Jak2 tyrosine kinase mediates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells

In vascular smooth muscle cells, Jak2 tyrosine kinase becomes activated in response to oxidative stress in the form of hydrogen peroxide. Although it has been postulated that hydrogen peroxide-induced Jak2 activation promotes cell survival, this has never been tested. We therefore examined the role that Jak2 plays in vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis following hydrogen peroxide treatment. Here, we report that Jak2 tyrosine kinase activation by hydrogen peroxide is required for apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells. Upon treatment of primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells with hydrogen peroxide, we observed laddering of genomic DNA and nuclear condensation, both hallmarks of apoptotic cells. However, apoptosis was prevented by either the expression of a dominant negative Jak2 protein or by the Jak2 pharmacological inhibitor AG490. Moreover, expression of the proapoptotic Bax protein was induced following hydrogen peroxide treatment. Again, expression of a dominant negative Jak2 protein or treatment of cells with AG490 prevented this Bax induction. Following Bax induction by hydrogen peroxide, mitochondrial membrane integrity was compromised, and caspase-9 became activated. In contrast, in cells expressing a Jak2 dominant negative we observed that mitochondrial membrane integrity was preserved, and no caspase-9 activation occurred. These data demonstrate that the activation of Jak2 tyrosine kinase by hydrogen peroxide is essential for apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, this report identifies Jak2 as a potential therapeutic target in vascular diseases in which vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis contributes to pathological progression.