title: Role of phosphodiesterases in modulation of BKCa channels in hypertensive pulmonary arterial smooth muscle.
abstract: BKCa channels regulate pulmonary arterial pressure, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibits BK(Ca) channels, but little is known about PKC-mediated modulation of BKCa channel activity in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle. Studies were carried out to determine mechanisms of PKC modulation of BKCa channel activity in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) of the fawn-hooded rat (FHR), an animal model of pulmonary hypertension. Forskolin opened BKCa channels in FHR PASMC, which was blocked by PKC activation, and reversed by the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors IBMX, milrinone, and zaprinast. PDE inhibition also blocked the vasoconstrictor response to PKC activation in FHR pulmonary arteries. These results indicate that PKC inhibits cAMP-induced activation of BKCa channels and causes pulmonary vasoconstriction in hypertensive pulmonary arterial smooth muscle via PDE, which further suggests PDE inhibitors for treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Barman
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism*; D020105:Milrinone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000502:physiology*; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D011688:Purinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D011688:Purinones; D005576:Colforsin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; C011145:zaprinast; D020105:Milrinone; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine