Angiotensin II and endothelin-1 regulate MAP kinases through different redox-dependent mechanisms in human vascular smooth muscle cells.
OBJECTIVE
The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling by angiotensin (Ang) II and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) was investigated.


METHODS
VSMCs were derived from resistance arteries from healthy subjects. MAPK activity was assessed using phospho-specific antibodies. ROS generation was measured by CMH2DCFDA fluorescence and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity by lucigenin chemiluminescence.


RESULTS
Ang II and ET-1 increased MAPK phosphorylation (P < 0.01). Pre-treatment with Tiron and Tempol, *O2 scavengers, attenuated agonist-stimulated phosphorylation of p38MAPK, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and ERK5, but not of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases). Apocynin and diphenylene iodinium (DPI), NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors, decreased Ang II-induced responses 60-70%. ET-1-mediated MAPK phosphorylation was unaffected by apocynin but was reduced (> 50%) by thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TIFT) and carboxyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), mitochondrial inhibitors. Allopurinol and N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), xanthine oxidase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, respectively, did not influence MAPK activation. Intracellular ROS generation, was increased by Ang II and ET-1 (P < 0.01). DPI inhibited Ang II- but not ET-1-mediated ROS production. Expression of p22phox and p47phox and activation of NAD(P)H oxidase were increased by Ang II but not by ET-1. CCCP and TIFT significantly attenuated ET-1-mediated ROS formation (P < 0.05), without influencing Ang II effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Ang II activates p38MAPK, JNK and ERK5 primarily through NAD(P)H oxidase-generated ROS. ET-1 stimulates these kinases via redox-sensitive processes that involve mitochondrial-derived ROS. These data suggest that redox-dependent activation of MAPKs by Ang II and ET-1 occur through distinct ROS-generating systems that could contribute to differential signaling by these agonists in VSMCs.
Touyz
Rhian M
RM
CIHR Multidisciplinary Research Group on Hypertension, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. touyzr@ircm.qc.ca
Yao
Guoying
G
Viel
Emilie
E
Amiri
Farhad
F
Schiffrin
Ernesto L
EL
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
D019332:Endothelin-1; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000804:Angiotensin II; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases