title: Troglitazone inhibits angiotensin II-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 nuclear translocation and activation in vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: The thiazolidinedione troglitazone inhibits angiotensin II-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 by angiotensin II is a multistep process involving both its phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase in the cytoplasm and a subsequent translocation to the nucleus. The cytoplasmic activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in vascular smooth muscle cells proceeds through the protein kinase Czeta --> mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase --> extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Troglitazone did not affect the angiotensin II-induced activation of protein kinase Czeta or its downstream signaling kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in the cytosol. In contrast, angiotensin II-induced activation of protein kinase Czeta and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in the nucleus were both inhibited by troglitazone. Nuclear translocation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 induced by angiotensin II was completely blocked by troglitazone. Protein kinase Czeta, however, did not translocate upon angiotensin II stimulation. Troglitazone, therefore, inhibits both angiotensin II-induced nuclear translocation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and the nuclear activity of its upstream signaling kinase protein kinase Czeta. Since extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 nuclear translocation may be a critical signaling step for multiple growth factors that stimulate vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration, troglitazone may provide a new therapeutical approach for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and restenosis.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goetze
authors.forename: X P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077288:Troglitazone; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta
chemical_list: D000804:Angiotensin II; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D002839:Chromans; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077288:Troglitazone; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta