Yasuharu Sasaki

Ca2+-Dependent Activation of Rho and Rho Kinase in Membrane Depolarization–Induced and Receptor Stimulation–Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Contraction

Abstract— Ca2+ sensitization of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contraction involves Rho-dependent and Rho-kinase–dependent suppression of myosin phosphatase activity. We previously demonstrated that excitatory agonists in fact induce activation of RhoA in VSM. In this study, we demonstrate a novel Ca2+-dependent mechanism for activating RhoA in rabbit aortic VSM. High KCl-induced membrane depolarization as well as noradrenalin stimulation induced similar extents of sustained contraction in rabbit VSM. Both stimuli also induced similar extents of time-dependent, sustained increases in the amount of an active GTP-bound form of RhoA. Consistent with this, the Rho kinase inhibitors HA1077 and Y27632 inhibited both contraction and the 20-kDa myosin light chain phosphorylation induced by KCl as well as noradrenalin, with similar dose-response relations. Either removal of extracellular Ca2+ or the addition of a dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel antagonist totally abolished KCl-induced Rho stimulation and contraction. The calmodulin inhibitor W7 suppressed KCl-induced Rho activation and contraction. Ionomycin mimicked W7-sensitive Rho activation. The expression of dominant-negative N19RhoA suppressed Ca2+-induced Thr695 phosphorylation of the 110-kDa regulatory subunit of myosin phosphatase and phosphorylation of myosin light chain in VSM cells. Finally, either the combination of extracellular Ca2+ removal and depletion of the intracellular Ca2+ store or the addition of W7 greatly reduced noradrenalin-induced and the thromboxane A2 analogue–induced Rho stimulation and contraction. Taken together, these results indicate the existence of the thus-far unrecognized Ca2+-dependent Rho stimulation mechanism in VSM. Excitatory receptor agonists are suggested to use this pathway for simulating Rho.

Calmodulin and cell proliferation

Abstract The calmodulin content of synchronized Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K 1 ) cells was determined at each phase of the cell cycle. The calmodulin content was minimum in the G 1 phase, increased after the cells entered S phase and reached the maximum level at the late G 2 or early M phase. When 30 μM of W-7 (calmodulin antagonist) was added at the S phase, the cell cycle was blocked at the late G 2 or early M phase. The addition of W-7 also prevented the morphological changes caused by cholera toxin. These results suggest that calmodulin plays an important role in the phases through S to M, possibly in the initiation of DNA synthesis and in the mitosis.

Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor interferes with proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells

Staurosporine (10 ng/ml and more), a protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited the serum-stimulated growth of smooth muscle cells. This inhibitory effect proved to be linked to the inhibition of transition from the G0 to the S phase of the cell cycle, as measured by 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into the nuclei. As this inhibitory effect of staurosporine was restricted to the first 10 hours of the stimulation, reactions which are essential for the signal transduction may be associated with actions of protein kinase C. The possibility that staurosporine may inhibit cell growth via inhibition of this step warrants further attention.

Dynamics of myosin light chain phosphorylation at Ser19 and Thr18/Ser19in smooth muscle cells in culture

Using the specific antibodies pLC1 and pLC2 for mono- and diphosphorylated 20-kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) at Ser19 and at both Thr18 and Ser19, respectively, we visualized the dynamics of the MLC20 phosphorylation in rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells (cell line SM-3) stimulated with PGF2alpha. In the resting state, the diphosphorylated form was located in the peripheral region of the cell, such as the leading edge or the adhesion plaque, and the monophosphorylated form was located not only in the peripheral region but also on a discontinuous fibrillary structure along the long axis of the cell. After stimulation with 30 microM PGF2alpha, although localization of the monophosphorylated form changed little, the content of the diphosphorylated form increased and the distribution spread along the fibrillary structure to an extent the same as or similar to that of the monophosphorylated form, which colocalized with actin filament bundles. The diphosphorylation of MLC20 was more sensitive to protein kinase inhibitors, HA-1077, HA-1100, staurosporine, wortmannin, and ML-9, than was the monophosphorylation. In light of these observations, we propose that MLC20 diphosphorylation and monophosphorylation are regulated by different mechanisms.

Stimulus-specific patterns of myosin light chain phosphorylation in smooth muscle of rabbit thoracic artery

When the rabbit thoracic artery was stimulated with submaximal concentrations of agonist [40 mM K+, 30 μM prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) or 7 μM histamine], about 90% of a maximal contraction occurred. Each agonist induced a rapid development of contraction followed by a sustained response. The maximal rate of force generation stimulated with PGF2α was twice that seen with K+ or histamine. Stimulation with 40 mM K+ increased the extent of monophosphorylated 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC-P) for up to 1 min to a maximal value of 38.8±1.0%, there was a subsequent rapid decrease and the MLC-P level remained just above the basal value for 40 min (6.8±3.0%). In the case of stimulation with 7 μM histamine, MLC-P level increased rapidly and was sustained for up to 40 min (28.0±4.9%). In contrast to the stimulation with K+ or histamine, PGF2α induced both mono- and diphosphorylated MLC20 (MLC-P and MLC-P 2 respectively) at a low concentration (3 μM). The monophosphorylation of MLC20 induced by 30 μM PGF2α reached the maximal value of 32.8±5.2%, and was sustained for up to 40 min (15.2±5.4%). The diphosphorylation of MLC20 increased rapidly (7.4±4.0% at 5 min), then decreased to the basal value within 40 min. These results suggest that different modes of stimulation of smooth muscle contraction produce different profiles of MLC20 phosphorylation. The implications of these observations are that the diphosphorylated form, specifically induced by certain agents, may modify the mode of contraction of the aortic artery.

Inhibition by the protein kinase inhibitor HA1077 of the activation of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils

The effect of an inhibitor of protein kinase, HA1077 [1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homopiperazine HCl], and its hydroxylated metabolite, HA1100, on the activation of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils were studied. Cells were preincubated with each drug for 10 min and then activated by treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or formylmethionyl leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP). After activation, the rate of superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c was estimated. HA1077 and HA1100 inhibited the PMA-induced production of O2- by neutrophil NADPH oxidase in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 15 and 24 microM, respectively). The sensitivity of the FMLP-induced production of O2- to these drugs was similar. The production of O2- in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-treated HL-60 cells, which differentiated to macrophage-like cells, was also inhibited by the drugs. The extent of inhibition by HA1077 was almost the same as that by a calmodulin inhibitor (W-7) and by inhibitors of protein kinase (H-7 and H-8). In a cell-free lysate of neutrophils, the NADPH-dependent production of O2- can be induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). HA1077 at 100 microM had only a weak inhibitory effect on the cell-free, SDS-induced production of O2-, an indication that HA1077 inhibits the activation of NADPH oxidase, not the actual activity. The effects of H-7 and H-8 were similar to that of HA1077, whereas W-7 inhibited the production of O2- by the cell-free extract of HL-60 cells. This action of HA1077 could explain, in part, its ability to protect neuronal cells from death after ischemia.

The protein kinase inhibitor fasudil protects against ischemic myocardial injury induced by endothelin-1 in the rabbit.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) induces severe pathologic conditions such as coronary spasm followed by vasospastic angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction. The related pathophysiologic mechanisms have remained obscure. Endothelin-1 receptor (ET(A) and ET(B)) is reported to couple with several types of G protein-involved pathways that participate in phospholipase C activation and atrial myofibrils organization into sarcomeric units. Here we demonstrate that ET-1 induces histologic and pathologic dysfunction in the rabbit myocardium and that such pathologic events are prevented by the Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil. Although the bolus injection of ET-1 (1.4 nmol/kg) via the auricular vein of the rabbit induced only transient T-wave elevation, irreversible, severe histologic changes were observed in papillary muscles of the ventricle, and multifocal myocardial necrosis with infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages in the left ventricle occurred. Oral administration of fasudil (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced the occurrence of myocardial injury determinants, whereas conventional Ca2+ channel blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem) and a K+ channel opener (nicorandil; 10 mg/kg, p.o. each) showed a lesser or no effect on such determinants. These results suggest that ET-1 induces severe myocardial dysfunction based not only on the occurrence of vasospastic ischemia but also on its direct effects on the myocardium.

Linalyl acetate as a major ingredient of lavender essential oil relaxes the rabbit vascular smooth muscle through dephosphorylation of myosin light chain

In a preliminary experiment, we found that lavender essential oil relaxes vascular smooth muscle. Thus, the present experiments were designed to investigate the relaxation mechanism of linalyl acetate as the major ingredient of lavender essential oil in rabbit carotid artery specimens. Linalyl acetate produced sustained and progressive relaxation during the contraction caused by phenylephrine. The relaxation effect of linalyl acetate at a concentration near the EC50 was partially but significantly attenuated by nitroarginine as an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one as an inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase, or by the denudation of endothelial cells. In specimens without endothelium, the phenylephrine-induced contraction and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) were significantly attenuated after the pretreatment with linalyl acetate. The relaxation caused by linalyl acetate in the endothelium-denuded specimens was clearly inhibited by calyculin A as an inhibitor of MLC phosphatase, although not by ML-9 as an inhibitor of MLC kinase. Furthermore, suppression of the phenylephrine-induced contraction and MLC phosphorylation with linalyl acetate was canceled by the pretreatment with calyculin A. These results suggest that linalyl acetate relaxes the vascular smooth muscle through partially activation of nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway, and partially MLC dephosphorylation via activating MLC phosphatase.

HA1077, a protein kinase inhibitor, inhibits calponin phosphorylation on Ser175 in porcine coronary artery

Calponin is a thin filament-associated protein which has been implicated in the modulation of the contractile state of smooth muscle via its interaction with actin and inhibition of the actin-activated myosin Mg-ATPase. This inhibitory effect is alleviated by phosphorylation of calponin at Ser175 in vitro by protein kinase C. The issue of calponin phosphorylation in intact smooth muscle in response to agonists that activate protein kinase C is controversial. We have produced a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes calponin phosphorylated at Ser175 and used it to analyze calponin phosphorylation in porcine coronary arterial smooth muscle stimulated with prostaglandin F2alpha or phorbol 12,13-dibutylate (PDB). Calponin phosphorylation increased rapidly in response to prostaglandin F2alpha concomitant with the increase in tension. Calponin was then dephosphorylated while force was maintained. Tension development in response to PDB was significantly slower, but again calponin phosphorylation paralleled force development. In this case, calponin dephosphorylation was very slow, consistent with prolonged activation of protein kinase C. The protein kinase inhibitors, HA1077 (1-5-(isoquinoline sulfonyl)-homopiperazine HCl) and HA1100 (1-hydroxy HA1077; 1-(hydroxy-5-isoquinoline sulfonyl-homopiperazine), inhibited tension development and calponin phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner with similar ED50 values in response to prostaglandin F2alpha and PDB. These results support physiological roles for calponin in force development in smooth muscle in response to agonists which trigger protein kinase C activation and in the latch state, i.e., force maintenance at low energy cost. Furthermore, the vasodilator effect of HA1077 and HA1100 is more likely due to inhibition of protein kinase C than of myosin light chain kinase.

The role of myosin light chain kinase-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chain in phorbol ester-induced contraction of rabbit aorta.

Abstract We investigated the role of 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) phosphorylation in contractions following protein kinase C (PKC) activation by 12-deoxyphorbol-13-isobutyrate (DPB) in rabbit aortae. DPB induced a sustained contraction and phosphorylation of MLC20 independent of a change in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Phosphorylation on Ser19 of MLC20, which is a target site of MLC kinase (MLCK), was 9.2 ± 5.1% and 22.3 ± 4.9% of the phosphorylation caused by KCl, at 5 and 30 min of application of DPB, respectively. When KCl-precontracted muscles were rinsed with Ca2+-free, EGTA solution, [Ca2+]i rapidly declined, MLC20 was dephosphorylated and the tension decreased. If DPB was present in the Ca2+-free solution, the relaxation and the dephosphorylation of either total MLC20 or Ser19 were inhibited. The phospholipase A2 inhibitor ONO-RS-082 partially antagonized the effects of DPB on the tension and the MLC20 dephosphorylation. In Ca2+-free solution, DPB induced a contraction smaller than that in normal solution without an increase in MLC20 phosphorylation, and the contraction was also sensitive to ONO-RS-082. These results suggest that a part of MLC20 phosphorylation following PKC activation is due to inhibition of MLC20 phosphatase and the phosphorylation is responsible for the contraction. Furthermore, a mechanism independent of [Ca2+]i and phosphorylation may play a significant role in the PKC-dependent contraction. The involvement arachidonic acid is suggested, not only in the inhibition of dephosphorylation but also in the Ca2+-independent regulation of contractile proteins.