title: Human urotensin II is a novel activator of NADPH oxidase in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human urotensin II (hU-II) is a potent vasoactive peptide possibly involved in pulmonary hypertension. Because the signaling mechanisms activated by this peptide in the pulmonary vasculature are largely unknown, we investigated the role of hU-II in the activation of NADPH oxidase and the control of redox-sensitive kinase pathways, expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and proliferation in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  hU-II upregulated expression of the NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and NOX4 and increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which were abrogated by transfecting p22phox or NOX4 antisense vectors. p22phox and NOX4 also contributed to hU-II-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and protein kinase B (Akt). Furthermore, hU-II increased the expression of PAI-1 and enhanced PASMC proliferation in an NADPH oxidase- and kinase-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hU-II is a potent activator of ROS generation by NADPH oxidase in PASMCs, leading to redox-sensitive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt and subsequently to enhanced PAI-1 expression and increased proliferation. These findings suggest that hU-II may play a novel role in pulmonary hypertension by promoting remodeling processes via activation of NADPH oxidases.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Pediatric Cardiology, Clinic for Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, German Heart Center Munich at the Technical University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Talija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.forename: Rachida S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: BelAiba
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonello
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfeilschifter
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Görlach
mesh_terms: D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014579:Urotensins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C498910:NOX4 protein, human; C086986:CYBA protein, human; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases