Critical Roles of Rho Kinase and Mek/Erk Pathways for Angiotensin Ii-Induced Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Gene Expression

Abstract

P157 Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plays an integral role not only in the regulation of plasminogen activity and fibrinolytic system but also in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and hypertension. Because angiotensin II (Ang II) is also involved in these processes, we investigated its role in the intracellular signaling cascade leading to PAI-1 gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Ang II increased the PAI-1 mRNA and protein levels through Ang II type 1 receptor. Although PAI-1 mRNA stability was not increased by Ang II, PAI-1 gene promoter activity, which was measured by luciferase assay, was significantly increased by Ang II. This process did not require de novo protein synthesis. BAPTA-AM, genistein and AG1478 completely inhibited the Ang II-induced PAI-1 mRNA upregulation, suggesting that intracellular calcium, tyrosine kinase and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor transactivation were involved in this process. However, inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) by calphostin C, GF109203, or prolonged exposure to PMA failed to abolish the Ang II-induced PAI-1 upregulation, suggesting PKC pathway was not involved. PD98059 suppressed Ang II-induced PAI-1 upregulation, whereas SB203580 did not, suggesting that MEK/ERK1/2 pathway rather than p38 MAP kinase pathway was crucial in this process. Furthermore, adenovirus-mediated expression of dominant negative form of Rho kinase or Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 also completely suppressed PAI-1 induction by Ang II without affecting Ang II-induced ERK1/2 activation. These data suggest that activation of both MEK/ERK1/2 and Rho kinase pathways will be necessary for the upregulation of PAI-1 gene expression and these two pathways may act synergically to promote PAI-1 gene transcription at least at the downstream of ERK1/2 in VSMC. These findings are important biological and therapeutical implications for the evolution of arterial wall thrombus and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by Ang II.