Sulfhydryl-dependent dimerization of soluble guanylyl cyclase modulates the relaxation of porcine pulmonary arteries to nitric oxide

The dimeric status of nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is obligatory for its catalyzing activity to synthesis the second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which leads to vasodilatation. The present study was conducted to determine whether or not the dimerization of sGC is modulated by thiol-reducing agents and its influences on relaxation of pulmonary arteries caused by NO. The dimers and monomers of sGC and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) were analyzed by Western blotting. The intracellular cGMP content was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relaxations of isolated porcine pulmonary arteries were determined by organ chamber technique. Protein levels of sGC dimers were decreased by thiol reductants dithiothreitol (DTT), reduced l-glutathione, l-cysteine, and tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), associated with decreased cGMP elevation, attenuated relaxations to NO. DTT at concentrations that affected sGC dimerization and activity showed no effect on PKG dimerization nor relaxation to 8-Br-cGMP. Hypoxia decreased the dimerization and activity of sGC of the arteries. The suppression of DTT and TCEP on sGC dimerization and activity was augmented by hypoxia. In the presence of DTT and TCEP, relaxations of porcine pulmonary artery caused by NO were significantly less under hypoxia compared with those under normoxia. These results suggest that the dimerization and activity of sGC along with NO-induced vasodilatation can be modulated in a thiol-dependent manner. Such a mechanism may be involved in the diminished response of pulmonary arteries to NO under hypoxia.     

cGMP对慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞膜电压门控钾通道的作用

目的:探讨cGMP对慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞(PASMC)膜电压门控钾通道(Kv通道)的作用, 为进一步阐明慢性低氧性肺动脉高压的发病机理提供理论依据。方法: Wistar大鼠, 随机分为对照组和慢性低氧组, 低氧组大鼠每天低氧(氧浓度10%±1%)8 h, 连续4周。单个大鼠PASMC的获得采用急性酶分离法(胶原酶Ⅰ型和木瓜蛋白酶)。采用全细胞膜片钳技术测定两组PASMC的静息膜电位(Em)和电压门控钾通道的钾离子电流(I_KV), 观察并比较cGMP (1 mmol/L) 以及cGMP和蛋白激酶G(PKG)抑制剂H-8 (1 mmol/L) 应用后两组PASMC I_KV的不同变化。结果:慢性低氧大鼠PASMC的静息膜电位和电压门控钾通道电流明显低于正常对照组。cGMP可抑制正常和慢性低氧大鼠PASMC +50 mV刺激时的峰值I_KV[正常组从(118.0±5.0)pA/pF下降到(89.9±16.5) pA/pF, n=6, P<0.05;慢性低氧组则从(81.0±5.0) pA/pF 下降到(56.8±9.1) pA/pF, n=6, P<0.05], 该抑制作用可被PKG的抑制剂H-8阻断[正常组(119.2±10.3) pA/pF vs (117.8±9.1)　pA/pF, n=6, P>0.05;慢性低氧组(96.8±6.2) pA/pF vs (98.0±2.2)　pA/pF, n=6, P>0.05]。结论:慢性低氧抑制肺动脉平滑肌细胞的电压门控钾通道。cGMP可能通过磷酸化作用而抑制正常和慢性低氧肺动脉平滑肌细胞的电压门控钾通道电流。     

连代低氧培养肺动脉平滑肌及内皮细胞的急性低氧反应中环核苷酸的作用

目的:探讨环核苷酸在慢性低氧动物的低氧性肺血管收缩反应(HPV)弱化机制中的作用。方法:用RIA法测定连代常氧与连代低氧培养猪肺动脉平滑肌细胞(PASMC)和内皮细胞(PAEC)的cAMP和cGMP及其在急性低氧时的变化;用图像分析系统检测常氧与低氧培养PASMC在急性低氧时的收缩程度。结果:低氧组PASMC的cAMP、cGMP和PAEC的cGMP基础值较常氧组低(P＜0.01)。急性低氧状态下,低氧组PASMC的cAMP、cGMP含量升高(P＜0.01);低氧组弱收缩反应PASMC的百分率明显高于常氧组。结论:慢性低氧PASMC和PAEC的cAMP、cGMP基础值下降可能与慢性低氧动物肺动脉基础张力增高有关;慢性低氧PASMC在急性低氧反应时cAMP、cGMP含量升高可能是慢性低氧机体HPV弱化的机制之一。     

低氧诱导肺血管平滑肌细胞诱生型一氧化氮合酶基因表达

本研究采用原位杂交、免疫组织化学、酶组织化学染色方法从三个层次分别证明低氧诱导大鼠肺血管中膜平滑肌细胞一氧化氮合酶（ＮｉｔｒｉｃＯｘｉｄｅＳｙｎｔｈａｓｅ，ＮＯＳ）的基因和蛋白表达，并使中膜平滑肌细胞具有ＮＯＳ活性；离体培养的肺动脉平滑肌细胞实验也证明低氧使肺动脉平滑肌细胞ＮＯＳ活性增加，ＮＯ生成增多。提示诱生型ＮＯＳ基因可能是一种低氧诱导基因，低氧诱导ＮＯＳ表达可能是细胞感受低氧的一种重要机制。     

VEGF和PCNA在慢性低氧性肺动脉及高压大鼠主动脉、肺动脉平滑肌细胞中表达

目的研究慢性低氧性肺动脉高压(PAH)发生过程中,血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及细胞核增殖抗原(PCNA)在体循环血管、肺循环血管平滑肌细胞中的表达。方法利用低压缺氧舱建立大鼠缺氧性肺动脉高压模型。实验分为3组即正常氧组、缺氧2wk组和缺氧3wk组。用免疫组化染色和图像分析,检测主动脉、肺动脉主干及肺内小动脉平滑肌细胞中VEGF及PCNA的表达量。结果VEGF在正常氧组大鼠的主动脉、肺动脉主干及肺内小动脉平滑肌内均有表达;缺氧组大鼠肺动脉主干及肺内小动脉平滑肌细胞内VEGF的表达明显增强并随着缺氧时间的延长而增加;主动脉平滑肌内VEGF的表达量无明显变化。PCNA在正常氧组大鼠的主动脉、肺动脉主干及肺内小动脉平滑肌内均有微弱表达;但缺氧时只有肺小动脉平滑肌内其表达量增加;主动脉、肺动脉主干平滑肌内PCNA的表达量无明显差别。结论在缺氧性肺动脉高压的发生过程中,VEGF在体循环血管、肺循环血管平滑肌细胞中的表达量具有差异性,提示其可能在肺动脉高压形成过程中起重要作用。     

Guanylyl cyclase inhibitors NS2028 and ODQ and protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor KT5823 trigger apoptotic DNA fragmentation in immortalized uterine epithelial cells: anti-apoptotic effects of basal cGMP/PKG

The cGMP/protein kinase G (PKG) signalling pathway, at basal levels, has anti-apoptotic/pro-survival effects in certain neural cells. The present study determined apoptosis-regulating effects of basal cGMP/PKG in an immortalized uterine epithelial cell line, HRE-H9 cells, using two soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitors, NS2028 and ODQ, and a PKG inhibitor, KT5823. A new quantitative, ultrasensitive technique using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescent detector (CE-LIF), recently developed in our laboratory, was used to quantify levels of apoptotic DNA fragmentation. NS2028 and ODQ increased apoptotic DNA fragmentation by 3.5- and 9-fold respectively, suggesting that lowering basal cGMP levels causes spontaneous apoptosis. 8-Br-cGMP, a cell-permeable cGMP analogue that directly activates PKG, reduced ODQ-induced apoptosis by 81%, indicating that replacement of lowered cGMP with a direct PKG activator prevents apoptosis. Western blot analysis, using PKG type I (PKG-I)-specific antibody, indicated that HRE-H9 cells express PKG-I at moderate levels. Inhibiting basal PKG activity with KT5823 increased apoptotic DNA fragmentation by 9.8-fold. Overall, the data show that inhibitors of basal sGC and PKG activities in immortalized uterine epithelial cells cause apoptosis, suggesting that normal basal levels of cGMP and PKG activity may be necessary to prevent a spontaneous development of apoptosis in these cells.     

缺氧对大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞 HO-1 基因表达和内源性一氧化碳生成的影响

目的:研究缺氧对体外培养的大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞诱导型血红素氧合酶(HO-1)基因表达及内源性一氧化碳(CO)产生的影响,探讨HO-CO系统在缺氧性肺动脉高压中的作用。方法:原代培养大鼠肺内动脉的平滑肌细胞(PASMC)并传代,选用第3-5代PASMC用于实验。在培养瓶内通缺氧气体(95%N₂,5%CO₂)12、24h和48h后,用逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)检测PASMC中HO-1mRNA水平,用酶联免疫检测仪测定培养基中碳氧血红蛋白(COHb)含量,放免法测定培养基中环磷酸鸟苷(cGMP)含量。结果:缺氧12、24和48hHO-1mRNA分别较正常对照组高2.7%、5.7%和27.1%(P＜0.01),培养基中COHb的含量分别较正常对照组高13.8%、31.0%和93.1%(P＜0.01),PASMC中cGMP的含量分别为正常对照组的2.7、4.0和6.8倍(P＜0.01或P＜0.05)。结论:缺氧诱导PASMC中的HO-1基因表达上调,并使内源性CO产生增多,对PASMC内cGMP浓度有调节作用。     

埃他卡林对原代培养人肺动脉平滑肌细胞转化生长因子β1mRNA表达的影响

目的研究新型ATP敏感性钾（KATP）开放剂埃他卡林（IPT）对缺氧诱导原代培养人肺动脉平滑肌细胞转化生长因子β1（TGF—β1）mRNA表达的影响。方法分离3～4级人肺小动脉,按照组织贴块法原代培养人肺动脉平滑肌细胞,应用实时荧光定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RQ-RT—PCR）技术检测细胞TGF—B,mRNA表达情况。结果缺氧使原代培养人肺动脉平滑肌细胞TGF—β1 mRNA表达增加;相同条件下,在缺氧的同时,分别在培养基中加入IPT 10^-7、10^-6、10^-5 mol·L^-1,IPT呈浓度依赖性地抑制细胞TGF—β1 mRNA表达;加入IPT 10^-5 mol·L^-1前30min,预先加入格列本脲（GLI）10^-7、10^-6、10^-5 mol·L^-1,GLI呈浓度依赖性地拮抗IPT的作用。结论IPT通过激活细胞KATP通道,浓度依赖性地抑制缺氧诱导的原代培养人肺动脉平滑肌细胞TGF-β1 mRNA表达增加。     

Hypoxia,energy state and pulmonary vasomotor tone

Vasomotor responses to hypoxia constitute a fundamental adaptation to a commonly encountered stress. It has long been suspected that changes in cellular energetics may modulate both hypoxic systemic artery vasodilatation (HSV) and hypoxic pulmonary artery vasoconstriction (HPV). Although limitation of energy has been shown to underlie hypoxic relaxation in some smooth muscles, the response to hypoxia in vascular smooth muscle does not appear to be a simple function of energy stores, but instead may involve perturbations of ATP or energy delivery to mechanisms controlling muscle force, and/or changes associated with anaerobic metabolism. Recent work in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle has demonstrated that energy stores are maintained during hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and that this is dependent on glucose availability and up-regulation of glycolysis. There is increasing evidence that glycolysis is preferentially coupled to a variety of membrane associated ATP dependent processes, including the Na(+) pump, Ca(2+)-ATPase, and possibly some protein kinases. These and other mechanisms may influence excitation-contraction coupling in both systemic and pulmonary arteries by effects on intracellular Ca(2+) and/or Ca(2+) sensitivity. Hypoxia has also been postulated to have major effects on other cytosolic second messenger systems including phosphatidylinositol pathways, cell redox state and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. This review examines the relationship between energy state, anaerobic respiration and hypoxic vasomotor tone, with a particular emphasis on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.     

一氧化氮及其信号转导通路在糖尿病性勃起功能障碍的作用

勃起功能障碍（erectile dysfunction,ED）是糖尿病的常见并发症,影响人们的生活质量,其病变机理还不甚清楚.一氧化氮（NO）由一氧化氮合酶（NOS）合成,是调节海绵体肌肉松弛和阴茎勃起的重要的神经递质.PI3-kinase/Akt （PKB）通路使eNOS磷酸化,NO的产量增加;NO/cGMPPKG通路参与平滑肌的舒张;RhoA和Rho-kinase参与平滑肌的收缩,抑制eNOS基因表达和酶的活性.周围血管病变和自主神经变性是引起糖尿病性ED的主要原因之一.基因和干细胞（eNOS、 RhoA/Rho-kinase与Mesenchymal stem cell-based cell）治疗糖尿病性ED取得一些进展.     

Low-dose fluvastatin reverses the hypoxic pulmonary adventitial fibroblast phenotype in experimental pulmonary hypertension

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is a worldwide public health problem. Statins attenuate hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in animal models, but the mechanism of action and applicability of these results to human treatment are not established. In hypoxic models, pulmonary artery fibroblast proliferation contributes substantially to pulmonary vascular remodeling. We previously showed that acute hypoxic pulmonary adventitial fibroblast proliferation can be selectively inhibited by statins and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors. Here we used complementary chronic hypoxic and acute hypoxic coculture models to obtain necessary preclinical information regarding the utility of fluvastatin in the treatment of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. The effects of fluvastatin, cholesterol pathway intermediates, and related inhibitors on hypoxic adventitial fibroblast proliferation, p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation, and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation were determined, using complementary chronic hypoxic rat and acute hypoxic bovine cell models. Fluvastatin reversed the proliferative phenotypic switch in adventitial fibroblasts from chronic hypoxic animals. This effect was circulation-specific, and implicated a Rac1-p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway. Coculture and conditioned media experiments also implicated this statin-sensitive signaling pathway in the release of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell mitogens by hypoxic pulmonary adventitial fibroblasts. Treprostinil, sildenafil, and bosentan exerted no effect on the hypoxic fibroblast phenotype. Phenotypic changes (increased proliferation and mitogen release) in pulmonary artery fibroblasts during chronic hypoxia are dependent on a Rac1-p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway. The inhibition of these phenotypic changes with fluvastatin may be therapeutically relevant in high-altitude residents and in patients with hypoxic lung disease.     

The cGMP synthesis and PKG1 expression in murine lymphoid organs

Numerous reports indicate that cyclic 3',5' guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is involved in the regulation of immune processes. However, the mechanisms responsible for the synthesis of this nucleotide and its signaling pathways in immune cells are still not well recognized. The aim of our studies was to establish: 1) which form of guanylyl cyclase (GC) synthesizes cGMP in murine lymphoid organs and 2) whether the same organs express the isoforms PKG1alpha and/or PKG1beta of protein kinase G, known as possible target for synthesized cGMP. Cells isolated from thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen were treated with activators (SNP, ANP, CNP, STa) of soluble or particulate cyclases. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) elevated intracellular cGMP 2-fold in thymic and lymph node cells and about 10-fold in spleen cells. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) caused modest but statistically significant increases of cGMP in cells of all three organs. Additionally, spleen cells elevated their cGMP content about 2-fold in response to C-type natriuretic protein (CNP). In cellular homogenates of the all analyzed organs, the antibody anti-PKG1beta stained the 78 kDa band corresponding to the molecular mass of PKG1. Only homogenates of spleen cells were stained by the antibody recognizing PKG1alpha. Our results indicate that in the investigated organs cGMP may be synthesized mainly by soluble GC in response to nitric oxide. The modest increase of cGMP upon stimulation by ANP suggests that in all these organs either exists only a small subpopulation of cells that express particulate cyclase GC-A or GC-A is expressed at very low level. In spleen cells, however, cyclase GC-B appears to be the more active enzyme. Elevated cGMP concentration may in turn activate PKG1beta in thymus, lymph node, and spleen cells and also PKG1alpha in spleen cells.     

Hypoxia decreases expression of soluble guanylate cyclase in cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Nitric oxide (NO) has an important role in modulating the pulmonary vascular tone. NO acts, in part, by stimulating soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to synthesize the intracellular second messenger cyclic GMP. In vascular smooth muscle cells, sGC is a heterodimer composed of alpha1 and beta1 subunits. The objective of this study was to test whether oxygen concentration regulates sGC expression in cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (rPaSMC). rPaSMC were exposed to 0, 3, and 20% oxygen for 1-48 h, and sGC subunit mRNA levels were measured. Compared with rPaSMC exposed to 20% oxygen, sGC alpha1 and beta1 subunit mRNA levels were markedly decreased in rPaSMC exposed to 0% and 3% oxygen. The decrease in sGC subunit mRNA levels in hypoxic rPaSMC was detected as early as 6 h of exposure. Compared with rPaSMC exposed to 20% oxygen, exposure of rPaSMC to 3% oxygen progressively decreased sGC subunit protein levels at 24 and 48 h. There was also a 30% and 50% decrease in sGC enzyme activity in cells exposed to hypoxia for 24 and 48 h (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively, as compared with cells maintained in normoxia). These results demonstrate that hypoxia decreases sGC expression in cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and suggest that, in hypoxic vascular smooth muscle, decreased cyclic GMP synthesis may limit the vasodilator response to NO.     

A Fluorescence‐Activated Cell Sorter Analysis of the Relationship Between Protein Kinase G and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase

The process of regulation of NOS after production of nitric oxide is not yet delineated. Protein kinase G may exert a feedback regulation of this enzyme. We used diaminofluorescein assays to detect changes in basal nitric oxide production caused by modulators of protein kinase G activity in freshly isolated ovine lung microvascular endothelial cells. We also used fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis (FACS) to determine molecular and phosphorylation changes caused by PKG activation with 8‐Br‐cGMP. The PKG activator, 8‐Br‐cGMP (100 μM) produced a shift in the basal NO production curve downward. The inhibition began within 5 min and was sustained over 4.5 hr. The two protein kinase G inhibitors 100 μM Rp‐8‐Br‐PET‐cGMPS and 50 nM guanosine 3′‐5′‐cyclic monophosphoro thionate‐8‐Br‐Rp isomer Na salt and the cGMP inhibitor 4 μM Rp‐8‐pCPT‐cGMPS all enhanced NO production as seen by the upward shift in the basal NO curve. Conversely, the PKG activator drug, 100 μM guanosine‐3′‐5′‐cyclic monophosphate‐β‐phenyl‐1NF‐ethano‐8‐bromo sodium salt decreased NO production causing a downward shift in the basal curve. FACS analysis revealed that 5 μM 8‐Br‐cGMP in <5 min caused an increase in N‐terminal labeling of NOS and a decrease in both C‐terminal and serine 1177 labeling of NOS. 8‐Br‐cGMP appeared to increase PKG 1α and to decrease PKG 1β labeling. Changes in other phosphorylation sites were less consistent but overall mean channel fluorescence increased from 19.92 to 217.36 for serine 116 and decreased from 329.27 to 254.03 for threonine 495 phosphorylation. Data indicated that PKG caused both molecular and phosphorylation changes in NOS. Anat Rec 293:1755–1765, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of hypoxia on endothelin-1 sensitivity in the corpus cavernosum

The penis remains in a hypo-oxygenated, flaccid state for a large majority of the time. In this study, we investigated the effect of changing oxygen tension on the expression and functional activity of endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptors in the penis. Experiments were performed in rabbit and human corpora cavernosa (CC) as well as in human fetal penile tissue and cell cultures [human fetal penile endothelial cells (hfPECs) and human fetal smooth muscle cells (hfPSMCs)]. Endothelin A (ETA) receptors are expressed by both endothelial and muscular cells in all tissues investigated. Only penile endothelial cells express endothelin B (ETB) receptors, which are further turned on during experimental hypoxia. In addition, hypoxia also allows ETB expression in the muscular compartment without affecting ETA expression. This hypoxia-induced over-expression of ETB decreased the contractile activity of ET-1 and increased ETB-mediated relaxation. The latter was essentially related to increased ETB-mediated nitric oxide formation in hfPEC and even in hfPSMC. Hypoxia also induced a time-dependent down-regulation of RhoA and Rho kinase (ROK) expression which, in turn, participated in the decreased contractile activity of ET-1 in the hypoxic penile tissue. Accordingly, during hypoxia, an ROK inhibitor, Y27632, was less effective in relaxing ET-1-precontracted strips. In conclusion, prolonged (24 h) hypoxia stimulated several counter-regulatory mechanisms in penile tissue, including up-regulation of ETB and down-regulation of RhoA/ROK pathways, which may help to preserve CC hypo-oxygenation, allowing smooth muscle relaxation and, most probably, penile erection.     

cGMP-dependent protein kinase in regulation of basal tone and in nitroglycerin- and nitric-oxide-induced relaxation in porcine coronary artery

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) may act as a critical enzyme for nitric-oxide-induced vasodilation. In this study, the role of PKG in regulation of basal tension and in relaxation induced by nitrovasodilators in coronary arteries was determined. Under basal conditions, Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS, a specific PKG inhibitor, evoked a significant contraction of isolated porcine coronary arteries, which was prevented by nitro-l-arginine or the removal of the endothelium. Relaxation to nitroglycerin and (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DETA NONOate) in vessels preconstricted with U46619 was largely abolished by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and inhibited by 48 to 79% by Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS. Relaxation of the vessels to 8-Br-cGMP was inhibited by 56% by Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS. The basal activity of PKG but not that of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (PKA) was inhibited by nitro-l-arginine, ODQ, or Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS. The activity of PKG but not that of PKA was increased by nitroglycerin and DETA NONOate in intact vessels and increased by cGMP in the tissue homogenates. These effects were abolished by Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS but not by myristoylated PKI, a specific inhibitor of PKA. These results suggest that in porcine coronary arteries, PKG is involved in the regulation of basal tension and plays a primary role in relaxation induced by nitrovasodilators, whereas PKA may play a minor role.     

Heterotrimeric G proteins and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta contribute to hypoxic proliferation of smooth muscle cells

Hypoxic proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) is mitogen dependent, but the signaling pathways mediating hypoxia-induced cell growth are not well understood. We investigated hypoxic proliferation in primary cultures from porcine pulmonary artery smooth muscle. The cells were grown in medium with or without platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B, a potent smooth muscle cell mitogen. Hypoxia induced upregulation of PDGF receptor-beta expression, the primary receptor for PDGF-B. However, PDGF-B-mediated hypoxic enhancement of proliferation was abolished by pertussis toxin, indicating (1) involvement of heterotrimeric Galpha i proteins and (2) minimal effect of increased PDGF receptor expression in hypoxic enhancement of proliferation. We treated PASMC with labeled, nonhydrolyzable analogs of GTP to determine directly if GTP binding proteins were activated by hypoxia in PASMC. We show that hypoxia stimulates GTP incorporation in PASMC both in the presence and absence of PDGF-B. Serum-starved PASMC are able to increase their incorporation of GTP after only 10 min of hypoxia, and this response is not pertussis toxin sensitive. In serum-starved PASMC, we show that hypoxia stimulates incorporation of GTP into a 44-kD protein. The results show that heterotrimeric G proteins are involved in hypoxia-induced signaling in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Activation of inwardly rectifying K+ channel in OK proximal tubule cells involves cGMP-dependent phosphorylation process

The inwardly rectifying K+ channel with an inward conductance of about 90 pS in the surface membrane of cultured opossum kidney proximal tubule (OKP) cell is activated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). In this study, we further examined the involvement of the guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent process in modulation of this K+ channel by using the patch-clamp technique. In cell-attached patches, channel activity was increased by the application of either N2, 2'-O-dibutyrylguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (DBcGMP, 100 microM) or 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8BrcGMP, 100 microM), and it was inhibited by KT5823 (10 microM), a membrane-permeable specific inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). The effect of DBcGMP on channel activity was abolished by the pretreatment of cells with KT5823 (10 microM), but it was observed in the presence of KT5720 (200 nM), a specific inhibitor of PKA. Furthermore, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP, 10 nM) increased channel activity, which was also prevented by the application of KT5823 (10 microM). In inside-out patches, ATP (3 mM) was required to maintain channel activity, which was inhibited by KT5823 (10 microM), but it was not increased by cGMP (100 microM) alone. The channel activity was increased by the coapplication of PKG (500 U/ml) and cGMP (100 microM). These results suggest that cGMP activates the inwardly rectifying K+ channel in OKP cells through PKG-mediated phosphorylation processes independent of PKA-mediated processes, and that ANP is an agonist which stimulates PKG-mediated processes in the proximal tubule cell. Furthermore, it is suggested that the ATP-dependent channel activity in inside-out patches is maintained at least in part by PKG, which is the membrane-bound catalytic domain.     

慢性低氧对肺动脉内皮及平滑肌细胞急性低氧时胞浆游离钙变化的影响

目的和方法:以Fura-2/AM荧光指示剂负载,检测常氧(PO2213kPa)及慢性低氧[PO2(53±07)kPa]培养的大鼠肺内动脉平滑肌细胞及猪肺动脉内皮细胞胞浆游离钙的水平及其对急性低氧刺激反应的变化。结果:慢性低氧条件培养的第6代肺内动脉平滑肌细胞在急性低氧时[Ca²⁺]_i升高的程度明显降低(P<0.05);而慢性低氧条件培养的第5代肺动脉内皮细胞对急性低氧引起的[Ca²⁺]_i升高程度明显增加(P<0.05)。结论:慢性低氧可以减弱肺内动脉平滑肌细胞对急性低氧所致[Ca²⁺]_i升高的反应而增强肺动脉内皮细胞低氧性[Ca²⁺]_i升高的反应。这可能在慢性低氧时肺血管对低氧的反应性降低中起重要作用。     

Metabolism of platelet activating factor by intrapulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. Effect of oxygen on phospholipase A2 protein expression and activities of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase and cholinephosphotransferase

We have demonstrated that platelet activating factor (PAF) plays an important physiological role in the maintenance of high pulmonary vascular tone in fetal lambs, a role attributable to increased PAF receptor binding (J. Appl. Physiol. 85 (1998) 1079; Am J. Physiol. 278 (2000) H1168). In this study, we examined the possibility that increased PAF synthesis via de novo and remodeling pathways as well as decreased PAF catabolism in hypoxic state of fetal lungs may account for the PAF action in vivo. We investigated effect of oxygen tension on PAF synthesis by ovine fetal intrapulmonary venous (PV) and arterial (PA) smooth muscle cells pulsed with [3H]choline (de novo), or [3H]acetate (remodeling), while PAF catabolism was studied by assay of acetylhydrolase (PAF-Ah) activity. Hypoxia stimulated PAF synthesis by choline incorporation (pmol/10(6)cells) in both PVSMC (1.14+/-0.13 vs 0.53+/-0.05) and PASMC (0.39+/-0.12 vs 0.22+/-0.04). Hypoxia stimulated PAF synthesis via remodeling pathway only in PVSMC (408+/-32 vs 225+/-17) which was 5-fold greater than in PASMC (77+/-15 vs 105+/-24), however, with A23187 in remodeling pathway, PAF synthesis increased 5-fold compared to baseline conditions and then synthesis in hypoxia was greater than in normoxia in both cell types. Phospholipase A2 protein expression was significantly higher in hypoxia in both cells and was approximately 2-fold higher in PVSMC. PAF-Ah activity (nmol lyso-PAF/min/mg protein) was greater in hypoxia vs normoxia in PVSMC (0.81+/-0.24 vs 0.44+/-0.088), but in PASMC activity was less in hypoxia vs normoxia (1.68+/-0.24 vs 3.93+/-0.44). Compared to PVSMC PAF-Ah activity in PASMC was 4-fold higher in hypoxia. Our data demonstrate that (1) PAF synthesis in intrapulmonary SMC of fetal lambs occurs by both de novo studied by choline incorporation and remodeling pathways, the latter being predominant. (2) There is heterogeneity in PAF synthetic and catabolic activities in lung vasculature of fetal lambs. We conclude that increased PAF synthesis in veins by the two synthetic pathways coupled with decreased catabolism will result in a higher venous PAF levels in the hypoxic environment of fetal lungs. We speculate that in vivo, a high PAF level in veins will make more PAF available for binding to its receptors so as to sustain the desired high venous tone in the fetal pulmonary circulation.