title: Inhibition of Rho/Rho-kinase signaling downregulates plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 synthesis in cultured human monocytes.
abstract: Increased production of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in plaques plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of blockade of Rho/Rho-kinase signaling on the synthesis of PAI-1 in cultured human peripheral blood monocytes. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and inhibitors of Rho and Rho-kinase were added to monocyte cultures. The levels of PAI antigen and mRNA were determined by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively, and PAI-1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. We performed pull-down assays to determine the activity of Rho by measuring the GTP-bound form of Rho A. In unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cultured monocytes, statins reduced the levels of PAI-1 antigen and mRNA. The suppressive effects of statins on PAI-1 synthesis were reversed by geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) and were mimicked by C3 exoenzyme. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the role of lipid modification by GGPP in suppressive effect of statins in PAI-1 synthesis. Pull-down assays demonstrated that statins decreased the levels of the GTP-bound form of Rho A. Our findings suggest that statins decrease the activity of Rho by inhibiting geranylgeranylation. Moreover, Rho-kinase inhibitors, Y-27632 and fasudil, suppressed the synthesis of PAI-1 in this culture system. We show that inhibition of Rho/Rho-kinase signaling downregulates the synthesis of PAI-1 in human monocytes.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohkawara
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shindo
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Sotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakurada
authors.forename: Yoh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takuwa
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000494:pharmacology; D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017368:Protein Prenylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C108830:Y 27632; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; C086276:cerivastatin; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C063007:exoenzyme C3, Clostridium botulinum; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D017035:Pravastatin; C002963:geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate; C049347:fasudil