title: Involvement of RhoA/Rho kinase pathway in myogenic tone in the rabbit facial vein.
abstract: Myogenic tone (MT), a fundamental stretch-sensitive vasoconstrictor property of resistance arteries and veins, is a key determinant of local blood flow regulation. We evaluated the pathways involved in MT development. The role of the RhoA/Rho kinase, p38 MAP kinase, and HSP27 in MT was investigated in the rabbit facial vein (RFV), previously shown to possess MT at a pressure level equivalent to 20 mm Hg. Venous MT is poorly understood, although venous diseases affect a large proportion of the population. Stretched RFV are characterized by a temperature-sensitive MT, which is normal at 39 degrees C but fails to develop at 33 degrees C. This allows for the discrimination of the pathways involved in MT from the multiple pathways activated by stretch. Isolated RFV segments were mounted in organ baths and stretched. Temperature was then set at 33 degrees C or 39 degrees C. MT was associated to the translocation of RhoA to the plasma membrane and the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 decreased stretch-induced MT by 93.1+/-4.9%. MT was also associated to an increase in p38 (131.0+/-12.5% at 39 degrees C versus 100% at 33 degrees C) and HSP27 phosphorylation (196.1+/-13.3% versus 100%), and the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 decreased MT by 36.5+/-8.1%. (39 degrees C, compared with RFV stretched at 33 degrees C). Finally, phosphorylation of p38 was blocked by Y27632 and HSP27 phosphorylation was inhibited by SB203580 and Y27632. Thus, MT and the associated p38 and HSP27 phosphorylation seem to depend on RhoA/Rho kinase activation in stretch RFV.
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unit 541, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubroca
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Bernard I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Lévy
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loufrani
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Henrion
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D013696:Temperature; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*; D014680:Veins / Q000502:physiology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007093:Imidazoles; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; C108830:Y 27632; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; C093642:SB 203580