Muscarinic M(3) receptor-dependent regulation of airway smooth muscle contractile phenotype.
1. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells are known to switch from a contractile to a proliferative and synthetic phenotype in culture in response to serum and growth factors. Phenotype switching in response to contractile agonists, however, is poorly characterised, despite the possible relationship between ASM phenotype and airway remodelling in asthma. 2. To investigate the effects of muscarinic receptor stimulation on ASM phenotype, we used organ-cultured bovine tracheal smooth muscle (BTSM) strips, in which contractile responsiveness, contractile protein expression and proliferation were measured after pretreatment with methacholine. 3. Long-term methacholine pretreatment (8 days) decreased maximal contraction and sensitivity to methacholine as well as to histamine and KCl. This decrease was dose-dependent (pEC(50)=5.2+/-0.1). Pretreatment with the highest concentration of methacholine applied (100 microm) could suppress maximal histamine-induced contraction to 8+/-1% of control. In addition, contractile protein expression (myosin, actin) was downregulated two-fold. No concomitant increase in proliferative capacity was observed. 4. The M(3)/M(2) muscarinic receptor antagonist DAU 5884 (0.1 microm) completely inhibited the observed decrease in contractility. In contrast, the M(2)/M(3) muscarinic receptor antagonist gallamine (10 microm) was ineffective, demonstrating that M(2) receptors were not involved. 5. Pretreatment (8 days) with 60 mm KCl could mimick the strong decreases in contractility. This was completely prevented by pretreatment with verapamil (1 microm). 6. Regulation of contractility was not affected by protein kinase C inhibition, whereas inhibitors of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase and p42/p44 mitogen activated protein kinase were partially effective. 7. These results show that long-term methacholine pretreatment (8 days) induces an M(3) receptor-dependent decrease in BTSM contractility without increased proliferative capacity.
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University Centre for Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. R.Gosens@farm.rug.nl
Reinoud
R
Gosens
Mechteld M Grootte
MM
Bromhaar
Annet
A
Tonkes
Dedmer
D
Schaafsma
Johan
J
Zaagsma
S Adriaan
SA
Nelemans
Herman
H
Meurs
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D043587:Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D002118:Calcium; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D006632:Histamine; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D043587:Receptor, Muscarinic M3