A novel role of VIP in colonic motility function: induction of excitation-transcription coupling in smooth muscle cells.
OBJECTIVE
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) relaxes smooth muscle by generation of cAMP and activation of protein kinase A (PKA). However, PKA activation also phosphorylates the transcription factor CREB. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the phosphorylation of CREB induces gene expression of the pore-forming alpha(1C) subunit of Ca(v)1.2 channels (L-type calcium channels), whose promoter has 2 binding sites for CREB.


METHODS
The experiments were performed on primary cultures of human colonic circular smooth muscle cells and freshly obtained human and rat colonic circular muscle strips.


RESULTS
The incubation of human colonic circular smooth muscle cells or muscle strips with VIP for 24 hours enhanced the expression of alpha(1C) protein and mRNA as well as the contractile response to acetylcholine and KCl. On the contrary, incubation of the muscle strips with VIP antagonist for 24 hours suppressed cell contractility. The incubation of the cells with VIP caused sustained generation of cAMP for 24 hours, but PKA activation and CREB phosphorylation were transient. The inhibition of PKA by H-89 or silencing of CREB gene with targeted RNAi blocked the transcription of alpha(1C). Progressive 5' deletions of halpha(1C)1b promoter and site-directed mutations of the 2 CREB binding cis-elements indicated that most of alpha(1C) transcription was mediated by the 5' cAMP response element.


CONCLUSIONS
The excitation-transcription coupling stimulated by VIP induces expression of the Ca(v)1.2 channels. The influx of calcium through these channels is a critical step in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle cells.
Shi
Xuan-Zheng
XZ
Department of Internal Medicine, Enteric Neuromuscular Disorders and Visceral Pain Center, Division of Gastroenterology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
Choudhury
Barun K
BK
Pasricha
Pankaj J
PJ
Sarna
Sushil K
SK
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D007546:Isoquinolines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D012313:RNA; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; C494363:CREBBP protein, human; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; C063509:N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide; D000109:Acetylcholine