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Biomedical subjects

A Bobik

Publications and source records attributed to A Bobik.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Thrombin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in vascular smooth muscle utilizes a slowly ribosylating pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. Evidence for the involvement of a G protein in inositol trisphosphate-dependent Ca2+ release.

The role of pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive and -insensitive guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) in the stimulation of Ca2+ mobilization by thrombin was investigated in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Characterization using immunoblotting with specific antisera indicated the presence in isolated membranes of the G alpha i2, G alpha i3, G alpha s, G beta 35, and G beta 36 protein subunits as well as a lower molecular weight species of unknown identity. To assess the importance of G proteins in the coupling of thrombin receptors to Ca2+ mobilization, we investigated the effect of PT on Ca2+ responses using fluorescence spectroscopy and the Ca2+ indicator dye Fura-2. Pretreatment of cells for 2 h with PT (1 microgram/ml), which produced 91.3% ADP-ribosylation of PT-sensitive G proteins, did not affect the magnitude of thrombin-induced release of Ca2+ from internal stores, suggesting that the residual 8.7% of PT-sensitive G proteins, or PT-insensitive mechanisms, was responsible for Ca2+ release. However, after an 18-h pretreatment with PT, which produced ADP-ribosylation of the total complement of PT-sensitive G proteins, the thrombin-induced peak Ca2+ response was inhibited by approximately 72%, suggesting that the major fraction of the Ca2+ response was mediated by a slowly ribosylating component. The delayed effect of the toxin was not caused by down-regulation of the beta-subunit of G proteins because quantitative immunoblots showed that levels of the beta-subunit remained constant throughout the period of PT pretreatment. It was also not caused by a reduction in the size of the thrombin-releasable Ca2+ pool because Ca2+ release induced by agents that release Ca2+ directly from internal stores, 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone or thapsigargin, was not affected. In addition, the delayed effect of PT could not be explained in terms of differences in thrombin-induced [3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP3) formation because the level of inhibition of IP3 formation after a 2-h PT treatment was similar to that present after an 18-h pretreatment. The results indicate that a slowly ribosylating PT-sensitive species is the major G protein pathway that couples thrombin-receptor activation to Ca2+ mobilization. This G protein appears to be involved not in the mechanisms that generate IP3 but rather possibly in coupling at the level of the intracellular Ca2+ store.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose

Endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 stimulate calcium mobilization by different mechanisms in vascular smooth muscle.

The mechanisms by which endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin-3 (ET-3) stimulate Ca2+ mobilization were investigated in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Both ET-1 and ET-3 potently stimulated mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, however only ET-1-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization appeared to occur as a consequence of an elevation in cellular inositol trisphosphate (IP3) concentration. Neomycin, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, inhibited both the increase in [3H]IP3 formation and the mobilization of Ca2+ induced by ET-1, however it did not affect Ca2+ mobilization induced by ET-3. Together these findings indicate that ET-1 stimulates Ca2+ mobilization via an increase in IP3, whereas the effect of ET-3 appears to be mediated by a separate, IP3-independent signalling pathway.

Animals

Long-term angiotensin II antagonism in spontaneously hypertensive rats: effects on blood pressure and cardiovascular amplifiers.

1. The angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, losartan, prevented the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2. Losartan also prevented the development of left ventricular hypertrophy and vascular amplifier abnormalities. 3. Part of the hypotensive effect induced by long-term treatment with losartan persisted for a long time after the withdrawal of treatment. 4. The results support the hypothesis that angiotensin II contributes to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy in SHR.

Angiotensin II

Differential regulation by transforming growth factor-beta 1 of platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells from SHR and WKY rats.

1. This study has examined and compared the time-course of action of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on platelet-derived growth factor-BB-stimulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 inhibited vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor-BB in WKY rats by approximately 60-75%. 3. In contrast, transforming growth factor-beta 1 potentiated an 8-35% growth factor action on cell proliferation in the SHR. 4. Defects in transforming growth factor-beta 1 action may be part of the molecular mechanism responsible for the development of vascular hypertrophy in the SHR.

Animals

TGF-beta 1 potentiates growth factor-stimulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in genetic hypertension.

We have examined the interactions between transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from the spontaneously hypertensive rat. TGF-beta 1 alone stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation approximately twofold without a corresponding increase in cell number. In combination, TGF-beta 1 action was synergistic in further stimulating both DNA synthesis and cell proliferation 100-300% above the responses elicited by each growth factor. To gain further insight into the mechanism responsible for this potentiation, we examined the interaction between TGF-beta 1 and EGF. The synergistic interaction between TGF-beta 1 and EGF on DNA synthesis was independent of initial cell density. This effect of TGF-beta 1 was initiated early in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and did not appear to be mediated through the mobilization of Ca2+ or alterations in c-jun mRNA expression. However, in the presence of both TGF-beta 1 and EGF, there was a sustained elevation of c-myc mRNA levels over a 24-h period. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 may interact with other growth factors in vivo to enhance their proliferative action on vascular smooth muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats via mechanisms dependent on c-myc mRNA expression.

Animals

Vascular smooth muscle growth in genetic hypertension: evidence for multiple abnormalities in growth regulatory pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into the mechanisms which contribute to the development of vascular hypertrophy in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). DESIGN: These experiments were performed under conditions which most closely mimic the growth of smooth muscle in blood vessels, i.e. once cell-cell contact has been achieved. METHODS: A comparison of the growth characteristics (growth rates and cell density at quiescence) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. RESULTS: In the presence of foetal calf serum (1, 2.5, 5 and 10%), early passaged VSMC from SHR exhibited higher growth rates and reached higher densities at quiescence than VSMC from WKY rats. Accelerated growth rates could not be attributed to differences in cell-cell interactions. Also, growth rates and cell density at quiescence appear to be regulated by distinct mechanisms. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) caused an inhibition of serum-stimulated proliferation of confluent VSMC from WKY rats. In contrast, TGF-beta 1 had little, if any, inhibitory action upon the growth of VSMC from SHR. Scatchard analysis of 125I-TGF-beta 1 binding to VSMC from both strains yielded a single class of high affinity binding sites. CONCLUSIONS: VSMC from SHR exhibit enhanced proliferation, attain a higher cell density at quiescence and are less susceptible to growth inhibition by TGF-beta 1 than VSMC from WKY rats. All these characteristics of SHR VSMC may contribute to the development of vascular hypertrophy in this strain.

Animals

Are cardiac and vascular "amplifiers" both necessary for the development of hypertension?

The vascular amplifier leads to enhancement of all resistance responses, from full dilatation to maximum constriction. The mechanism of resistance amplification is narrowing of the resistance vasculature, which is approximately constant at all levels of vasomotor tone. From the literature, the site of narrowing is localized to the small arteries and large arterioles. The narrowing at rest leads during constriction, to patchy reduction in blood flow in the microcirculation. The enhanced resistance responses of the vascular amplifier during constriction, increase blood pressure (BP) upstream, which minimizes the hemodynamic effects on the microcirculation and helps to maintain venous return. Concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is an amplifier of stroke volume and cardiac output. It reinforces the elevation of BP upstream from the site of vascular narrowing. This appears important for the initiation and maintenance of hypertension, in view of findings in SHR showing: (1) that in the course of normal development of hypertension the vascular amplifier properties develop before the onset of hypertension, which occurs in parallel with an increase in rate of LV hypertrophy; (2) after brief periods of enalapril treatment, hypertension redevelops in parallel with the redevelopment of LV hypertrophy, whilst the vascular amplifier properties remain suppressed; (3) treatment with immuno-sympathectomy plus prazosin prevents the development of both LV hypertrophy and hypertension but only produces gradual suppression of the vascular amplifier properties. The role of the sympathetic nervous system on LV-hypertrophy is mediated through alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

Animals

Amplifier function of resistance vessels and the left ventricle in hypertension.

We have recently modeled the structural factors responsible for the increased slope of the dose-vascular resistance response curves in the hindquarter bed under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Slope increases when the ratio of wall thickness to internal radius (ri) increases and when ri decreases, but the slope decreases with greater wall stiffness. Enhanced slope is an indicator of the vascular amplifier properties. Resistance at maximum vasodilation in hypertension is also structurally determined converting enzyme inhibitors in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) suggest that the reduction in ri can be reversed, suggesting that it is due to vascular hypertrophy. The concentrically hypertrophied left ventricle is an amplifier of stroke volume. Together, the vascular and left ventricular amplifiers contribute about 70% to the elevated total peripheral resistance in renovascular hypertension. In SHR, the vascular amplifier is present early in postnatal life before the onset of hypertension, which occurs in parallel with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The development of the vascular amplifiers appears to be under the control of the renin-angiotensin system, whilst LVH appears to be under sympathoadrenal control, acting through cardiac alpha-adrenoceptors. Early immunosympathectomy plus prazosin treatment specifically prevents development of LVH in SHR and also prevents hypertension. In human hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy also plays an important role; after a period of prolonged therapy, the rate of redevelopment of hypertension when the drugs are stopped depends on the degree of regression of LVH during treatment. We conclude that the early development of vascular and cardiac amplifiers in primary hypertension appears to be genetically determined and the role of the heart in pathogenesis appears to be greater than previously thought.

Animals

Significance of cardiovascular hypertrophy in the development and maintenance of hypertension.

The amplifier properties associated with the structural changes in the heart and resistance vessels in chronic hypertension together play a major role in maintaining the elevated blood pressure (BP) in chronic hypertension, which is greater than that of the initiating cause. In patients with primary hypertension, long-term antihypertensive drug therapy causes substantial regression of the structural changes, as assessed by normalization of the total peripheral resistance (including the nonautonomic component) and of the left ventricular (LV) mass. Reversal of LV hypertrophy (LVH) took considerably longer than reversal of the vascular changes and the more complete the reversal of LVH, the slower the rate of redevelopment of hypertension upon cessation of treatment. We observed no change in sympathetic activity or in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone levels during the redevelopment phase and we hypothesized that the cardiovascular amplifiers played a role in pathogenesis. This hypothesis was examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), where the vascular amplifier properties were developed substantially by 4 weeks of age, i.e., before the development of hypertension, whereas LVH occurred pari passu the rise in BP. When young SHRs were treated with enalapril for brief periods, there was almost complete long-term regression of vascular amplifier properties, but attenuation of LVH and hypertension were both smaller and more transient. In 4-week-old SHRs, complete abolition of sympathetic activity had a minimal effect on vascular amplifier properties, but affected LVH. Our findings suggest that LVH is as important in both the development and maintenance of hypertension as the structurally determined amplifier properties of the resistance vessels.

Animals

Ionic mechanisms regulating sodium entry into vascular smooth muscle.

1. Na+/H+ exchange, an ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA)-sensitive Na+ and HCO3- dependent system and a diisothio-cyanatostilbenedisulphonic acid (DIDS)-sensitive Na+ and HCO3- transporter, contribute to sodium influx and intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in vascular smooth muscle. 2. In cultured cells from the human internal mammary artery, Na+/H+ exchange and the EIPA-sensitive Na+ and HCO3- dependent system contribute about 80% to basal sodium influx. The residual Na+ influx is both EIPA and DIDS-insensitive. 3. Sodium influx via these mechanisms influences the ability of vascular smooth muscle to synthesize protein late in the G1 phase of the mitotic cell cycle. This, in turn, affects DNA biosynthesis. 4. These Na+ exchanges/transporters have the capability to facilitate the development of vascular hypertrophy in hypertension.

Amiloride

Multiple growth abnormalities in vascular smooth muscle from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. In tissue culture the growth characteristics of aortic smooth muscle cells isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were compared with those of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. 2. Aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR exhibit enhanced proliferation when grown in the presence of low (1%) and moderate (5%) concentrations of fetal calf serum. 3. Cell quiescence in cultures of smooth muscle from SHR becomes apparent at cell densities approximately 20% higher than in cultures from WKY rats. 4. These different growth characteristics of smooth muscle between the two strains of rats may contribute to the early pre-hypertensive development of vascular hypertrophy in the SHR.

Animals

Ethylisopropylamiloride-sensitive pH control mechanisms modulate vascular smooth muscle cell growth.

The reported effects of alterations in Na-H exchange activity on mitogenesis are variable and appear dependent on the cell type examined. We examined the effects of reductions in ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA)-sensitive pH-regulating mechanisms including Na-H exchange and alterations in intracellular pH (pHi) on the growth characteristics of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASM) cultured in serum-containing bicarbonate-buffered medium. Exposure of RASM replicating in bicarbonate-containing medium to the Na-H exchange inhibitors EIPA, dimethylamiloride (DMA), or amiloride (A) attenuated their replication rate. The order of potency of the inhibitors (EIPA greater than DMA much greater than A) was similar to their documented effects on Na-H exchange activity and to their order of potency for inhibiting recovery from CO2-induced acidosis in these cells. Reductions in pHi induced by lowering extracellular pH also attenuated the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into DNA, while increases in pHi were associated with an acceleration in the rate of incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. The effects of the Na-H exchange inhibitors on RASM replication were due to a reduction in the ability of the smooth muscle cells to enter the S phase of the mitotic cell cycle. This appeared predominantly the consequence of effects late within the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Concentrations of EIPA that markedly reduced the ability of RASM to enter S phase and to replicate also attenuated the increase in protein synthesis occurring 6-8 h after exposure to serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amiloride

Angiotensin II and noradrenaline increase PDGF-BB receptors and potentiate PDGF-BB stimulated DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle.

The effects of angiotensin II and noradrenaline were examined on PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB induced mitogenesis in primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle. Incubation of the smooth muscle with either angiotensin II or noradrenaline potentiated the submaximal but not maximal mitogenic effects of PDGF-BB but not PDGF-AB. These effects on PDGF-BB stimulated mitogenesis correlated with an increase in receptor number specific for this homodimer when the smooth muscle was incubated with either angiotensin II or noradrenaline. Mitogenic concentrations of PDGF-AB did not interact with this PDGF receptor subtype. These results indicate that the mitogenic effects of PDGF-AB and -BB are elicited via different PDGF receptor subtypes. Angiotensin II and noradrenaline potentiate the mitogenic effects of PDGF-BB by increasing the steady state concentrations of membrane receptors for this homodimer.

Angiotensin II

Sodium-dependent, ethylisopropylamiloride-sensitive mechanisms regulate intracellular pH in human vascular smooth muscle.

1. The pH-sensitive dye 2,7-biscarboxy-ethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) was used to examine the contribution of Na(+)-H+ exchange and bicarbonate-dependent processes to intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in cultured human vascular smooth muscle. 2. The recovery of pHi following an NH4Cl-induced acidosis was Na(+)-dependent and could be inhibited by ethylisopropylamiloride (200 mumols/L). Recovery was unaffected by the anion exchange inhibitor 4-acetamido-4'-isothio-cyano-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (200 mumols/L). 3. Recovery from intracellular acidosis was more rapid when bicarbonate ions were present in the extracellular medium. 4. The results suggest that Na(+)-H+ exchange as well as an Na(+)-dependent bicarbonate process, which can be inhibited by ethylisopropylamiloride, can influence the ability of smooth muscle to recover from intracellular acidosis.

Acid-Base Equilibrium

Growth factor activity of endothelin on vascular smooth muscle.

Endothelin is a novel peptide secreted by endothelial cells, the vasoconstrictor effects of which appear dependent on the activation of phospholipase C. We examined in tissue culture its potential as a growth factor for vascular smooth muscle. In quiescent cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells, endothelin rapidly elevated levels of c-fos and c-myc mRNA. Peak effects on c-fos mRNA occurred between 15 and 30 min and were completely gone after 2 h. The elevation in c-fos mRNA was, in part, dependent on protein kinase C, since phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) also elevated c-fos mRNA and further increased c-fos mRNA expression by endothelin, but the effects were not additive. Furthermore, the endothelin-induced elevation in c-fos mRNA was attenuated but not abolished in protein kinase C-depleted cells. Maximum levels of c-myc mRNA occurred between 15 and 30 min after exposing the cells to endothelin and persisted for at least 6 h. The effects of simultaneous addition of endothelin and PMA on c-myc mRNA levels were essentially similar to those observed with c-fos mRNA. [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA occurred 8 h after exposing the cells to endothelin. The mitogenic effect of endothelin was smaller than that observed with either fetal calf serum or epidermal growth factor and was dependent on both pertussis toxin-insensitive and -sensitive pathways. Sensitivity to the latter pathway did not appear dependent on attenuation of phospholipase C activity, since neither peak intracellular calcium concentrations nor c-fos mRNA levels were reduced in pertussis toxin-treated cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Enalapril can prevent vascular amplifier development in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Three groups of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were given enalapril (25 mg/kg/day) from 4 to 9 weeks, 4 to 14 weeks, and 14 to 20 weeks of age. The drug was stopped and observations continued for another 16-21 weeks. At selected times, we measured blood pressure, in vitro hindquarter vascular resistance properties, left ventricular weight/body weight ratio, and skeletal muscle vessel norepinephrine kinetics in treated and untreated SHR and in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. At the end of each treatment period, all cardiovascular variables were close to values of WKY rats and well below those of untreated SHR, and the norepinephrine or fractional rate constant was about 25% below those levels. After enalapril was stopped, blood pressure and left ventricular weight/body weight ratio increased in parallel to levels ranging from 30% to 50% of the normal difference between untreated SHR and WKY rats. However, in SHR treated from 4 to 9 weeks and from 4 to 14 weeks of age, hindquarter resistance properties remained close to WKY rat levels for the entire observation period of 16-21 weeks after treatment, suggesting suppression of the enhanced resistance responses of SHR (amplifier properties). In SHR treated from 14 to 20 weeks of age, suppression of amplifier properties was more transient, and they redeveloped partially 5-6 weeks after cessation of therapy. When enalapril was given up to 14 weeks of age, the long-term suppression of amplifier properties was probably mainly through prevention of smooth muscle hypertrophy in resistance vessels and possibly through other mechanisms (e.g., "rarefaction").(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals