title: Positive signaling interactions between arsenic and ethanol for angiogenic gene induction in human microvascular endothelial cells.
abstract: Arsenic in the drinking water may promote vascular diseases in millions of people worldwide through unresolved mechanisms. In addition, little is known of the effects of coexposures to arsenic and other common vasculature toxicants, such as alcohol. To investigate signaling interactions between arsenic and alcohols, primary human microvascular endothelial (HMVEC) cells were exposed to noncytotoxic concentrations of arsenite (1-5 microM) in the presence or absence of 0.1% ethanol (EtOH). Coexposure, but not exposure to either agent alone, rapidly increased active Fyn tyrosine kinase, tyrosine phosphorylation of a 109-kDa protein and serine phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC)delta. The 109-kDa protein was identified as PYK2, a regulator of vascular integrin signaling and an upstream activator of PKCdelta. Membrane localization of phospholipase Cgamma1 was increased by coexposure within 15 min, but not by either agent alone. In contrast, both agents equally increased membrane localization of Rac1-GTPase. Coexposure, but not exposure to either agent alone, induced transcript levels for the angiogenic genes, vascular endothelial cell growth factor (Vegfa) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (Igf1). However, EtOH inhibited arsenic-induced, nuclear factor-kappaB-driven interleukin-8 and collagen-1 expression. Differential effects of selective PKC inhibitors on induced gene expression combined with a lack of interaction for induction of hemeoxygenase-1 further demonstrated that arsenic-responsive signaling pathways differ in sensitivity to EtOH interactions. Finally, coexposure enhanced endothelial tube formation in in vitro angiogenesis assays. These data indicate that complex interactions occur between arsenic and EtOH exposures that functionally affect endothelial signaling for gene induction and remodeling stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, USA.
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Klei
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barchowsky
mesh_terms: D018053:Arsenites / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D018053:Arsenites; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C059087:2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-((phenylamino)carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide; D000431:Ethanol; C015001:arsenite