Isolated Rat Pulmonary Artery Research Articles

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary artery tissue cytokine expression are mediated by protein kinase C

Background. Pulmonary arteries exhibit a marked vasoconstriction when exposed to hypoxic conditions. Although this may be an adaptive response to match lung ventilation with perfusion, the potential consequences of sustained pulmonary vasoconstriction include pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. The concomitant production of proinflammatory mediators by the pulmonary artery itself may exacerbate acute increases in pulmonary vascular resistance. We hypothesized that acute hypoxia causes pulmonary arterial contraction and increases the pulmonary artery tissue expression of proinflammatory cytokines via a protein kinase C (PKC) mediated mechanism. Methods. Isometric force displacement was measured in isolated rat pulmonary artery rings during hypoxia (95% N 2/5% CO 2, pO 2 = 30–35 mmHg) in the presence and absence of the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine (1 μmol/L). Following 60 min of hypoxia, pulmonary artery rings were subjected to mRNA analysis for TNF-μ, IL-1β, and iNOS via RT-PCR. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Bonferonni test or unpaired t tests with alpha level less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results. Hypoxia caused a biphasic contraction: an early and delayed contraction which occurred 1–3 and 15–20 min, respectively, after the onset of hypoxia. Hypoxic pulmonary artery tissue had increased expression of TNF-μ, IL-1β, and iNOS mRNA compared to normoxic controls. PKC inhibition significantly ( P < 0.001) attenuated delayed hypoxic contraction (61.55 ± 3.91% versus 94.07 ± 5.94% in hypoxia alone) and prevented hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery tissue expression of TNF-μ, IL-1β, and iNOS mRNA. Conclusions. These findings demonstrate that hypoxia results in pulmonary artery contraction and promotes the expression of inflammatory mediators. Both processes are mediated by PKC. We conclude that there may be a therapeutic role for PKC inhibition in the treatment of acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary artery tissue cytokine expression are mediated by protein kinase C.

Pulmonary arteries exhibit a marked vasoconstriction when exposed to hypoxic conditions. Although this may be an adaptive response to match lung ventilation with perfusion, the potential consequences of sustained pulmonary vasoconstriction include pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Concomitant production of proinflammatory mediators during hypoxia may exacerbate acute increases in pulmonary vascular resistance. We hypothesized that acute hypoxia causes pulmonary arterial contraction and increases the pulmonary artery tissue expression of proinflammatory cytokines via a protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated mechanism. To study this, isometric force displacement was measured in isolated rat pulmonary artery rings during hypoxia in the presence and absence of the PKC inhibitors calphostin C or chelerythrine. In separate experiments, pulmonary artery rings were treated with the PKC activator thymeleatoxin for 60 min. After hypoxia, with or without PKC inhibition, or PKC activation alone, pulmonary artery rings were subjected to mRNA analysis for TNF-alpha and IL-1beta via RT-PCR. Our results showed that, in isolated pulmonary arteries, hypoxia caused a biphasic contraction and increased expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA. Both effects were inhibited by PKC inhibition. PKC activation resulted in pulmonary artery contraction and increased the pulmonary artery expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA. These findings suggest that hypoxia induces the expression of inflammatory cytokines and causes vasoconstriction via a PKC-dependent mechanism. We conclude that PKC may have a central role in modulating hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and further elucidation of its involvement may lead to therapeutic application.

The relaxant effect of urocortin in rat pulmonary arteries

Urocortin is a potent vasodilator, which plays physiological or pathophysiological roles in systemic circulation. However, little is known about its action on pulmonary circulation. The present study was aimed to characterize some cellular mechanisms underlying the relaxant effect of urocortin in isolated rat pulmonary arteries. Changes in isometric tension were measured on small vessel myographs. Urocortin inhibited U46619-induced contraction with reduction of the maximal response. Urocortin-induced relaxation was independent of the presence of endothelium. Inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO)-dependent dilator, N G-nitro- l-arginine methyl ester or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadizolo[4,3- a]quinoxalin-1-one, did not affect the relaxation. Astressin (100–500 nM), a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist and KT5720, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor reduced urocortin-induced relaxation. Urocortin produced less relaxant effect in 30 mM K +- than U46619-contracted arterial rings. Urocortin did not reduce CaCl 2-induced contraction in 60 mM K +-containing solution. Ba 2+ (100–500 μM) but not other K + channel blockers reduced the relaxant responses to urocortin. Urocortin also relaxed the rings preconstricted by phorbol 12,13-diacetae in normal Krebs solution while this relaxation was less in a Ca 2+-free solution. Our results show that urocortin relaxed rat pulmonary arteries via CRF receptor-mediated and PKA-dependent but endothelium/NO or voltage-gated Ca 2+ channel-independent mechanisms. Stimulation of Ba 2+-sensitive K + channel may contribute to urocortin-induced relaxation. Finally, urocortin relaxed pulmonary arteries partly via inhibition of a PKC-dependent contractile mechanism.

Effect of changes in pH on wall tension in isolated rat pulmonary artery: role of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway

Pulmonary arteries (PA) are resistant to the vasodilator effects of extracellular acidosis in systemic vessels; the mechanism underlying this difference between systemic and pulmonary circulations has not been elucidated. We hypothesized that RhoA/Rho-kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization pathway played a greater role in tension development in pulmonary than in systemic vascular smooth muscle and that this pathway was insensitive to acidosis. In arterial rings contracted with the alpha1-agonist phenylephrine (PE), the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (< or =3 microM) induced greater relaxation in precontracted PA rings than in aortic rings. In PA rings stimulated by PE, the activation of RhoA was greater than in aorta. Normocapnic acidosis (NA) induced a smaller relaxation in precontracted PA than in aorta. However, in the presence of nifedipine and thapsigargin, when PE-induced contraction was predominantly mediated by Rho-kinase, the relaxant effect of NA was reduced and similar in both vessel types. Furthermore, in the presence of Y-27632, NA induced a greater relaxation in both PA and aorta, which was similar in both vessels. Finally, in alpha-toxin-permeabilized smooth muscle, PE-induced contraction at constant Ca2+ activity was inhibited by Y-27632 and unaffected by acidosis. These results indicate that Ca2+ sensitization induced by the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway played a greater role in agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contraction in PA than in aorta and that tension mediated by this pathway was insensitive to acidosis. The predominant role of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the pulmonary vasculature may account for the resistance of this circulation to the vasodilator effect of acidosis observed in the systemic circulation.

Smooth muscle F-actin disassembly and RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling during endotoxin-induced alterations in pulmonary arterial compliance.

Endotoxemia is associated with changed pulmonary vascular function with respect to vasoreactivity, endothelial permeability, and activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase II (NOSII). However, whether altered passive arterial wall mechanics contribute to this endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular dysfunction is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether endotoxin affects the passive arterial mechanics and compliance of isolated rat pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary arteries of pentobarbital-anesthetized Wistar rats (n = 55) were isolated and exposed to Escherichia coli endotoxin (50 microg/ml) for 20 h. Endotoxin increased pulmonary artery diameter and compliance (transmural pressure = 13 mmHg) in an endothelium-, Ca2+-, or NOSII-induced NO release-independent manner. Interestingly, the endotoxin-induced alterations in the passive arterial mechanics were accompanied by disassembly of the smooth muscle cell (SMC) F-actin cytoskeleton. Disassembly of F-actin by incubation of control arteries with the cytoskeleton-disrupting agent cytochalasin B or the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 induced a similar increase in passive arterial diameter and compliance. In contrast, RhoA activation by lysophosphatidic acid prevented the endotoxin-induced alterations in the pulmonary SMC F-actin cytoskeleton and passive mechanics. In conclusion, these findings indicate that disassembly of the SMC F-actin cytoskeleton and RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling act as mediators of endotoxin-induced changes in the pulmonary arterial mechanics. They imply the involvement of F-actin rearrangement and RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling in endotoxemia-induced vascular lung injury.

Pulmonary vasodilation in the rat by insulin in vitro could indicate potential hazard for inhaled insulin.

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is an essential mechanism to prevent hypoxaemia in lung diseases. Insulin is known to be a systemic vasodilator but its effect on the pulmonary circulation is not known. Inhaled particulate insulin can generate locally high concentrations in the lung which could be physiologically important. We therefore studied the effects of insulin in vitro on isolated rat pulmonary artery in a small vessel myograph. We have shown that pulmonary artery vasodilatation with insulin occurs in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-constriction with PGF2alpha can be abolished (105.7+/-2.9%, mean+/-SEM) and pre-constriction with hypoxia reduced (68.9+/-6.5%) by pharmacologically relevant concentrations of insulin. The characteristic phasic vasoconstriction by pulmonary vessel to hypoxia is substantially modified, resulting in sustained vasodilatation. These effects could be clinically important for patients using inhaled insulins who have acute or occult chronic lung disease.

Evidence for the role of p38 MAP kinase in hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases regulate smooth muscle cell contraction. Hypoxia contracts pulmonary arteries by mechanisms that are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that hypoxic contraction of pulmonary arteries involves activation of the MAP kinases. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of SB-202190, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, PD-98059 and UO-126, two structurally different MEKK inhibitors, and anisomycin, a stimulator of p38 MAP kinase on acute hypoxia-induced contraction in rat conduit pulmonary artery rings precontracted with phenylephrine or KCl. Hypoxia induced a transient contraction, followed by a relaxation, and then a slowly developing sustained contraction. Hypoxia also significantly increased phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. SB-202190 did not affect the transient phase but abrogated the sustained phase of hypoxic contraction, whereas anisomycin enhanced both phases of contraction. SB-202190 also attenuated and anisomycin enhanced the phenylephrine-induced contraction. In contrast, PD-98059 and UO-126 had minimal effects on either hypoxic or phenylephrine-induced contraction. None of the treatments modified KCl-induced contraction. We conclude that p38, but not the ERK1/ERK2 MAP kinase pathway, mediates the sustained phase of hypoxic contraction in isolated rat pulmonary arteries.

Role of tyrosine phosphatase in the modulation of pulmonary vascular tone.

In the vascular system, synthesis of the potent vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) is tightly regulated by the constitutively expressed endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Activity of eNOS is controlled by Ca2+/calmodulin and various seryl/threonyl protein kinases. Less is known about the importance of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of tyrosyl residues. Therefore the role of tyrosine phosphatase on the modulation of isolated rat pulmonary artery tone has been assessed. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphatase by sodium orthovanadate (SOV, 1x10(-6) M) significantly: 1) increased phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction and 2) decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine, but had no effect on endothelium-independent relaxation to the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside. In phenylephrine-precontracted pulmonary arterial rings, SOV (1x10(-7)-1x10(-5) M) had no effect on vascular tone but significantly relaxed rings which were pretreated with the NO-synthase inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME). SOV-induced relaxation in the presence of L-NAME was, however, abolished by glibenclamide. In conclusion, inhibition of tyrosine phosphatase altered pulmonary vascular tone by increasing vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine and decreasing endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine. Furthermore, the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium orthovanadate, exhibited original vasodilator properties which were only observed when nitric oxide synthesis was inhibited. Thus a new pathway involving the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on a glibenclamide-sensitive diffusible relaxing factor, that might play an important role in the control of pulmonary vascular tone is described.

Cyclic ADP-ribose is the primary trigger for hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the rat lung in situ.

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is unique to pulmonary arteries, and it aids ventilation/perfusion matching. However, in diseases such as emphysema, HPV can promote hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. We recently showed that hypoxia constricts pulmonary arteries in part by increasing cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) accumulation in the smooth muscle and, thereby, Ca(2+) release by ryanodine receptors. We now report on the role of cADPR in HPV in isolated rat pulmonary arteries and in the rat lung in situ. In isolated pulmonary arteries, the membrane-permeant cADPR antagonist, 8-bromo-cADPR, blocked sustained HPV by blocking Ca(2+) release from smooth muscle ryanodine-sensitive stores in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Most importantly, we showed that 8-bromo-cADPR blocks HPV induced by alveolar hypoxia in the ventilated rat lung in situ. Inhibition of HPV was achieved without affecting (1) constriction by membrane depolarization and voltage-gated Ca(2+) influx, (2) the release (by hypoxia) of an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor, or (3) endothelium-dependent vasoconstriction. Our findings suggest that HPV is both triggered and maintained by cADPR in the rat lung in situ.

Adenovirus-mediated atrial natriuretic protein expression in the lung protects rats from hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Endogenous as well as exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) attenuates the development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (CHPH) in rats. We built a recombinant adenovirus type 5 containing ANP cDNA under the control of the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (Ad.ANP). The efficiency of this vector in delivering the ANP gene was first examined in rat primary cultures of pulmonary vessel smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in comparison with Ad.beta GAL. Conditioned medium collected from Ad.ANP-infected cells (1000 TCID(50)/cell) contained 5 x 10(9) M immunoreactive ANP and elicited relaxation of isolated rat pulmonary arteries preconstricted with phenylepinephrine. To examine the effects of adenovirus-mediated ANP expression in the CHPH rat lung, Ad.ANP or Ad.beta GAL was administered via the tracheal route. Immunoreactive ANP was detected in bronchoalveolar fluid as early as 4 days and until 10-17 days after Ad.ANP administration (5 x 10(8) TCID(50)). Lung ANP immunostaining was mainly localized in bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells. As compared with Ad.beta GAL-treated controls, rats given Ad.ANP (5 x 10(8) TCID(50)) on the day before a 2-week exposure to hypoxia (10% O(2)) had lower values for pulmonary artery pressure (32.1 +/- 1.93 vs. 35.5 +/- 2 mmHg, p < 0.01) and Fulton's index (0.52 +/- 0.089 vs. 0.67 +/- 0.12, p < 0.001) and less severe right ventricular hypertrophy and distal vessel muscularization. These results suggest that induction of ANP expression in the lung may hold promise in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

Hypercapnia-induced contraction in isolated pulmonary arteries is endothelium-dependent

It has been demonstrated previously that isohydric hypercapnia (IH) does not affect agonist-induced tension development in pulmonary arteries. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of IH on depolarisation-induced, steady state tension in the isolated rat pulmonary artery. Rings were submaximally contracted with high KCl under control conditions (5% CO 2–95% air). IH was achieved by switching to a modified PSS (isosmotic substitution of NaHCO 3 for NaCl), equilibrated with 10% CO 2 in air. On switching to IH, a significant increase in mean (±SEM) tension (25.3±6.3% Tmax) was observed in endothelium intact rings ( n=6). Endothelial removal significantly reduced this response. Non-specific inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoenzymes ( l-NAME, 10 −3 M) abolished the IH-induced increase in tension while inhibition of neuronal NOS (TRIM, 10 −5 M) was without effect. The relaxant response to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside was similar in IH and control conditions. These results suggest that IH caused an endothelium-dependent increase in depolarisation-induced tension by reducing NO production.

Endothelin, but not angiotensin II, contributes to the hypoxic contractile response of large isolated pulmonary arteries in the rat.

The aims of this study were to investigate whether angiotensin II and/or endothelin could contribute to the hypoxic contractile response of isolated rat pulmonary artery. Experiments were performed for 1 h on noradrenaline precontracted arterial rings in hypoxic conditions (95% N2 and 5% CO2). Nicardipine, lisinopril, losartan, phosphoramidon, FR139317 and bosentan were used to block Ca2+ channels, angiotensin I-converting enzyme, AT1 receptors, endothelin-converting enzyme, ETA receptors, and ETA/ETB receptors, respectively. The profile of the hypoxic contractile response was biphasic, displaying, after a short relaxation, a weak and transient contraction (from 2-4 min) and then, before complete relaxation, a slowly developed but sustained contraction (from 14-60 min). Endothelium removal abolished the transient contraction and reduced (-59%) the sustained contraction. Nicardipine did not modify the transient contraction, but concentration-dependently decreased (from -35% to -100%) the sustained contraction (P = 0.024). Lisinopril and losartan did not affect the response (P = 0.418 and P = 0.973, respectively). Bosentan did not modify the transient contraction, but concentration-dependently decreased (from -14% to -71%) the sustained contraction (P = 0.016), whereas phosphoramidon and FR139317 did not affect the response (P = 0.830 and P = 0.806, respectively). In rat, (i) both phases of the hypoxic contractile response are endothelium-dependent and independent of angiotensin II; (ii) the transient contraction does not depend on endothelin; (iii) the sustained contraction, which involves calcium influx, appears partly dependent on mature endothelin released from storage granules by stimulating ETB receptors.

Role of wall tension in hypoxic responses of isolated rat pulmonary arteries

The changes in force developed during 40-min exposures to hypoxia (37 +/- 1 mmHg) were recorded in large (0.84 +/- 0.02-mm-diameter) and small (0.39 +/- 0.01-mm-diameter) intrapulmonary arteries during combinations of mechanical wall stretch tensions (passive + active myogenic components), equivalent to transmural vascular pressures of 5, 15, 30, 50, and 100 mmHg, and active (vasoconstriction) tensions, stimulated by PGF2alpha in doses of 0, 25, 50, and 75% effective concentrations. Constriction was observed in all arteries during the first minute; however, at any active tension, the pattern of the subsequent response was a function of the stretch tension. At 5, 15, and 30 mmHg, the constriction decreased slightly at 5 min and then increased again to remain constrictor throughout. At 50 and 100 mmHg, the initial constriction was followed by persistent dilation. Hypoxic constrictor responses, most resembling those observed in lungs in vivo and in vitro, were observed when the mechanical stretch wall tension was equivalent to 15 or 30 mmHg and the dose of PGF2alpha was 25 or 50% effective concentration. These observations reconcile many apparently contradictory results reported previously.

Endotoxin differentially impairs receptor-mediated relaxation in rat isolated pulmonary and thoracic aortic vessels.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of endotoxin on vasorelaxation in the pulmonary and systemic circulations in response to the following agonists that require generation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate: (1) beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation with isoproterenol; (2) H2 receptor stimulation with dimaprit; and (3) adenylate cyclase stimulation with forskolin. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 350 g were injected with endotoxin (20 mg/kg intraperitoneal) or saline. Six hours later, the cumulative dose response to beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation (isoproterenol), H2 receptor stimulation (dimaprit), and adenylate cyclase stimulation (forskolin) was determined in isolated rat pulmonary artery and thoracic aortic rings preconstricted with phenylephrine. Endotoxin caused significant impairment of relaxation to isoproterenol in the pulmonary artery, but the response in the aorta was not different from the control response. In the pulmonary circulation, endotoxin converted the response to dimaprit from vasorelaxation to vasoconstriction. On the other hand, dimaprit resulted in vasorelaxation in the thoracic aorta after endotoxin; however, the response was impaired compared with the control response. Endotoxin did not affect the dose response to forskolin in either the pulmonary artery or the thoracic aorta. From these data, we conclude that endotoxin causes regional specific changes in vascular reactivity. These changes in vascular reactivity result in preserved vasorelaxation in the systemic circulation and impairment of vasorelaxation in the pulmonary circulation in response to endotoxin.

The ETAAntagonist CI-1020 Inhibits Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction in Small Isolated Rat Pulmonary Arteries

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) of rat pulmonary arteries in vitro occurs in four phases. Initial vasodilation (phase 1), is followed by transient contraction (phase 2), further vasodilation (phase 3) and finally a second sustained contraction (phase 4). We have investigated the role of ET-1 in HPV using the ETAreceptor antagonist CI-1020. Small rat pulmonary arteries (SPA, n=32, diameter=454±22 μM) were mounted in a wire myograph. Two contractions to 80 μMKCl ensured response reproducibility and relaxation to 10 μM acetyl choline following constriction with 100 μMprostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) to indicate endothelial integrity. A control hypoxic response was produced following priming with 5 μMPGF2α. Vessels (n=8) were then exposed to either vehicle or CI-1020 (1, 10 or 100 μM) for 30 min in the dark before re-exposure to PGF2αand hypoxia. Responses were standardized as a percentage of contraction to 80 mM KCl. Vehicle caused an increase in phase 2 of HPV of +2.51±4.20% (expressed as difference between pre- and post-drug values). CI-1020 (1, 10 and 100 μM) caused a significant reduction in phase 2 of HPV of −9.76±1.40%, −9.23±2.30% and −7.96±1.70%, respectively (P<0.05). These results suggest that phase 2 of HPV in rat SPA is attributed, in part, to the action of ET-1 at the ETAreceptor.

Inhibition of Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction in Isolated Rat Pulmonary Arteries by Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI)

The NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), is known to selectively inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in isolated rat and rabbit lungs. We have investigated whether DPI has similar effects in rat pulmonary arteries in vitro. Vessels (n=38, internal diameters 327±41 μm) were mounted in an automated myograph and preconstricted with prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α, 5 μm) before an acute hypoxic challenge. The effects of DPI (10 μm), or the vehicle DMSO, were studied on the first contractile phase of HPV. DPI (10 μm) was found to significantly inhibit HPV; 1.83±0.42 mN/mm (pre-DPI) compared to 0.11±0.22 mN/mm (post-DPI,P<0.01). However, the vehicle DMSO (0.2%) also resulted in a reduction of HPV, although this was significantly different from inhibition via DPI (P<0.05), implying a DPI-sensitive component. The effects of DPI (0.1–300 μm) were also studied on the second contractile phase of HPV. DPI (300 μm) caused a significant reversal of 45% (0.50–0.27 mN/mm) compared to 9% reversal (0.38–0.35 mN/mm) seen with DMSO (P<0.0001). The fact that an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, the enzyme responsible for producing reactive oxygen species from oxygen, attenuated the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia, may indicate that this, or a similar, enzyme is involved in oxygen sensing.

Roles of K+ and Cl-Channels in Camp-Induced Pulmonary Vasodilation

Increase in intracellular adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is a common pathway for many clinically used drugs to cause pulmonary artery (PA) relaxation. Activity of sarcolemmal K+ and Cl--channels is an important determinant of membrane potential (Em), which, in turn, plays a critical role in regulating pulmonary vascular tone. Whether K+ and Cl-channels were involved in cAMP-induced PA relaxation was tested using isolated rat PA rings. Raising extracellular K+ concentration from 20 to 142.7 mM increased the K+-evoked contraction, but significantly decreased the relaxation induced by the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin (FSK, 2.5 μM), suggesting that FSK-induced PA relaxation depended on transmembrane K+ gradient. Indeed, the FSK-induced relaxation was inhibited by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 10 mM), a voltage-gated K+ (KV) channel blacker. Neither the Ca2+-activated K+ channel blacker, charybdotoxin, nor the ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker, glibenclamide, had this effect. Furthermore, reducing extracellular Cl-concentration from 142. 7 to 50 mM significantly decreased the FSK-induced relaxation in PA rings precontracted with 142. 7 mM K+ (EK ± 0 mV), but negligibly affected the evoked contraction. This indicates that transmembrane Cl-gradient also regulates FSK-induced PA relaxation. Indeed, the Cl-channel blocker, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB, 10 μM), significantly inhibited the FSK-induced relaxation, in PA rings preconstricted by 142.7 mM K+. In summary, the data suggest that the cAMP-induced PA relaxation is attributable, at least partly, to both activation of the 4-AP-sensitive KV channels and stimulation of the NPPB-sensitive Cl-channels.

KATP channels contribute to beta- and adenosine receptor-mediated pulmonary vasorelaxation.

ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels have been implicated in the regulation of vasomotor tone in aortic, mesenteric, and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle. Several investigators have described an association between KATP channels and isoproterenol (Iso)-stimulated relaxation responses. To study the relationship between receptor-dependent pulmonary vasorelaxation and KATP channels, we examined the response to agonists that generate adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate at two distinct levels of the signal transduction pathway after inhibition or activation of KATP channels in isolated rat pulmonary artery rings. Cumulative concentration responses to beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation (Iso), purinergic receptor stimulation [adenosine (Ado)], and direct stimulation of adenylate cyclase [forskolin (FSK)] were studied with and without concurrent inhibition of KATP channels (glibenclamide or tolbutamide). In addition, the effect of direct KATP channel activation (cromakalim) on the response to beta-adrenergic and purinergic receptor stimulation was determined. Last, we investigated the influence of KATP channel inhibition on endothelium-dependent and -independent mechanisms of pulmonary vasorelaxation linked to guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production. KATP channel inhibition impaired the response to Iso and Ado. Activation of KATP channels caused a leftward shift in the dose responses of Iso and Ado, with a significant decrease in the 50% effective concentration for each agent. KATP channel inhibition did not impair the pulmonary arterial vasorelaxation response to FSK, acetylcholine, or sodium nitroprusside. KATP channels appear to contribute to beta-adrenergic and purinergic receptor-stimulated vasorelaxation in rat pulmonary arteries.

Activation of tyrosine kinases in H2O2-induced contraction in pulmonary artery.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important reactive oxygen species implicated in lung vascular constriction and injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of tyrosine kinases in H2O2-induced vascular contraction and dysfunction. In our study, H2O2 (200 microM) caused an initial transient contraction followed by a strong, sustained contraction in isolated rat pulmonary arteries. Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, attenuated both the initial and the sustained contractions. Aminogenistein and tyrphostin 51, specific inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, had the same effects as genistein. Exposure of pulmonary arteries to H2O2 for 1 h caused a significant reduction in the contractile response to KCl or phenylephrine and in the vasodilatory response to acetylcholine (smooth muscle dysfunction). Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors significantly blocked contractions induced by H2O2, pretreatment of pulmonary arteries with these inhibitors before H2O2 exposure did not prevent the decreases in responses to KCl, phenylephrine, or acetylcholine. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ and depletion of intracellular Ca2+ pools by ryanodine or thapsigargin did not inhibit the initial and sustained contractions in response to H2O2. W-7, a calmodulin antagonist, or ML-9, a myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, significantly inhibited the sustained contractions but did not prevent smooth muscle dysfunction induced by H2O2. These data show that 1) exposure to H2O2 causes smooth muscle contractions and dysfunction in isolated pulmonary arteries and 2) activation of tyrosine kinases mediates H2O2-induced contractions; however, tyrosine kinases do not appear to be involved in H2O2-induced inhibition of arterial responses to vasoactive substances. These data suggest that different signaling pathways and mechanisms are involved in H2O2-induced smooth muscle contraction and dysfunction.

The Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Hypoxia, Prostaglandin F2αand Potassium Chloride Induced Contractions in Isolated Rat Pulmonary Arteries

We have investigated the action of the product of the enzyme NADPH oxidase; hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), on the first phase of the hypoxic contraction, prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α)-induced contractions and potassium chloride (KCl)-induced contractions, in isolated rat pulmonary arteries in a wire myograph. Both concentrations of H2O2(0.03 and 0.5mM) produced initial contractions, and the higher concentration of H2O2produced a significant inhibition of both the priming concentration of PGF2α(5μM) and the hypoxic contraction (P<0.01 for both contractions). These effects were shown to be reversible, with contractions of a similar size to control values being seen to both PGF2α(5μM) and hypoxia following washout of H2O2(P>0.1 for both contractions). H2O2(0.03mM) was shown to have no significant effect upon either contraction (P>0.1 for both contractions). H2O2(0.5 mM) was also shown to have a significant inhibitory effect upon the efficacy (Emax) of the PGF2αand KCl concentration-response curves (P<0.01 for both contractions). This inhibition was again shown to be reversible. The higher concentration of H2O2(0.5mM) is clearly shown to be having a dual action, producing an initial contraction followed by inhibition of contractions to both PGF2αand KCl. The mechanism by which H2O2produces vasoconstriction is unclear, but it is suggested that H2O2may inhibit the release of Ca2+ions from intracellular stores as this is a common link between the modes of action of these two contractile agents. In addition to this, as an elevation in intracellular Ca2+from intracellular stores appears to be a prerequisite for hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), then this apparent mode of action of H2O2could play an important role in the regulation of HPV and suggests a possible role for NADPH oxidase or a similar oxidoreductase as an oxygen sensor.