title: Cantharidin enhances norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction in an endothelium-dependent fashion.
abstract: In this study we characterized the effects of the protein phosphatase (PP) type 1 and type 2A inhibitor cantharidin (Cant) and its structural analogs cantharidic acid and endothall on PP activity, force of contraction, and myosin light chain phosphorylation in rat aorta. All compounds inhibited PP activity in homogenates of rat aorta with a rank order of potency of Cant = cantharidic acid > endothall. However, only Cant increased force of contraction and myosin light chain phosphorylation in intact isolated rat aortic rings. Based on these findings, we investigated the effects of Cant on alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction. Cant (1 and 3 microM) enhanced norepinephrine-induced contraction in endothelium-intact rat aorta. In contrast, Cant did not affect norepinephrine-induced contraction in endothelium-denuded rat aorta. We suggest that inhibition of PP1 and/or PP2A activities by Cant enhances vascular contractility in endothelium-intact rat aorta by increasing the phosphorylation state of endothelial regulatory proteins.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Münster, Germany. jknapp@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bokník
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lüss
authors.forename: F U
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petertönjes
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002384:Catalysis; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D043263:Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019319:Okadaic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D019319:Okadaic Acid; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D043263:Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase; D002193:Cantharidin; D009638:Norepinephrine