Receptor-mediated stimulation and inhibition of nerve growth factor secretion by vascular smooth muscle.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a potent neurotrophin signaling protein, the best-known member of a family of similar neurotrophins. Specific neuronal populations depend upon the neurotrophins for normal function and disturbances in NGF and neurotrophin supply have been implicated in neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, and hypertension. This report details experiments in which the hourly pattern of NGF secretion by cultured vascular smooth muscle cells is examined. Vascular smooth muscle cells are major innervation targets of the neuronal population first discovered to be NGF-dependent: the sympathetic principal neurons. The results show that arginine vasopressin (AVP), angiotensin II (AngII), and alpha-adrenergic receptor activation, all contractile stimuli, elevate NGF secretion. However, AVP dependably does so alone while AngII requires coactivation of adenosine receptors. Adenosine alone inhibits secretion and the alpha-adrenergic increase in NGF output can be antagonized by activation of beta-adrenergic receptors. A change to fresh culture medium is also a potent stimulus to increased NGF output.
Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
J B
JB
Tuttle
R
R
Etheridge
D J
DJ
Creedon
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects
D003470:Culture Media; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000804:Angiotensin II; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010656:Phenylephrine; D002118:Calcium