title: Negative regulation of RhoA/Rho kinase by angiotensin II type 2 receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells: role in angiotensin II-induced vasodilation in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether angiotensin II (Ang II) through the Ang II type 2 receptor (AT2R), downregulates RhoA/Rho kinase, which plays a role in AT1 receptor (AT1R)-mediated function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro studies were performed in A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and in vivo studies in mesenteric arteries from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) rats. VSMC were stimulated with Ang II (10 mol/l), CGP42112A (10 mol/l, a selective AT2R agonist) +/- valsartan (10 mol/l, an AT1R antagonist), or the Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil (10 mol/l). AT1R and AT2R expression and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation were determined by immunoblotting. RhoA activity was assessed by measuring membrane translocation. Functional significance between AT2R, RhoA/Rho kinase and vasodilation was assessed in arteries from valsartan-treated (30 mg/kg per day, 14 days) WKY and SHRSP rats. Vasodilatory responses to Ang II (10-10 mol/l) were performed in norepinephrine pre-contracted vessels +/- valsartan(10 mol/l), PD123319 (10 mol/l, an AT2R antagonist) or fasudil (10 mol/l).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A10 VSMC expressed AT1R and AT2R. In valsartan-treated cells, Ang II-induced RhoA translocation was reduced versus controls (42 +/- 6%, P < 0.05). Similar responses were obtained with CGP42112A (45 +/- 6%, P < 0.05). This was associated with decreased MLC activation. Fasudil abrogated Ang II- and CGP42112A-mediated effects. Ang II evoked a significant vasodilatory response only in valsartan-treated SHRSP (max dilation 40 +/- 7%). PD123319 blocked these effects. Fasudil increased AngII-induced relaxation in SHRSP vessels. AT2R expression was increased by valsartan (two- to three-fold) in SHRSP arteries. RhoA translocation was increased two-fold in untreated SHRSP (P < 0.05) and was reduced by valsartan (P < 0.05). These changes were associated with decreased MLC phosphorylation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ang II/AT2R negatively regulates vascular RhoA/Rho kinase/MLC phosphorylation. These processes may play a role in Ang II-mediated vasodilation in conditions associated with vascular AT2R upregulation, such as in SHRSP chronically treated with AT1R blockers, which may contribute to blood pressure lowering by these antihypertensive agents.
authors.affiliation: CIHR Multidisciplinary Research Group on Hypertension, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savoia
authors.forename: Fatiha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabet
authors.forename: Guoying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Ernesto L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Schiffrin
authors.forename: Rhian M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Touyz
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000201:enzymology*; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D000804:Angiotensin II; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein