title: Farnesyl analogues inhibit vasoconstriction in animal and human arteries.
abstract: Recent studies have suggested that nonsterol, mevalonate-derived metabolites are implicated in the control of vascular tone and blood pressure. Because of the metabolic importance of farnesyl pyrophosphate, a 15-carbon (C15) intermediate of the cholesterol pathway, the vasoactive properties of the farnesyl motif were investigated. Two farnesyl analogues were used: farnesol, the natural dephosphorylated form of farnesyl pyrophosphate, and N-acetyl-S-trans,trans-farnesyl-L-cysteine (AFC), a synthetic mimic of the carboxyl terminus of farnesylated proteins. Both compounds inhibited NE-induced vasoconstriction in rat aortic rings at micromolar concentration. Their action was rapid, dose dependent, and reversible. Shorter (C10) and longer (C20) isoprenols as well as N-acetyl-S-geranyl-L-cysteine (C10) did not inhibit the response to NE. In contrast, N-acetyl-S-geranylgeranyl-L-cysteine (C20), exhibited vasoactive properties similar to AFC. It was further demonstrated that AFC and farnesol inhibited KCl and NaF-induced contractions, suggesting a complex action on Ca2+ channels and G protein-dependent pathways. Finally, the effect of farnesol and AFC on the NE response was reproduced in human resistance arteries. In conclusion, mevalonate-derived farnesyl analogues are potent inhibitors of vasoconstriction. The study suggests that farnesyl cellular availability is an important determinant of vascular tone in animals and humans, and provides a basis for exploring farnesyl metabolism in humans with compromised vascular function as well as for using farnesyl analogues as regulators of arterial tone in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Roullet
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McDougal
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Roullet
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McCarron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005204:Farnesol; D003545:Cysteine; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine