title: Expression and function of utrophin associated protein complex in stretched endothelial cells: dissociation and activation of eNOS.
abstract: Several studies have emphasized the relevance of dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC) to maintain the vascular function. Previously we postulated the presence of an utrophin associated protein complex (UAPC) in endothelium from umbilical cord vessels. In the present work, we demonstrate that utrophin (UTR) indeed forms a complex, with beta-dystroglycan (DG), epsilon-sarcoglycan (SG), caveolin-1 (cav-1), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by co-immunoprecipitation analysis. Additionally, we observed an increment in the protein levels of epsilon-SG, beta-DG, UTR and cav-1 after mechanical stretching. Interestingly, this stimulus also induced eNOS up-regulation, activation and release from the UAPC, and led to a significant increase in nitric oxide (NO) production. Finally, we propose that UAPC in HUVECs may play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigacion Medica en Genetica Humana, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI-IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Sanchez
authors.forename: Gillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceballos-Reyes
authors.forename: Haydee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rosas-Vargas
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cerecedo-Mercado
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zentella-Dehesa
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salamanca
authors.forename: Ramon M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Coral-Vazquez
mesh_terms: D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D049030:Dystroglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D049031:Sarcoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D049411:Utrophin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051242:Caveolin 1; D049031:Sarcoglycans; D049411:Utrophin; D049030:Dystroglycans; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III