一氧化氮在淋巴管收缩中的作用

淋巴管收缩是淋巴循环的动力学基础,对于维持循环系统稳态发挥重要作用.生物活性分子一氧化氮(NO)的周期性变化参与了淋巴管生理状态下的收缩、舒张以及张力调节.NO通过提高cAMP、cGMP水平激活PKA和PKG,既可引起淋巴管平滑肌细胞(LSMC)膜超极化、降低肌浆网IP3活性,从而降低LSMC细胞内Ca2+浓度;亦可通过活化肌球蛋白轻链磷酸酶降低LSMC的钙敏感性,最终降低淋巴管收缩性.通过调控淋巴管收缩过程中NO的生成与释放,有可能成为治疗或干预淋巴障碍性疾病的新靶点之一.     

钙离子:进入细胞浆的途径与血管平滑肌收缩机制

血管平滑肌收缩所需的钙离子源于细胞外流入和细胞内释放。钙流入途径主要有膜电位依赖式和与受体耦联的钙通道。释放钙离子机制受除极IP_3、cIP_3和钙离子作用而激发。进入细胞浆的钙离子与钙受体蛋白结合而引起收缩。血管平滑肌没有肌钙蛋白C,由钙调蛋白或Leiotonin C代之。钙调蛋白通过使肌球蛋白磷酸化;而Leiotonin C则通过直接激活肌动蛋白,引起血管收缩。     

血管平滑肌收缩的Ca^2＋信号调节机制

血管平滑肌细胞内Ca^2＋的浓度（[Ca^2＋]i）的变化及胞内收缩蛋白对Ca^2＋的敏感性是影响血管紧张的主要因素。研究表明细胞内Ca^2＋浓度的变化在血管平滑肌细胞的激活中发挥重要作用。在静息状态,细胞内的Ca^2＋浓度主要受膜电位的调节,同时,[Ca^2＋]i也可反馈调节膜电位。在平滑肌细胞内存在多种[Ca^2＋]i调节机制。本文概述了这些机制在调节血管平滑肌紧张中的作用,主要包括：[Ca^2＋]i在血管平滑肌收缩中的作用;环二磷酸腺苷（cADPR）在调节Ca^2＋释放中的作用;cADPR介导的肉桂碱受体的激活在调节平滑肌紧张度中的作用;血管平滑肌细胞的Ca^2＋闪烁和细胞膜Ca^2＋敏感性钾通道的激活;[Ca^2＋]i与膜电位之间的相互作用等。     

大鼠高血压相关基因表达蛋白抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖

大鼠高血压相关基因 ( r HRG- 1 )编码一新细胞内信号传递蛋白 .体外转染 r HRG- 1表达蛋白发现 r HRG- 1表达蛋白能抑制自发性高血压大鼠血管平滑肌细胞内 Raf蛋白 ( Raf- 1 )和丝裂素活化蛋白激酶 ( MAPK)活性 ,抑制抗细胞凋亡基因 ( bcl- 2 )和增殖细胞核抗原 ( PCNA)基因 m RNA表达 ,同时还抑制该细胞 DNA的合成 .r HRG- 1是一正常血压大鼠血管平滑肌细胞内高度表达的基因 ,由此推测在自发性高血压大鼠血管平滑肌细胞内转染 r HRG- 1表达蛋白抑制其细胞 DNA合成的作用可能是抑制细胞内 Raf- 1活性与 MAPK活性及抑制 PCNA和 bcl- 2基因表达的结果     

Ca~(2+)转运通路对金雀异黄酮舒张大鼠脑血管作用的影响

目的:研究Ca2+转运通路对金雀异黄酮舒张大鼠脑血管作用的影响。方法:75只大鼠被随机分为3组,分别经由二甲亚砜、金雀异黄酮和酪氨酸磷酸化抑制剂A47处理基底动脉及Willis环血管。每组大鼠进一步划分成5个亚组,每个亚组用不同浓度的细胞外Ca2+处理,分为:0、0.6、1.2、1.8和3.6 m M Ca2+组。5-羟色胺诱导血管收缩。测定大鼠基底动脉管壁厚度与官腔周长的比值;荧光成像分析法测定血管平滑肌细胞细胞内Ca2+浓度;免疫印迹分析检测肌球蛋白轻链激酶(MLCK),蛋白质磷酸酶催化亚基1(PP1),肌凝蛋白磷酸酶目标亚基1(MYPT1)的表达来测定血管平滑肌细胞Ca2+敏感性。结果:金雀异黄酮和酪氨酸磷酸化抑制剂A47显著降低大鼠基底动脉管壁厚度与官腔周长的比值(P0.01),Ca2+内流(P0.01,P0.05)及MLCK的表达(P0.01);增加PP1和MYPT1的表达(P0.01)。细胞外Ca2+与金雀异黄酮及酪氨酸磷酸化抑制剂A47有协同效应。硝苯地平和毒胡萝卜素可废除该效应。结论:低细胞外Ca2+水平增强了金雀异黄酮和酪氨酸磷酸化抑制剂A47的血管舒张作用。L型电压门控Ca2+通道(L-VGCC)和肌浆网Ca2+库(SR)参与交互效应。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对血管平滑肌细胞中大电导钙激活钾通道的多重调节作用（英文）

肾素-血管紧张素系统(renin-angiotensin system, RAS)是影响血管平滑肌细胞张力的重要因素。RAS主要活性物质血管紧张素Ⅱ (angiotensin Ⅱ, Ang Ⅱ)可通过激活血管紧张素Ⅱ-1型受体(angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor, AT1R)升高胞内Ca~(2+)浓度,收缩平滑肌细胞。大电导钙激活钾(large-conductance Ca~(2+)-and voltage-activated potassium, BK)通道是血管平滑肌细胞中分布最广、表达最多的钾离子通道,在维持细胞膜电位和胞内钾钙平衡中发挥重要作用。血管平滑肌细胞上的BK通道主要包含α与β1两种亚基。其中功能亚基BKα上分布有膜电位及Ca~(2+)感受器。因此当膜电位或细胞内Ca~(2+)浓度升高时会反馈性引起BK通道开放。然而,越来越多的研究显示,尽管Ang Ⅱ可升高胞内Ca~(2+)浓度,但却通过激活PKC通路、促进AT1R与BKα通道形成的异源二聚体内吞、加快α与β1亚基解离等途径抑制BK通道的表达和功能。在一些情况下,Ang Ⅱ对BK通道也可表现出激活作用,但机制尚不完全明确。该综述总结了Ang Ⅱ对BK通道抑制或激活两方面效应的可能原因,为改善细胞内离子失衡提供理论依据。     

RhoA-ROK通路在平滑肌收缩中的作用

近年来有关平滑肌收缩的钙敏化机制研究进展迅速,一系列的证据显示这种Ca2 非依赖的调节主要是由RhoA-ROK通路介导,它主要通过磷酸化抑制肌球蛋白轻链磷酸酶(MLCP)的活性来增加肌球蛋白轻链(MLC)的磷酸化水平,从而增强平滑肌的收缩力。越来越多的研究显示RhoA-ROK通路参与了平滑肌细胞和非肌细胞的多种功能,在许多疾病如高血压、动脉粥样硬化、冠状动脉痉挛等的发生和发展中起着非常重要的作用。     

组胺H1受体功能及调节机制研究进展

组胺1型受体(H1R]受体作为组胺最主要的受体亚型,广泛分布于中枢和外周神经末梢,随着各类新型H1受体桔抗剂的发现和基因敲除动物的应用,H1R的功能研究及其活化调节机制研究也不断深入.组胺通过H1R参与调节机体多种重要的生理病理功能,如参与炎症反应、疼痛反应、血管调节、认知功能、睡眠清醒节律、饮食节律和肥胖等.H1R活化可激活磷脂酶C(PLC),PLC水解1,4,5-磷脂酰二磷酸盐产生甘油二酯(DAG)和肌醇三磷酸(IP3),后者激活细胞内Ca2+通道,活化氮氧化物合成酶,最终生成NO和鸟苷酸环化酶(cGMP),并引起钾通道开放,导致超极化;也可激活磷脂酶A2(PLA2)形成花生四烯酸(AA).H1R可通过活化其基因转录水平进行上调.本文就近十年来国外相关进展情况做一综述.     

Ghrelin对豚鼠胃窦平滑肌细胞钙离子浓度的影响及与NO关系研究

目的:探讨Ghrelin对豚鼠胃窦平滑肌细胞内钙离子浓度的影响及其与一氧化氮(NO)的关系。方法:采用荧光免疫组化检测胃窦平滑肌细胞ghrelin受体(GHS-R)的表达;应用钙离子(Ca2+)指示剂Fluo-3/AM作为细胞内Ca2+的荧光探针,对负载培养的平滑肌细胞应用激光共聚焦显微镜技术,检测不同浓度ghrelin对平滑肌细胞内Ca2+荧光强度(FI)的影响,以及ghrelin受体阻断剂D-Lys3-GHRP-6、NO供体硝普钠(SNP),一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂N-硝基左旋精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME)对ghrelin调控Ca2+荧光强度的影响。结果:(1)豚鼠胃窦平滑肌细胞呈GHS-R免疫反应阳性表达.(2)随着ghrelin浓度升高(10-11,10-10,10-9,10-8,10-7mol/L),平滑肌细胞内Ca2+荧光强度逐渐升高,组间峰值(分别为54.7±11.5,58.1±5.7,64.8±6.6,84.9±7.1,95.7±10.5)和峰高(分别为1.8±0.3,2.1±0.8,5.3±1.3,28.9±4.2,37.6±3.7)均存在显著差异(P<0.05-0.01),即呈明显剂量依赖...     

小檗碱对平滑肌肌球蛋白功能及胃肠平滑肌收缩性的影响

目的:探讨小檗碱对平滑肌肌球蛋白功能及胃肠平滑肌收缩性的影响.方法:以平滑肌肌球蛋白Mg2+-ATPase活性、肌球蛋白磷酸化以及胃与肠道平滑肌的收缩振幅为指标,考察小檗碱对平滑肌肌球蛋白Mg2+-ATPase活性和肌球蛋白磷酸化程度的影响,及其对离体小肠与胃平滑肌条收缩性的影响.结果:(1)在肌球蛋白轻链的Ca2+依赖性磷酸化反应中.小檗碱能抑制磷酸化肌球蛋白Mg2+-ATPase活性;(2)在肌球蛋白轻链的Ca2+依赖性磷酸化反应中,小檗碱可显著抑制磷酸化肌球蛋白轻链磷酸化程度;(3)小檗碱对大鼠离体小肠及胃平滑肌条收缩性均具有抑制作用.且均呈剂量依赖性.结论:小檗碱可通过抑制平滑肌肌球蛋白的功能,抑制胃肠道平滑肌的收缩性.     

Cyclic GMP specifically suppresses Type-Iα cGMP-dependent protein kinase expression by ubiquitination

Type I cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG-I) mediates nitric oxide (NO) and hormone dependent smooth muscle relaxation and stimulates smooth muscle cell-specific gene expression. Expression of PKG-I in cultured smooth muscle cells depends on culture conditions and is inhibited by inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-I and tumor necrosis factor-α, which are known to stimulate Type II NO synthase (iNOS) expression. We report here that the suppression of PKG-I protein levels in smooth muscle cells is triggered by the ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway. Incubation of vascular smooth muscle cells with phosphodiesterase-resistant cyclic GMP analogs (e.g., 8-bromo-cGMP) decreases PKG-I protein level in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. To study this process, we tested the effects of 8-Br-cGMP on PKG-I protein level in Cos7 cells, which do not express endogenous type I PKG mRNA. 8-Br-cGMP induced the ubiquitination and down-regulation of PKG-Iα, but not PKG-Iβ. Treatment of cells with the 26S proteasome inhibitor, MG-132, increased ubiquitination of PKG. Blocking PKG-I catalytic activity using the cell-permeant specific PKG-I inhibitor, DT-2, inhibited cGMP-induced PKG-I ubiquitination and down-regulation, suggesting that PKG catalytic activity and autophosphorylation were required for suppression of PKG-I level. Mutation of the known autophosphorylation sites of PKG-Iα to alanine uncovered a specific role for autophosphorylation of serine-64 in cGMP-dependent ubiquitination and suppression of PKG-I level. The results suggest that chronic elevation of cGMP, as seen in inflammatory conditions, triggers ubiquitination and degradation of PKG-Iα in smooth muscle.     

Invited review: cGMP-dependent protein kinase signaling mechanisms in smooth muscle: from the regulation of tone to gene expression.

cGMP is a second messenger that produces its effects by interacting with intracellular receptor proteins. In smooth muscle cells, one of the major receptors for cGMP is the serine/threonine protein kinase, cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). PKG has been shown to catalyze the phosphorylation of a number of physiologically relevant proteins whose function it is to regulate the contractile activity of the smooth muscle cell. These include proteins that regulate free intracellular calcium levels, the cytoskeleton, and the phosphorylation state of the regulatory light chain of smooth muscle myosin. Other studies have shown that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that are cultured in vitro may cease to express PKG and will, coincidentally, acquire a noncontractile, synthetic phenotype. The restoration of PKG expression to the synthetic phenotype VSMC results in the cells acquiring a more contractile phenotype. These more recent studies suggest that PKG controls VSMC gene expression that, in turn, regulates phenotypic modulation of the cells. Therefore, the regulation of PKG gene expression appears to be linked to phenotypic modulation of VSMC. Because several vascular disorders are related to the accumulation of synthetic, fibroproliferative VSMC in the vessel wall, it is likely that changes in the activity of the nitric oxide/cGMP/PKG pathway is involved the development of these diseases.     

Inhibition of cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase I (PKG-I) in lumbar spinal cord reduces formalin-induced hyperalgesia and PKG upregulation.

Nitric oxide-mediated nociception has been suggested to involve formation of cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) and activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). To further evaluate this pathway we assessed the effects of the PKG-inhibiting cGMP analog Rp-8-Br-cGMPS in the rat formalin assay and analyzed the regulation of PKG expression in rat lumbar spinal cord. Spinally delivered Rp-8-Br-cGMPS (0.1-0.5 micro mol i.t.) reduced the nociceptive behavior in a dose-dependent manner. Similar effects were achieved with Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS (0.5 micro mol i.t.), another PKG-inhibitory cGMP analog. In contrast, Rp-8-Br-cAMPS (0.5 micro mol i.t.), an inhibitor of protein kinase A, had no effect in this model. Formalin treatment resulted in a rapid (within 1h), long-lasting (up to 96h) upregulation of PKG-I protein expression. This increase was prevented in animals pretreated with Rp-8-Br-cGMPS (0.5 micro mol i.t.) or morphine (2.5-5mg/kg i.p.) 10min prior to formalin injection. Spinal delivery of 8-Br-cGMP, a PKG-activating cGMP analog, without subsequent formalin treatment also caused an increase of PKG-I protein expression. Hence, the upregulation of PKG-I might possibly be mediated by cGMP itself. Our data suggest that PKG-I activation is involved in the synaptic transmission of nociceptive stimuli in the spinal cord and that PKG-I inhibitors might be interesting novel drugs for pain treatment.     

Essential roles of the nitric oxide (no)/cGMP/protein kinase G type-Iα (PKG-Iα) signaling pathway and the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)/cGMP/PKG-Iα autocrine loop in promoting proliferation and cell survival of OP9 bone marrow stromal cells

Inappropriate signaling conditions within bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) can lead to loss of BMSC survival, contributing to the loss of a proper micro-environmental niche for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), ultimately causing bone marrow failure. In the present study, we investigated the novel role of endogenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP/protein kinase G type-Iα (PKG-Iα) signaling pathway in regulating BMSC survival and proliferation, using the OP9 BMSC cell line commonly used for facilitating the differentiation of HSCs. Using an ANP-receptor blocker, endogenously produced ANP was found to promote cell proliferation and prevent apoptosis. NO donor SNAP (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine) at low concentrations (10 and 50 μM), which would moderately stimulate PKG activity, protected these BMSCs against spontaneous apoptosis. YC-1, a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator, decreased the levels of apoptosis, similar to the cytoprotective effects of low-level NO. ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one), which blocks endogenous NO-induced activation of sGC and thus lowers endogenous cGMP/PKG activity, significantly elevated apoptotic levels by 2.5- and three-fold. Pre-incubation with 8-Bromo-cGMP or ANP, which bypass the ODQ block, almost completely prevented the ODQ-induced apoptosis. A highly-specific PKG inhibitor, DT-3, at 20, and 30 μM, caused 1.5- and two-fold increases in apoptosis, respectively. ODQ and DT-3 also decreased BMSCs proliferation and colony formation. Small Interfering RNA gene knockdown of PKG-Iα increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation in BMSCs. The data suggest that basal NO/cGMP/PKG-Iα activity and autocrine ANP/cGMP/PKG-Iα are necessary for preserving OP9 cell survival and promoting cell proliferation and migration.     

Overexpression of cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKG-I) attenuates ischemia-reperfusion-induced kidney injury

cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) is a multifunctional protein. Whether PKG plays a role in ischemia-reperfusion-induced kidney injury (IRI) is unknown. In this study, using an in vivo mouse model of renal IRI, we determined the effect of renal IRI on kidney PKG-I levels and also evaluated whether overexpression of PKG-I attenuates renal IRI. Our studies demonstrated that PKG-I levels (mRNA and protein) were significantly decreased in the kidney from mice undergoing renal IRI. Moreover, PKG-I transgenic mice had less renal IRI, showing improved renal function and less tubular damage compared with their wild-type littermates. Transgenic mice in the renal IRI group had decreased tubular cell apoptosis accompanied by decreased caspase 3 levels/activity and increased Bcl-2 and Bag-1 levels. In addition, transgenic mice undergoing renal IRI demonstrated reduced macrophage infiltration into the kidney and reduced production of inflammatory cytokines. In vitro studies showed that peritoneal macrophages isolated from transgenic mice had decreased migration compared with control macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that PKG-I protects against renal IRI, at least in part through inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration into the kidney, reducing kidney inflammation, and inhibiting tubular cell apoptosis.     

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways by cyclic GMP and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in contractile vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) exist in either a contractile or a synthetic phenotype in vitro and in vivo. The molecular mechanisms regulating phenotypic modulation are unknown. Previous studies have suggested that the serine/threonine protein kinase mediator of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling, the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) promotes modulation to the contractile phenotype in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC). Because of the potential importance of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) pathways in VSMC proliferation and phenotypic modulation, the effects of PKG expression in PKG-deficient and PKG-expressing adult RASMC on MAP kinases were examined. In PKG-expressing adult RASMC, 8-para-chlorophenylthio-cGMP activated extracellular signal- regulated kinases (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The major effect of PKG activation was increased activation by MAP kinase kinase (MEK). The cAMP analog, 8-Br-cAMP inhibited ERK1/2 activation in PKG-deficient and PKG-expressing RASMC but had no effect on JNK activity. The effects of PKG on ERK and JNK activity were additive with those of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), suggesting that PKG activates MEK through a pathway not used by PDGF. The stimulatory effects of cGMP on ERK and JNK activation were also observed in low-passaged, contractile RASMC still expressing endogenous PKG, suggesting that the effects of PKG expression were not artifacts of cell transfections. These results suggest that in contractile adult RASMC, NO-cGMP signaling increases MAP kinase activity. Increased activation of these MAP kinase pathways may be one mechanism by which cGMP and PKG activation mediate c-fos induction and increased proliferation of contractile adult RASMC.     

Convergence of Ca2+-desensitizing mechanisms activated by forskolin and phenylephrine pretreatment, but not 8-bromo-cGMP

Contractile stimuli can sensitize myosin to Ca²⁺ by activating RhoA kinase (ROK) and PKC that inhibit myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) activity. Relaxant stimuli, acting through PKA and PKG (cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases), and pretreatment with contractile agents such as phenylephrine (PE), can desensitize myosin to Ca²⁺. It is unknown precisely how these stimuli cause Ca²⁺ desensitization. To test the hypothesis that PKA, PKG, and PE pretreatment signaling systems converge to cause relaxation by inhibition of ROK in intact, isolated tissues, we examined the effects of forskolin (FSK; PKA activation), 8-bromo-cGMP (8br-cGMP; PKG activation), and PE pretreatment on KCl-induced force maintenance in rabbit arteries, a response nearly completely dependent on ROK activation. PE pretreatment and agents activating PKA and PKG caused Ca²⁺ desensitization by inhibiting KCl-induced tonic force and MLC phosphorylation without inhibiting intracellular [Ca²⁺]. At pCa 5 in -escin-permeabilized muscle, FSK and 8b-cGMP accelerated the relaxation rate when tissues were returned to pCa 9, suggesting that both agents can elevate MLCP activity. However, a component of the Ca²⁺ desensitization attributed to PKG activation in intact tissues appeared to involve a MLC phosphorylation-independent component. Inhibition of KCl-induced tonic force by the ROK inhibitor, Y-27632, and by PE pretreatment, were synergistically potentiated by 8b-cGMP, but not FSK. FSK and PE pretreatment, but not 8b-cGMP, inhibited the KCl-induced increase in site-specific myosin phosphatase target protein-1 phosphorylation at Thr⁸⁵³. These data support the hypothesis that PKA and PE pretreatment converge on a common Ca²⁺-desensitization pathway, but that PKG can act by a mechanism different from that activated by PKA and PE pretreatment. vascular smooth muscle; Ca²⁺ sensitization; RhoA kinase; signal transduction     

The cGMP/protein kinase G pathway contributes to dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium response and cytokine production in TH2 lymphocytes

Th2 lymphocytes differ from other CD4+ T lymphocytes not only by their effector tasks but also by their T cell receptor (TCR)-dependent signaling pathways. We previously showed that dihydropyridine receptors (DHPR) involved in TCR-induced calcium inflow were selectively expressed in Th2 cells. In this report, we studied whether cGMP-dependent protein kinase G (PKG) activation was implicated in the regulation of DHPR-dependent calcium response and cytokine production in Th2 lymphocytes. The contribution of cGMP in Th2 signaling was supported by the following results: 1) TCR activation elicited cGMP production, which triggered calcium increase responsible for nuclear factor of activated T cell translocation and Il4 gene expression; 2) guanylate cyclase activation by nitric oxide donors increased intracellular cGMP concentration and induced calcium inflow and IL-4 production; 3) reciprocally, guanylate cyclase inhibition reduced calcium response and Th2 cytokine production associated with TCR activation. In addition, DHPR blockade abolished cGMP-induced [Ca2+]i increase, indicating that TCR-induced DHP-sensitive calcium inflow is dependent on cGMP in Th2 cells. Th2 lymphocytes from PKG1-deficient mice displayed impaired calcium signaling and IL-4 production, as did wild-type Th2 cells treated with PKG inhibitors. Altogether, our data indicate that, in Th2 cells, cGMP is produced upon TCR engagement and activates PKG, which controls DHP-sensitive calcium inflow and Th2 cytokine production.