Inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinase reverses phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells

We have previously shown that type I cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) can alter the phenotype of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Although the expression of contractile proteins in VSMCs has been shown to be modulated with the induction of PKG, experiments in which PKG inhibition brings about reduced expression of contractile markers have not been performed. To more thoroughly examine the role of PKG in the expression of contractile proteins, recombinant adenovirus containing the PKG coding sequence (AD-PKG) was used to induce gene expression and morphologic changes in adult rat aortic VSMCs. Cells expressing PKG, but not control adenovirus-infected cells, began to express a specific marker protein for the contractile phenotype, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), within 48 hours of PKG induction. The morphology of the AD-PKG-infected cells began to change from a fibroblastic phenotype to a spindle-shaped phenotype within 72 hours after PKG induction. The specific cell-permeable PKG inhibitory peptide DT-2, but not control peptides, reversed the biochemical and morphologic changes associated with PKG expression. These results suggest that PKG expression and activity in cultured VSMCs is capable of altering the VSMC phenotype. These data also verify the intracellular action of DT-2 and reveal uptake and dynamic properties of this PKG-inhibiting peptide.