oxidative stress generated by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase reaction or by hydrogen peroxide. Preproendothelin-1 mRNA content was quantitated by means of quantitative polymerase chain reaction and endothelin-1 protein was measured by radioimmunoassay. Incubation with xanthine/xanthine oxidase significantly increased preproendothelin-1 mRNA synthesis, whereas GAPDH remained unchanged. Likewise, xanthine/xanthine oxidase also led to a dose-dependent increase of intracellular endothelin-1. The increase in ET-1 expression induced by xanthine/xanthine oxidase was significantly inhibited by superoxide dismutase but not by catalase. We conclude that oxygen-derived free radicals can stimulate the synthesis of endothelin-1 in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells by increasing preproendothelin-1 mRNA content and that this effect is mediated predominantly by superoxide anions. We therefore have identified a new mechanism in the interaction of oxidative stress and endothelin-1 expression in smooth muscle cells that may have important implications in diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.     

Stimulation by endothelin-1 of mitogen-activated protein kinases and DNA synthesis in bovine tracheal smooth muscle cells.

1. In cultures of bovine tracheal smooth muscle cells, platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF), bradykinin (BK) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of both pp42 and pp44 kDa forms of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. 2. Both ET-1 and PDGF stimulated a sustained activation of MAP kinase whilst the response to BK was transient. 3. Activation of MAP kinase occurred in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50 values: ET-1, 2.3 +/- 1.3 nM; BK, 8.7 +/- 4.1 nM, PDGF, 9.7 +/- 3.2 ng ml-1). 4. Pretreatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Ro-318220, significantly reduced ET-1 activation of MAP kinase at 2 and 5 min but enhanced MAP kinase activation at 60 min. 5. Following chronic phorbol ester pretreatment, BK-stimulated activation of MAP kinase was abolished whilst the responses to PDGF and ET-1 were only partly reduced (80 and 45% inhibition respectively). 6. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin reduced ET-1 stimulated activation of MAP kinase particularly at later times (60 min), but left the responses to both PDGF and BK unaffected. 7. ET-1 also stimulated a 3 fold increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation which was abolished by pertussis toxin pretreatment. In contrast, PDGF stimulated a 131 fold increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation which was not affected by pertussis toxin. 8. These results suggest that a pertussis toxin-sensitive activation of MAP kinase may play an important role in ET-1-stimulated DNA synthesis but that activation of MAP kinase alone is not sufficient to induce the magnitude of DNA synthesis observed in response to PDGF.     

Mechanism of rat uterine smooth muscle contraction induced by endothelin-1.

1. Endothelin (ET)-1 has been demonstrated to cause contraction of uterine smooth muscle. We investigated the role of ET receptor subtypes (ETA and ETB receptors) in ET-1-induced contraction of rat uterine smooth muscle by using the ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123 and the ETB receptor agonist BQ-3020. 2. ET-1 caused a contraction with superimposed oscillations of the rat isolated uterus suspended in Krebs-Ringer solution; both the amplitude of contraction as well as the oscillation frequency increased in a dose-dependent manner (10(-11)-10(-7)M). 3. BQ-123 (10(-6)M) markedly shifted the dose-response curve of ET-1 for both contractile effects and oscillation frequency to the right. 4. BQ-3020 (10(-11)-3 x 10(-7) M) did not cause uterine contraction; neither did it affect the dose-response curve of ET-1 for either the contractile effect or the increase in oscillation frequency. Thus, stimulation of ETB receptors is not involved in these responses. 5. The present findings suggest that ET-1-induced contractile responses and the increase in oscillation frequency in rat uterine smooth muscle is mediated through ETA receptors, and that ETB receptors play no role in these responses.     

Regulation of endothelin-1 production in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is secreted from all rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) examined, in addition to endothelial cells (ECs). An average secretion rate of ET-1 from rat VSMCs was determined to be 10% that excreted from ECs. We examined the effects of 22 substances on ET-1 secretion from VSMCs and compared them with those from ECs. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, epidermal growth factor, angiotensin II, and adrenaline stimulated ET-1 secretion from VSMCs, whereas forskolin, thrombin, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB reduced it. Only TGF-beta and phorbol ester elicited consistent effects on ET-1 secretion from VSMCs and ECs. Regulation of ET-1 and adrenomedullin secretion from VSMCs was distinctly different. These data suggest that ET- 1 production in VSMCs is regulated by a mechanism separate from that in ECs and from adrenomedullin production in VSMCs. Chromatographic analysis showed immunoreactive ET-1 secreted from VSMCs was mainly composed of big ET- 1, whereas approximately 90% of that from ECs was ET-1. By TGF-beta stimulation of VSMCs, the ratio of big ET-1 to ET-1 was further increased. Because big ET-1 is converted into ET-1 only on the surface of the ECs in the culture system, big ET-1 secreted from the VSMCs may function as a mediator transmitting a signal from VSMCs to ECs in vivo.     

Ca2+ entry channels in rat thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells activated by endothelin-1.

The contraction of the rat aorta induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1) requires entry of extracellular Ca2+, but involvement of voltage-operated Ca2+ channel is minor. Using whole-cell recordings of patch-clamp and monitoring of the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), we characterized Ca2+ entry channels in A7r5 cells activated by ET-1. ET-1 activates three types of voltage-independent Ca2+ entry channels: two types of Ca2+-permeable nonselective cation channels (designated NSCC-1 and NSCC-2) and a store-operated Ca2+ channel (SOCC). Furthermore, it was found that these channels can be pharmacologically discriminated using Ca2+ channel blockers such as SK&F 96365 and LOE 908. NSCC-1 is resistant to SK&F 96365, but sensitive to LOE 908, whereas NSCC-2 is sensitive to both SK&F 96365 and LOE 908. SOCC is sensitive to SK&F 96365, but resistant to LOE 908. Using these channel blockers, we analyzed Ca2+ entry channels involved in the ET-1-induced contractions of rat thoracic aorta and increases in [Ca2+]i of single smooth muscle cells. The responses to lower concentrations of ET-1 (< or = 0.1 nM) were abolished by either SK&F 96365 or LOE 908 alone. In contrast, the responses to higher concentrations of ET-1 (> or = 1 nM) were suppressed by SK&F 96365 or LOE 908 to about 10% and 35% of controls, respectively, and abolished by combined treatment with SK&F 96365 and LOE 908. These results show that the responses of rat aorta to lower concentrations of ET-1 involve only one Ca2+ channel that is sensitive to SK&F 96365 and LOE 908 (NSCC-2), whereas those to higher concentrations of ET-1 involve NSCC-1, NSCC-2 and SOCC, contributing 10%, 55% and 35%, respectively, to total Ca2+ entry.