title: Regulation of Rho/ROCK signaling in airway smooth muscle by membrane potential and [Ca2+]i.
abstract: Recently, we have shown that Rho and Rho-activated kinase (ROCK) may become activated by high-millimolar KCl, which had previously been widely assumed to act solely through opening of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels. In this study, we explored in more detail the relationship between membrane depolarization, Ca(2+) currents, and activation of Rho/ROCK in bovine tracheal smooth muscle. Ca(2+) currents began to activate at membrane voltages more positive than -40 mV and were maximally activated above 0 mV; at the same time, these underwent time- and voltage-dependent inactivation. Depolarizing intact tissues by KCl challenge evoked contractions that were blocked equally, and in a nonadditive fashion, by nifedipine or by the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632. Other agents that elevate intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) by pathways independent of G protein-coupled receptors, namely the SERCA-pump inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid and the Ca(2+) ionophore A-23187, evoked contractions that were also largely reduced by Y-27632. KCl directly increased Rho and ROCK activities in a concentration-dependent fashion that paralleled closely the effect of KCl on tone and [Ca(2+)](i), as well as the voltage-dependent Ca(2+) currents that were measured over the voltage ranges that are evoked by 0-120 mM KCl. Through the use of various pharmacological inhibitors, we ruled out roles for Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent CaM kinase II, protein kinase C, and protein kinase A in mediating the KCl-stimulated changes in tone and Rho/ROCK activities. In conclusion, Rho is activated by elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) (although the signal transduction pathway underlying this Ca(2+) dependence is still unclear) and possibly also by membrane depolarization per se.
authors.affiliation: Asthma Research Group, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 4A6.
authors.forename: Caiqiong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pertens
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Helli
authors.forename: Luke J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D002118:Calcium