title: Activation of Rho/Rho kinase signaling pathway by reactive oxygen species in rat aorta.
abstract: Evidence indicates that both the Rho/Rho kinase signaling pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide and H(2)O(2) are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. This study aimed to determine whether ROS-induced vascular contraction is mediated through activation of Rho/Rho kinase. Rat aortic rings (endothelium denuded) were isolated and placed in organ chambers for measurement of isometric force development. ROS were generated by a xanthine (X)-xanthine oxidase (XO) mixture. The antioxidants tempol (3 mM) and catalase (1,200 U/ml) or the XO inhibitor allopurinol (400 microM) significantly reduced X/XO-induced contraction. A Rho kinase inhibitor, (+)-(R)-trans-4-(1-aminoethyl-N-4-pyridil)cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride (Y-27632), decreased the contraction in a concentration-dependent manner; however, the Ca(2+)-independent protein kinase C inhibitor rottlerin did not have an effect on X/XO-induced contraction. Phosphorylation of the myosin light chain phosphatase target subunit (MYPT1) was increased by ROS, and preincubation with Y-27632 blocked this increased phosphorylation. Western blotting for cytosolic and membrane-bound fractions of Rho showed that Rho was increased in the membrane fraction by ROS, suggesting activation of Rho. These observations demonstrate that ROS-induced Ca(2+) sensitization is through activation of Rho and a subsequent increase in Rho kinase activity but not Ca(2+)-independent PKC.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912-3000, USA. ljin@mcg.edu
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Zhekang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: R Clinton
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology*; D043263:Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C108830:Y 27632; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D043263:Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins