title: cGMP-dependent and -independent angiogenesis-related properties of nitric oxide.
abstract: Nitric oxide exerts a stimulatory role during postnatal angiogenesis. Although soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) mediates many of the effects of nitric oxide (NO) in the vascular system, the contribution of cGMP-dependent vs cGMP-independent pathways in NO-induced angiogenesis remains unclear. Herein, we determined the effects of a NO donor (sodium nitroprusside; SNP) and a NO-independent sGC activator (BAY 41-2272) in the growth and migration of rat aortic endothelial cells (RAEC). RAEC lack enzymatically active sGC as suggested by their inability to accumulate cGMP upon exposure to SNP. However, treatment of RAEC with SNP promoted a modest increase in their proliferation and migration that was dependent on extracellular signal regulated kinase1/2 activation. Moreover, when RAEC were exposed to vascular endothelial growth factor we observed an increase in migration that was inhibited by NO synthase, but not sGC, inhibition. Infection of cells with adenoviruses containing sGC greatly increased the efficacy of SNP as a mitogenic and migratory stimulus. We conclude that NO is capable of stimulating EC proliferation and mobility in the absence of sGC; however, increased intracellular levels of cGMP following sGC activation greatly amplify the angiogenic potential of NO.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pyriochou
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vassilakopoulos
authors.forename: Zongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papapetropoulos
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000502:physiology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007118:Immunoassay; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester