title: The central nervous system as target for antihypertensive actions of a proline-rich peptide from Bothrops jararaca venom.
abstract: Pyroglutamyl proline-rich oligopeptides, present in the venom of the pit viper Bothrops jararaca (Bj-PROs), are the first described naturally occurring inhibitors of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE). The inhibition of ACE by the decapeptide Bj-PRO-10c (<ENWPHPQIPP) and other Bj-PROs was classically used to explain the pharmacological effects of these venom peptides in mammals resulting in a decrease of blood pressure. Recent studies, however, suggest that ACE inhibition alone is not sufficient for explaining the antihypertensive actions exerted by these peptides. In this study, we show that intracerebroventricular injection of Bj-PRO-10c induced a significant reduction of mean arterial pressure (MAP) together with a decrease of heart rate (HR) in spontaneously hypertensive rats, indicating that Bj-PRO-10c may act on the central nervous system. In agreement with its supposed neuronal action, this peptide dose-dependently evoked elevations of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in primary culture from postnatal rat brain. The N-terminal sequence of the peptide was not essential for induction of calcium fluxes, while any changes of C-terminal Pro or Ile residues affected Bj-PRO-10c's activity. Using calcium imaging by confocal microscopy and fluorescence imaging plate reader analysis, we have characterized Bj-PRO-10c-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transients in rat brain cells as being independent from bradykinin-mediated effects and ACE inhibition. Bj-PRO-10c induced pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o)-protein activity mediated through a yet unknown receptor, influx and liberation ofcalcium from intracellular stores, as well as reduction of intracellular cAMP levels. Bj-PRO-10c promoted glutamate and GABA release that may be responsible for its antihypertensive activity and its effect on HR.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lameu
authors.forename: Mirian A F
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Juliano R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.forename: Eduardo F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pontieri
authors.forename: Kátia L P
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Antonio C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017837:Bothrops / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D055232:Proline-Rich Protein Domains; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; D012910:Snake Venoms; D002118:Calcium