Bidirectional TRP/L Type Ca Channel/RyR/BK Molecular and Functional Signaloplex in Vascular Smooth Muscles.

TRP channels are expressed both in vascular myocytes and endothelial cells, but knowledge of their operational mechanisms in vascular tissue is particularly limited. Here, we show for the first time the biphasic contractile reaction with relaxation followed by a contraction in response to TRPV4 agonist, GSK1016790A, in a rat pulmonary artery preconstricted with phenylephrine. Similar responses were observed both with and without endothelium, and these were abolished by the TRPV4 selective blocker, HC067047, confirming the specific role of TRPV4 in vascular myocytes.

CRISPR-Mediated Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Modeling in Rats Reveals Insight Into Reduced Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Mediterranean Variant.

Epidemiological studies suggest that individuals in the Mediterranean region with a loss-of-function, nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (S188F), in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase () are less susceptible to vascular diseases. However, this association has not yet been experimentally proven. Here, we set out to determine whether the Mediterranean mutation confers protection from vascular diseases and to discover the underlying protective mechanism.

Mechanisms of vascular dysfunction evoked by ionizing radiation and possible targets for its pharmacological correction.

Ionizing radiation (IR) leads to a variety of the cardiovascular diseases, including the arterial hypertension. A number of studies have demonstrated that blood vessels represent important target for IR, and the endothelium is one of the most vulnerable components of the vascular wall. IR causes an inhibition of nitric oxide (NO)-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and generation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species trigger this process.

Dehydroepiandrosterone inhibits I and its window current in voltage-dependent and -independent mechanisms in arterial smooth muscle cells.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an adrenal steroid hormone, which has the highest serum concentration among steroid hormones with DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). DHEA possesses an inhibitory action on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the first pentose-phosphate pathway enzyme that reduces NADP to NADPH. DHEA induced relaxation of high K-induced contraction in rat arterial strips, whereas DHEAS barely induced it.

Involvement of gap junctions between smooth muscle cells in sustained hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction development: a potential role for 15-HETE and 20-HETE.

In response to hypoxia, the pulmonary artery normally constricts to maintain optimal ventilation-perfusion matching in the lung, but chronic hypoxia leads to the development of pulmonary hypertension. The mechanisms of sustained hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the role of gap junctions (GJs) between smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the sustained HPV development and involvement of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites in GJ-mediated signaling.

THE ROLE OF TRPV4 CATION CHANNELS IN THE REGULATION OF PHENYLEPHRINE-INDUCED CONTRACTION OF RAT PULMONARY ARTER.

The aim of our study was to investigate the role of mechanosensitive TRPV4 channels in the regulation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASM) contractile activity induced by the activation of α-adrenoceptors and the possibility of their use as novel pharmacological targets in pulmonary hypertension. TRPV4 selective agonist, GSK1016790A, in the presence of the agonist of α-adrenoceptors phenylephrine (PhE) evoked biphasic contractile reaction with initial relaxation (63,5% ± 7,1) followed by significant vasoconstriction (142% ± 17,9). GSK1016790A evoked similar effects in PASM rings with and without endothelium, indicating that its main site of action was TRPV4 expressed in smooth muscle cells.

Protein kinase C in enhanced vascular tone in diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex syndrome which leads to multiple dysfunctions including vascular disorders. Hyperglycemia is considered to be a key factor responsible for the development of diabetic vascular complications and can mediate their adverse effects through multiple pathways. One of those mechanisms is the activation of protein kinase C (PKC).

PKC-δ isozyme gene silencing restores vascular function in diabetic rat.

Abstract Background: Endothelium and K+ channel functionality in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) regulates vascular function and is exposed to damage in diabetes. The regulatory enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) is known to play a key role in vascular tone regulation in health and disease. In this study, we evaluated the effect of PKC-δ gene silencing using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) on endothelial dysfunction and acquired potassium channelopathy in vascular SMCs in diabetes.

Gap junctions support the sustained phase of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by facilitating calcium sensitization.

Aims: To determine the role of gap junctions (GJs) in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV).

Methods And Results: Studies were performed in rat isolated intrapulmonary arteries (IPAs) mounted on a myograph and in anaesthetized rats. Hypoxia induced a biphasic HPV response in IPAs preconstricted with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α, 3 µM) or 20 mM K⁺.

Evidence for the role of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C in sustained hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and elucidate its possible interactions within HPV mechanism. Inhibition of PC-PLC with D609 (30μM) resulted in partial reduction of the transient phase and almost complete abolition of the sustained phase of HPV in isolated rat intrapulmonary arteries (IPAs). Intravenous injection of D609 (5mg/kg) 30min before the onset of hypoxia prevented the development of acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (AHPH) in rats.

Selective glycolysis blockade in guinea pig pulmonary artery and aorta reverses contractile and electrical responses to acute hypoxia.

The goal of this study was to clarify the mechanisms of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) reversal following selective glycolysis blockade and to assess possible contribution of endothelial electrogenesis to this phenomenon as a trigger mechanism. We compared smooth muscle (SM) contractility and endothelial cell (EC) membrane potential (MP) during acute hypoxia before and after glycolysis blockade. MPs were recorded from the endothelium of guinea pig pulmonary artery (GPPA) and thoracic aorta (GPTA) using the patch-clamp technique.

Protein kinase C-dependent inhibition of BK(Ca) current in rat aorta smooth muscle cells following gamma-irradiation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of non-fatal whole-body gamma-irradiation on outward potassium plasma membrane conductivity in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and to identify underlying mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Rats were exposed to a 6 Gy dose irradiation from a cobalt(60) source. Whole-cell potassium current was measured in freshly isolated rat aorta smooth muscle cells using standard patch-clamp technique.

Rho kinase and protein kinase C involvement in vascular smooth muscle myofilament calcium sensitization in arteries from diabetic rats.

Background And Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes multiple dysfunctions including circulatory disorders such as cardiomyopathy, angiopathy, atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. Rho kinase (ROCK) and protein kinase C (PKC) regulate vascular smooth muscle (VSM) Ca(2+) sensitivity, thus enhancing VSM contraction, and up-regulation of both enzymes in DM is well known. We postulated that in DM, Ca(2+) sensitization occurs in diabetic arteries due to increased ROCK and/or PKC activity.

[Effect of ionising irradiation on outward potassium current in the aorta smooth muscle cells in rats: the role of protein kinase C].

It is known that gamma-irradiation leads to vascular hyperfunction and hypertension development. In this study we tested the hypothesis that ionizing irradiation directly affects vascular smooth muscle cells due to damage in outward K+ channel function. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of whole-body ionizing irradiation (6 Gy dose) on Ca(2+) dependent K+ channels and to clarify a possible involvement of protein kinase C in this process.

[Modern conception of protein kinase C role in the vascular smooth muscles tone regulation].

Protein kinase C is an important regulatory enzyme that plays significant role in the vascular tone regulation. Protein kinase C is involved in the vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) contractility at physiological conditions and its hyperreactivity at different types of pathology. Myogenic and endothelium-dependent pathways of protein kinase C-mediated vascular tone regulation include a variety of cellular mechanisms.

Ionizing radiation alters myofilament calcium sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle: potential role of protein kinase C.

Radiation exposure increases vascular responsiveness, and this change involves endothelial damage, as well as direct effects on vascular smooth muscle. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle is increased from single whole body gamma irradiation (6 Gy). We measured contractile responses from intact and permeabilized rat thoracic aortic rings combined with cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) measurements.

[Effect of inhibition of glycolysis and myoendothelial electrical coupling on contractile responses of pulmonary artery and aorta during hypoxia in rats].

The effects of blockade of glycolysis on the contractile activity of isolated vascular rings of both the pulmonary artery and, the thoracic aorta were studied under hypoxia in intact, denuded vessels and those with blocked myoendothelial electrical coupling. The blockade of glycolysis led to a reversion of a hypoxic contraction in the pulmonary artery but had no effect on hypoxic dilatation of the aorta. Hypoxic constriction of the pulmonary artery was abolished after denudation and stayed unchanged at the following blockade of glycolysis.

[Current concepts on the mechanisms of hypoxic effects on vascular tonus].

It is well known that hypoxia causes smooth muscle relaxation of the majority of mammalian systemic blood vessels, whereas smooth muscles in the pulmonary and large coronary arteries constrict under hypoxia. The review describes a modern concept of the mechanisms involved in the hypoxic vasoconstriction and vasodilatation. Cationic channels of a plasma membrane, the contractile apparatus, and mitochondria are the main oxygen sensors in the vascular smooth muscle cells.