Vasodilator actions of several N-nitroso compounds

Recent studies have shown that N-nitroso compounds can activate arterial guanylate cyclase and relax isolated arterial smooth muscle; however, the effects of these substances on the cardiovascular system in the anesthetized cat are unknown. The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of several nitrosoguanidines and a nitrosamine, N-nitrosodimethylamine, on arterial guanylate cyclase activity, isolated arterial smooth muscle tone, and systemic vascular resistance in the anesthetized cat. Intravenous injections and infusions of the nitrosoguanidines glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) decreased systemic arterial pressure. During intravenous infusion of the nitrosoguanidines GTN and SNP, cardiac output was unchanged at the peak of the decrease in aortic pressure, indicating that the nitrosoguanidines GTN and SNP both reduced systemic vascular resistance. In addition, intraarterial injections of the nitrosoguanidines produced dose-dependent decreases in perfusion pressure in the feline mesenteric vascular bed perfused at constant flow. These substances were potent relaxants of isolated arterial smooth muscle and markedly activated arterial guanylate cyclase. In contrast, N-nitrosodimethylamine was devoid of vasodilator activity in vivo and exerted only minimal effects on isolated arterial smooth muscle tone or on arterial guanylate cyclase activity. The present data demonstrate a relationship between guanylate cyclase activation and arterial smooth muscle relaxation and suggest that the vasodilator effects on resistance vessels in vivo in response to selected N-nitroso compounds may involve such a mechanism. Although the significance of the presently reported cardiovascular responses to N-nitroso compounds is uncertain, N-nitroso compounds may represent a previously unrecognized class of substances which can be formed in the body and which possess marked vasodilator activity. It is possible that this vasodilator activity may involve the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle through activation of guanylate cyclase.     

Reactivity of the adenylyl cyclase system in rat tissues to biogenic amines and peptide hormones under starvation condition

Under starvation condition, sensitivity of the adenylyl cyclase system to regulatory action of biogenic amines and peptide hormones in rat tissues are changed. In the myocardium and skeletal muscles, after 2 and 4 days of starvation, the regulatory effects of isoproterenol and relaxin acting via G,-proteins on the adenylyl cyclase activity and the G-protein GTP-binding are significantly increased compared with control. At the same time, regulatory effects ofsomatostatin which are realized via Gi-proteins, on adenylyl cyclase system in the myocardium are decreased. Under prolonged starvation consisting of two consecutive 4-days periods, the effects of hormones acting via Gs-proteins on the adenylyl cyclase activity in muscle tissues are decreased to control value levels. The effects of hormones acting via Gi-proteins are largely reduced. In the brain, intensification of adenylyl cyclase stimulating hormonal effects was late and only observed after a 4-day starvation. Unlike muscle tissues, the increase of adenylyl cyclase stimulating effects in the brain is preserved after two-period starvation. The weakening of adenylyl cyclase inhibiting hormonal signals both in the brain and muscles is observed after a 2-day starvation and then the weakening is intensified. Possible role of glucose level and basal adenylyl cyclase activity in determination of the sensitivity of the adenylyl cyclase system to hormones under study is discussed. It is suggested that one of the key causes of physiological changes in animal organism under starvation involves alteration of hormonal signalling systems sensitivity, in particular that of the adenylyl cyclase system, to hormone regulatory action.     

Hormonal stimulation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate formation in cell-free particles and intact cells of smooth muscle in the aorta and femoral artery of rats during immubilization stress]

The ability of adrenaline and histamine to stimulate the formation of cyclic AMP was investigated in broken cell preparation and intact cells of smooth muscle of the aorta and femoral artery of rats which had been subjected to daily intermittent immobilization for 1, 3, and 17 weeks. It was found that this type of stress led to an instability of the blood pressure which was associated with an increase in the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase in the broken cell preparations from the arteries to adrenaline and histamine and with a heightened cyclic AMP response to the two hormones in the intact arterial smooth muscle cells. The sensitivity of cardiac adenylate cyclase for adrenaline remained unchanged.     

Adenosine stimulates guanylate cyclase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells

Good evidence exists to indicate that the vasodilating effect of adenosine is mediated by cell surface receptors on vascular smooth muscle cells. The mechanism of transmembrane signal transduction for adenosine, however, is not fully understood. Since cGMP is a second messenger known to mediate vasodilation, I have examined the effect of adenosine on the intracellular concentration of cGMP in vascular smooth muscle cells from rat aorta. I found that adenosine at 10(-9) to 10(-5) M led to an increase in intracellular cGMP levels in a dose-dependent fashion. The effect of adenosine on cyclic guanosine inorganic monophosphate (cGMP) could be mimicked by the A-type receptor agonists N6-cyclohexyladenosine and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and was attenuated by the A-receptor antagonist theophylline. The order of potency of the adenosine analogues was N6-cyclohexyladenosine greater than 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine greater than adenosine. These findings suggest that the effect of adenosine on cGMPi is mediated by A1-type cell surface receptors. Concerning the mechanism by which adenosine could elevate cGMPi, I found that the effect of adenosine on cGMPi was potentiated by the cGMP phosphodiesterase-specific inhibitor M & B 22948. Moreover, I found that N6-cyclohexyladenosine, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, and adenosine stimulated a guanylate cyclase in homogenates of the cultured smooth muscle cells in a dose-dependent fashion with the same order of potency as their effects on cGMPi. Further evidence was obtained to indicate that adenosine and its analogues stimulated a particulate guanylate cyclase activity, whereas they did not alter soluble guanylate cyclase activity. Since cGMP is known as a second messenger mediating relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells, the results obtained in this study could suggest that adenosine exerts its vasorelaxing effect by activating an Ai-receptor-linked guanylate cyclase.     

Activation of guanylate cyclase and inhibition of platelet aggregation by endothelium-derived relaxing factor released from cultured cells

The aggregation of gel-filtered rabbit platelets by 50 microM ADP was inhibited by a labile factor produced by suspensions of cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Inhibition of aggregation occurred when indomethacin-treated endothelial cells (6.10(5) per ml) and rabbit platelets (3.2.10(8) per ml) were incubated together. This anti-aggregatory activity was characterized as similar to endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in that it was unstable at neutral pH and by its inhibition by hemoglobin. The activity was unaffected by treatment of the platelets and endothelial cells with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, and by the lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW755c. In association with the anti-aggregatory activity, the levels of cyclic GMP were elevated 4-fold. The effect of the EDRF-like product on the levels of cyclic nucleotides was mimicked by treatment of platelets with sodium nitroprusside, an activator of soluble guanylate cyclase; sodium nitroprusside had no measurable effect on the levels of cyclic nucleotides of endothelial cells. We conclude that a factor with the properties of EDRF inhibits platelet aggregation, and that this is associated with an activation of guanylate cyclase as in smooth muscle. Thus, EDRF may exert an inhibitory effect on platelets in a manner analogous to its actions on vascular smooth muscle.     

PI3-kinase/Akt modulates vascular smooth muscle tone via cAMP signaling pathways.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activates protein kinase B (also known as Akt), which phosphorylates and activates a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B. Increases in cyclic nucleotide concentrations inhibit agonist-induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle. Thus we hypothesized that the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway may regulate vascular smooth muscle tone. In unstimulated, intact bovine carotid artery smooth muscle, the basal phosphorylation of Akt was higher than that in cultured smooth muscle cells. The phosphorylation of Akt decreases in a time-dependent manner when incubated with the PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY-294002. Agonist (serotonin)-, phorbol ester (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate; PDBu)-, and depolarization (KCl)-induced contractions of vascular smooth muscles were all inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by LY-294002. However, LY-294002 did not inhibit serotonin- or PDBu-induced increases in myosin light chain phosphorylation or total O(2) consumption, suggesting that inhibition of contraction was not mediated by reversal or inhibition of the pathways that lead to smooth muscle activation and contraction. Treatment of vascular smooth muscle with LY-294002 increased the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and increased the phosphorylation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate heat shock protein 20 (HSP20). These data suggest that activation of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in unstimulated smooth muscle may modulate vascular smooth muscle tone (allow agonist-induced contraction) through inhibition of the cyclic nucleotide/HSP20 pathway and suggest that cyclic nucleotide-dependent inhibition of contraction is dissociated from the myosin light chain contractile regulatory pathways.     

Nitroarginine does not inhibit lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-induced vascular relaxation and accumulation of cyclic GMP.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a potent endothelium-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxant. The possibility that its action is mediated through endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO), although suggestive, has not been proven. Both lysophosphatidylcholine and endothelium-derived nitric oxide relax by activating guanylate cyclase to form cyclic GMP. Based on the finding that EDNO formation is inhibited by NNA (N-omega-nitro-L-arginine), we followed cyclic GMP changes in bovine intrapulmonary arteries with LPC after incubation with NNA. Inhibition of cyclic GMP by LPC following NNA exposure would be suggestive of the production of EDNO by LPC. However, while NNA significantly inhibited accumulation of cyclic GMP after exposure to the calcium ionophore A23187 which releases EDNO, NNA failed to inhibit LPC-induced accumulation of cyclic GMP. The results indicate that LPC relaxes vascular smooth muscle through a non NO-mediated pathway.     

Effects of sodium nitrite on ultraviolet light-induced relaxation and ultraviolet light-dependent activation of guanylate cyclase in bovine mesenteric arteries

It was demonstrated that precontracted strips from different bovine mesenteric arteries showed variation in sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation (366 nm). Some strips relaxed when they were exposed to ultraviolet light, others showed no sensitivity at all and, finally, some showed contraction. However, all arteries relaxed when they were irradiated with UV-light in the presence of 10 microM NaNO2. Ultraviolet radiation (366 nm) increased the activity of guanylate cyclase in crude homogenate from bovine mesenteric arteries by about 20-fold in the presence of NaNO2, while UV-light in the absence of sodium nitrite had no effect on the guanylate cyclase activation. These results support the notion that nitrite may be essential for vascular smooth muscle relaxation by UV-light, possibly through the release of nitric oxide.     

Presence of “Ra” and “P”-site receptors for adenosine coupled to adenylate cyclase in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

The existence of adenosine receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from rat aorta is demonstrated in these studies. Adenosine, N⁶-phenylisopropyladenosine, adenosine N′-oxide and 2-chloroadenosine stimulated adenylate cyclase in a concentration dependent manner. The stimulation was dependent on the presence of guanine nucleotides and was blocked by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. In contrast, 2′ deoxyadenosine inhibited adenylate cyclase activity. Adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine showed a biphasic effect on adenylate cyclase, stimulation occurred at low concentrations. The activation of adenylate cyclase by N⁶-phenylisopropyladenosine was also dependent on the Mg²⁺ concentration. The data suggest that vascular smooth muscle cells have both “Ra” and “P” receptors for adenosine, and it can be postulated that the relaxant effect of adenosine on vascular smooth muscle may be mediated by its interaction with “Ra” receptors associated with adenylate cyclase.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide binding, cross-linking, and stimulation of cyclic GMP accumulation and particulate guanylate cyclase activity in cultured cells

The stimulation of cyclic GMP accumulation and particulate guanylate cyclase activity by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was compared to the affinity and number of ANP receptors in eight cultured cell types. At 100 nM, ANP increased cyclic GMP by 13-fold in bovine adrenal cortical, 35-fold in human lung fibroblast, 58-fold in canine kidney epithelial, 60-fold in bovine aortic smooth muscle, 120-fold in rat mammary epithelial, 260-fold in rat Leydig, 300-fold in bovine kidney epithelial, and 475-fold in bovine aortic endothelial cells. ANP (1 microM) increased particulate guanylate cyclase activity by 1.5-, 2.5-, 3.1-, 3.2-, 5.0-, 7.0-, 7.8-, and 8.0-fold in bovine adrenal cortical, bovine aortic smooth muscle, human lung fibroblast, canine kidney epithelial, rat mammary epithelial, rat Leydig, bovine kidney epithelial, and bovine aortic endothelial cells, respectively. Specific 125I-ANP binding to intact rat Leydig (3,000 sites/cell; Kd = 0.11 nM), bovine aortic endothelial (14,000 sites/cell; Kd = 0.09 nM), bovine adrenal cortical (50,000 sites/cell; Kd = 0.12 nM), human lung fibroblast (80,000 sites/cell; Kd = 0.32 nM), and bovine aortic smooth muscle (310,000 sites/cell; Kd = 0.82 nM) cells was saturable and high affinity. No specific and saturable ANP binding was detected in bovine and canine kidney epithelial and rat mammary epithelial cells. Two ANP-binding sites of 66,000 and 130,000 daltons were specifically labeled by 125I-ANP after cross-linking with disuccinimidyl suberate. The 130,000-dalton ANP-binding sites bound to a GTP-agarose affinity column, and the specific activity of guanylate cyclase was increased by 90-fold in this fraction. Our results demonstrate that the increase in cyclic GMP accumulation and particulate guanylate cyclase activity by ANP does not correlate with the affinity and number of ANP-binding sites. These results suggest that multiple populations of ANP receptors exist in these cells and that only one receptor subtype (130,000 daltons) is associated with particulate guanylate cyclase activity.     

Changes in CD38 expression and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity in rat myometrium during pregnancy: influence of sex steroid hormones

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), synthesized by CD38, regulates intracellular calcium in uterine smooth muscle. CD38 is a transmembrane protein that has both ADP-ribosyl cyclase and cADPR hydrolase enzyme activities involved in cADPR metabolism. CD38 expression and its enzyme activities in uterine smooth muscle are regulated by estrogen. In the present study, we examined CD38 expression, its enzyme activities, and cADPR levels in myometrium obtained from rats at 14-17 days of gestation (preterm) and at parturition (term). CD38 expression, ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity, and cADPR levels were higher in uterine tissues obtained from term rats compared with that of preterm rats, while activity of cADPR hydrolase did not significantly change. In an effort to address whether changes in estrogen: progesterone ratio that occur during pregnancy account for the observed effects on CD38 expression and function, we determined the effect of different doses of progesterone in the presence of estrogen on CD38 expression and its enzyme activities in uterine smooth muscle obtained from ovariectomized rats. In myometrium obtained from ovariectomized rats, estrogen administration caused increased CD38 protein expression and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity. The estrogen-induced increases in CD38 expression and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity were inhibited by simultaneous administration of 10 or 20 mg of progesterone. These results indicate that the estrogen:progesterone ratio determines CD38 expression and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity. These changes in CD38/cADPR pathway may contribute to increased uterine motility and onset of labor.     

Induction of nitric oxide synthase by cytokines in vascular smooth muscle cells.

We investigated the mechanisms by which cytokines lead to a diminished responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle to vasoconstrictors. The attenuation of noradrenaline-induced contraction by 6 to 24 h incubations with the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1, in endothelium-denuded rabbit aorta was associated with an increase in intracellular cyclic GMP level. This increase was abolished by the stereoselective inhibitor of nitric oxide-synthase, NG-nitro-L-arginine and by cycloheximide. Formation of nitric oxide was detected in the cytosol of cytokine-treated native and cultured smooth muscle cells by activation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase, and depended on tetrahydrobiopterin, but not on Ca2(+)-calmodulin. The results indicate that cytokines induce a nitric oxide-synthase of the macrophage-type in vascular smooth muscle.     

Hormone responsiveness of plasma membrane-bound enzymes in normal and regenerating rat liver.

The hormonal responsiveness of plasma membrane-bound enzymes (Na-+-K-+)-ATPase and adenylate cyclase has been investigated in normal and regenerating rat liver. (Na-+-K-+)-ATPase basal activity is not affected by surgery and only slightly affected by partial hepatectomy; its response to epinephrine and cyclic AMP is decreased only 15 h after hepatectomy. Adenylate cyclase activity of plasma membranes from untreated animals is stimulated by parathyroid hormone and thyroxine; partial hepatectomy increased basal activity as well as the stimulation exerted by the aforementioned hormones, when glucagon and epinephrine sensitivity is essentially unaltered.     

Relaxation of bovine coronary artery and activation of coronary arterial guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide, nitroprusside and a carcinogenic nitrosoamine.

The principal objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that nitroprusside relaxes vascular smooth muscle via the reactive intermediate, nitric oxide (NO), and that the biologic action of NO is associated with the activation of guanylate cyclase. Nitroprusside, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and NO elicit concentration-dependent relaxation of precontraced helical strips of bovine coronary artery. Nitroprusside, MNNG and NO also markedly activate soluble guanylate cyclase from bovine coronary arterial smooth muscle and, thereby, stimulate the formation of cyclic GMP. Three heme proteins, hemoglobin, methemoglobin and myoglobin, and the oxidant, methylene blue, abolish the coronary arterial relaxation elicited by NO. Similarly, these heme proteins, methylene blue and another oxidant, ferricyanide, markedly inhibit the activation of coronary arterial guanylate cyclase by NO, nitroprusside and MNNG. The following findings support the view that certain nitroso-containing compounds liberate NO in tissue:heme proteins, which cannot permeate cells, inhibit coronary arterial relaxation elicited by NO, but not by nitroprusside or MNNG; the vital stain, methylene blue, inhibits relaxation by NO, nitroprusside and MNNG; heme proteins and oxidants inhibit guanylate cyclase activation by NO, nitroprusside and MNNG in cell-free mixtures. The findings that inhibitors of NO-induced relaxation of coronary artery also inhibit coronary arterial guanylate cyclase activation suggest that cyclic GMP formation may be associated with coronary arterial smooth muscle relaxation.     

Cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases in airway smooth muscle

Because of the potential importance of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases in the regulation of airway smooth muscle tone, we have examined some of the characteristics of these enzymes in the soluble fraction of canine trachealis homogenates. In the absence of added cAMP, the heat-stable cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) abolished only a half of the 32P incorporation into mixed histones. The remaining activity appeared to be contributed by a cyclic nucleotide-independent enzyme. Phosphotransferase activity was enhanced 5-fold by 5 microM cAMP but only 70% of the cAMP-stimulated activity could be inhibited by PKI. The sensitivity of the cyclic nucleotide-dependent, PKI-resistant enzyme to cAMP, cGMP, and Mg2+ indicated that it was cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Because of the large amount of cyclic nucleotide-independent activity, and the ability of cAMP to activate cGMP-dependent protein kinase, the traditional "-cAMP/+cAMP" ratio did not provide an accurate assessment of the in vivo activation state of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. However, a modified assay was developed which allowed the precise measurement of cAMP-dependent, cGMP-dependent, and cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase activities. Using this new method, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio of 0.239 in untreated trachealis strips was increased to 0.355 and 0.386 by prior exposure of the intact tissue to the smooth muscle relaxants isoproterenol and prostaglandin E2, respectively. The results of this study are consistent with the proposed role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the regulation of smooth muscle contractile function.     

Effect of andrenalectomy on cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate metabolism of rat liver and other tissues

Adrenalectomy increased guanyl cyclase and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities in liver and other rat tissues. Liver guanyl cyclase activities from adrenalectomized rats were increased above those of normal controls according to kinetic analysis, gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, discontinuous sucrose gradient fractionation, sulfhydryl inhibition, and secretin activation. The effects of adrenal insufficiency on hepatic guanyl cyclase and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase were prevented by cortisone acetate administration. Immunoassay of liver and skeletal muscle cyclic GMP after adrenalectomy showed markedly decreased levels in liver, but increased levels in skeletal muscle. In liver and other tissues, basal adenyl cyclase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities were unaffected by adrenalectomy. Hepatic levels of cyclic AMP were also unchanged by adrenalectomy. Hypophysectomy raised guanyl cyclase activity in liver but had no effect on liver cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity. These alterations are discussed in relation to possible glucocorticoid regulation of cyclic GMP metabolism.     

Induction of SM-alpha-actin expression by mechanical strain in adult vascular smooth muscle cells is mediated through activation of JNK and p38 MAP kinase

Mechanical forces have direct effects on the growth and differentiation of vascular smooth muscle. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of cyclic mechanical strain on expression of smooth muscle-alpha-actin (SM-alpha-actin), a marker for the differentiated state of vascular smooth muscle, in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Cells grown on dishes coated with either laminin or pronectin were subjected to mechanical strain and effects on expression of SM-alpha-actin were evaluated using the Flexercell Strain Unit. Application of mechanical strain to cells in full media increased SM-alpha-actin protein expression and promoter activity. This was not associated with any effect on growth. Mechanical strain increased activity of all three members of the MAP kinase family (ERKs, JNKs, and p38 MAP kinase), with similar kinetics. Inhibition of either JNKs or p38 MAP kinase blocked the strain-induced increase in SM-alpha-actin promoter activity, and expression of constitutively active forms of JNK or MKK6, a p38 kinase, increased promoter activity. These studies indicate that in adult VSMC, mechanical strain leads to increased expression of smooth muscle markers, resulting in a more contractile phenotype.     

Adenylate cyclase from guinea pig lung: further characterization and inhibitory effects of substrate analogs and cyclic nucleotides

A potent (K_i = 0.01 mM), competitive inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in particulate fractions of guinea pig lung by 2′O-palmitoyl cyclic AMP has been observed, in striking contrast to the inactivity of cyclic AMP and N⁶,2′O-dibutyryl cyclic AMP at concentrations of up to 1 mm or more. The possibility that 2′O-palmitoyl cyclic AMP or similar compounds might function as endogenous regulators of the hormonal stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity is discussed. Several 6- and 8- substituted purine 3′,5′-cyclic ribotides also inhibit, probably by direct interaction with enzymatic sulfhydryl groups. A study of the inhibition by purine bases, nucleosides, and 5′ nucleotides suggests that most of the substrate (ATP) binding determinants reside in the nucleoside. The particulate enzyme fractions were found to have lower ATPase activity relative to cyclase activity than cyclase preparations from either guinea pig heart or bronchial smooth muscle. Lung cyclase fractions were maximally stimulated by 5–15 mm Mg²⁺ in the presence of 1.2 mm ATP as substrate. The percentage of stimulation of cyclase activity by 0.01 mm isoproterenol is dependent on the Mg²⁺ concentration. Cyclase activity was significantly stimulated not only by the catecholamines (isoproterenol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and fluoride ion, but also by prostaglandins E₁, E₂, and F_2α, histamine, and glucagon.     

Nitric oxide and atherosclerosis.

Endothelial dysfunction has been shown in a wide range of vascular disorders including atherosclerosis and related diseases. Here, we examine and address the complex relationship among nitric oxide (NO)-mediated pathways and atherogenesis. In view of the numerous pathophysiological actions of NO, abnormalities could potentially occur at many sites: (a) impairment of membrane receptors in the arterial wall that interact with agonists or physiological stimuli capable of generating NO; (b) reduced concentrations or impaired utilization of l-arginine; (c) reduction in concentration or activity both of inducible and endothelial NO synthase; (d) impaired release of NO from the atherosclerotic damaged endothelium; (e) impaired NO diffusion from endothelium to vascular smooth muscle cells followed by decreased sensitivity to its vasodilator action; (f) local enhanced degradation of NO by increased generation of free radicals and/or oxidation-sensitive mechanisms; and (g) impaired interaction of NO with guanylate cyclase and consequent limitation of cyclic GMP production. Therefore, one target for new drugs should be the preservation or restoration of NO-mediated signaling pathways in arteries. Such novel therapeutic strategies may include administration of l-arginine/antioxidants and gene-transfer approaches.     

Stress causes decrease in vascular relaxation linked with altered phosphorylation of heat shock proteins

Cyclic nucleotide-dependent vascular relaxation is associated with increases in the phosphorylation of a small heat shock protein (HSP), HSP20. An increase in phosphorylation of another small HSP, HSP27, is associated with impaired cyclic nucleotide-dependent vascular relaxation. Expression of HSPs is altered by exposure to several types of cellular stress in vitro. To determine if behavioral stress in vivo alters vascular expression and phosphorylation of the small HSPs and cyclic nucleotide-dependent vascular relaxation, borderline hypertensive rats were stressed by restraint and exposure to air-jet stress 2 h/day for 10 days or remained in their home cage. Stress impaired relaxation of aorta to forskolin, which activates adenylyl cyclase, and sodium nitroprusside, which activates guanylyl cyclase. This was associated with an increase in the aortic expression and phosphorylation of HSP27, which was localized to the vascular smooth muscle, but a decrease in the amount of phosphorylated (P)-HSP20. To determine if P-HSP27 inhibits phosphorylation of HSP20, P-HSP27 was added to a reaction mixture containing recombinant HSP20 and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. P-HSP27 inhibited phosphorylation of HSP20 in a concentration-dependent manner. These data demonstrate that P-HSP27 can inhibit phosphorylation of HSP20. The increase in P-HSP27 and decrease in P-HSP20 were associated with reduced cyclic nucleotide-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxation in response to behavioral stress in vivo, an effect similar to that observed previously in response to cellular stress in vitro.