title: Role of ERK1/2 signaling pathways in 4-aminopyridine-induced rat pulmonary vasoconstriction.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the contribution of extracellular signal regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) to pulmonary artery contraction in response to 4-aminopyridione (4-AP), an inhibitor of a voltage-gated K(+) channels that regulate pulmonary vascular tone. Pulmonary artery rings 1-1.5 mm in diameter from male adult Wistar rat were isolated and cut into 3-mm in length. ERK1/2 up-stream kinase (MEK) inhibitors 2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone (PD98059) and 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis (2-aminophenylthio)-butadiene (U0126), which block the activation of ERK1/2, were used to test the role of ERK1/2 in 4-AP induced pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction and the influences of 4-AP on expressions of phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in cultured rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and whole tissues. Our results show that 4-AP elicited concentration-dependent increases in tension of rat pulmonary artery rings, effects that were reduced by pretreatment of the rings with ERK inhibitors, PD98059 (20 microM) and U0126 (10 microM). Moreover, 4-AP increased the expressions of p-ERK1/2 in cultured PASMCs s and whole tissues, which were prevented by pretreatment of the cells or tissues with U0126. These results indicate that ERK1/2 signaling pathway contributes to pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by 4-AP.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. of China.
authors.forename: Weina
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Daling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D009570:Nitriles; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; C113580:U 0126; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one