Novel localization of CD38 in perivascular sympathetic nerve terminals.

Using high performance liquid chromatography fraction analysis we have recently established that numerous smooth muscle preparations, including the canine mesenteric artery and vein, release beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide upon short-pulse electrical field stimulation in tetrodotoxin- and omega-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive manners [ Release of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide upon stimulation of postganglionic nerve terminals in blood vessels and urinary bladder. J Biol Chem 279:48893-48903.]. The beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolites ADP-ribose and cyclic ADP-ribose are also present in the tissue superfusates. CD38 is a multifunctional enzyme involved in the degradation of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to ADP-ribose and cyclic ADP-ribose. Western immunoblot analysis revealed that CD38 is expressed in both artery and vein. Confocal laser scanning microscopy established colocalization of CD38 with tyrosine hydroxylase, synaptotagmin and synaptic vesicle protein in both blood vessels. High performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection demonstrated that whole tissue segments metabolize 1,N(6)-etheno-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to 1,N(6)-etheno-ADP-ribose and nicotinamide-guanine dinucleotide to cyclic GDP-ribose, suggesting the presence of both nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities in these blood vessels. Both enzymes appear to be associated with the membrane fraction, and therefore might be attributed to CD38. These data demonstrate a previously uncharacterized localization of CD38 in perivascular autonomic nerve terminals. Therefore, the beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/CD38 system may provide new mechanisms in autonomic neurovascular control.

Hypotonic activation of volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channels (VSOACs) requires coordinated remodeling of subcortical and perinuclear actin filaments.

Cell volume regulation requires activation of volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channels (VSOACs). The actin cytoskeleton may participate in the activation of VSOACs but the roles of the two major actin pools remain undefined. We hypothesized that structural reorganization of both subcortical and perinuclear actin filaments (F-actin) contributes to the hypotonic activation of VSOACs. Hypotonic stress of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) was associated with reorganization of both peripheral and perinuclear F-actin, and with activation of VSOACs. Preincubation with cytochalasin D caused prominent dissociation of perinuclear, but not of subcortical F-actin. Cytochalasin D failed to induce isotonic activation and delayed the hypotonic activation of VSOACs. F-actin stabilization by phalloidin delayed both the hypotonic stress-induced dissociation of membrane-associated actin filaments and the activation kinetics of VSOACs. PKCepsilon, which was proposed to phosphorylate and inhibit VSOACs, colocalized primarily with F-actin and the net kinase activity remained unchanged during hypotonic cell swelling. In conclusion, normal hypotonic activation of VSOACs requires disruption of peripheral F-actin but intact perinuclear F-actin; interference with this pattern of actin reorganization delays the activation kinetics of VSOACs. The cell swelling-induced peripheral actin dissociation may underlie the observed translocation of PKCepsilon, which leads to a net decrease of PKCepsilon inhibitory activity in submembranous sites. Thus, reorganization of actin and PKCepsilon may establish conditions for mechano- and/or signal transduction-mediated activation of VSOACs.

PI 3-kinases and Src kinases regulate spreading and migration of cultured VSMCs.

Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) adhesion, spreading, and migration depend on matrix-stimulated reorganization of focal adhesions. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) activates intracellular signal transduction cascades that also regulate adhesion, spreading, and migration, but the signaling molecules involved in these events are poorly defined. We hypothesized that phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinases and Src tyrosine kinases translate matrix and PDGF-initiated signals into cell motility. In experiments with cultured canine PASMCs, inhibition of PI 3-kinases with wortmannin (0.3 microM) and LY-294002 (50 microM) and of Src kinase with PP1 (30 microM) did not decrease spontaneous (nonstimulated) or PDGF-stimulated (10 ng/ml) adhesion onto collagen. PI 3-kinase and Src kinase activities, however, were necessary for cell spreading: PP1 inhibited cell spreading and Src Tyr-418 phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of PI 3-kinase and Src partially reduced cell migration, while at 10 and 30 microM, PP1 eliminated migration, likely due to inhibition of PDGF receptors. In conclusion, both PI 3-kinases and Src tyrosine kinases are components of pathways that mediate spreading and migration of cultured PASMCs on collagen.

Modulatory role of ERK MAPK-caldesmon pathway in PDGF-stimulated migration of cultured pulmonary artery SMCs.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) phosphorylate caldesmon in vivo, but the function of caldesmon phosphorylation in smooth muscle physiology is controversial. We hypothesized that ERK MAPKs and caldesmon modulate chemotactic migration of cultured canine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF; 10 ng/ml) and endothelin-1 (ET-1; 100 nM) transiently activated ERK MAPKs: PDGF produced higher maximal and more potent activation of ERK MAPKs over 5 h. While both PDGF and ET-1 increased caldesmon phosphorylation, only PDGF stimulated migration of cultured cells (13 times over basal migration). At concentrations from 0.01 to 10 nM, ET-1 failed to enhance migration; 100 nM ET-1 produced only a slight increase (1.31 +/- 0.18 times basal migration). ET-1 (100 nM) did not potentiate migration triggered by 0.5 or 3 ng/ml PDGF. The MEK1 inhibitor PD-98059 (50 microM) abolished the PDGF-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK MAPKs and caldesmon and reduced cell migration by 50%. We conclude that while ERK MAPK activity is not required to initiate migration, an ERK MAPK-caldesmon pathway may modulate later events necessary for PDGF-stimulated migration of cultured PASMCs.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases regulate ERK and p38 MAP kinases in canine colonic smooth muscle.

In canine colon, M2/M3 muscarinic receptors are coupled to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. We tested the hypothesis that this coupling is mediated by enzymes of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase family. RT-PCR and Western blotting demonstrated expression of two isoforms, PI 3-kinase-alpha and PI 3-kinase-gamma. Muscarinic stimulation of intact muscle strips (10 microM ACh) activated PI 3-kinase-gamma, ERK and p38 MAP kinases, and MAP kinase-activated protein kinase-2, whereas PI 3-kinase-alpha activation was not detected. Wortmannin (25 microM) abolished the activation of PI 3-kinase-gamma, ERK, and p38 MAP kinases. MAP kinase inhibition was a PI 3-kinase-gamma-specific effect, since wortmannin did not inhibit recombinant activated murine ERK2 MAP kinase, protein kinase C, Raf-1, or MAP kinase kinase. In cultured muscle cells, newborn calf serum (3%) activated PI 3-kinase-alpha and PI 3-kinase-gamma isoforms, ERK and p38 MAP kinases, and stimulated chemotactic cell migration. Using wortmannin and LY-294002 to inhibit PI 3-kinase activity and PD-098059 and SB-203580 to inhibit ERK and p38 MAP kinases, we established that these enzymes are functionally important for regulation of chemotactic migration of colonic myocytes.

Evidence for modulation of smooth muscle force by the p38 MAP kinase/HSP27 pathway.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases signal to proteins that could modify smooth muscle contraction. Caldesmon is a substrate for extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK) and p38 MAP kinases in vitro and has been suggested to modulate actin-myosin interaction and contraction. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is downstream of p38 MAP kinases presumably participating in the sustained phase of muscle contraction. We tested the role of caldesmon and HSP27 phosphorylation in the contractile response of vascular smooth muscle by using inhibitors of both MAP kinase pathways. In intact smooth muscle, PD-098059 abolished endothelin-1 (ET-1)-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK MAP kinases and caldesmon, but p38 MAP kinase activation and contractile response remained unaffected. SB-203580 reduced muscle contraction and inhibited p38 MAP kinase and HSP27 phosphorylation but had no effect on ERK MAP kinase and caldesmon phosphorylation. In permeabilized muscle fibers, SB-203580 and a polyclonal anti-HSP27 antibody attenuated ET-1-dependent contraction, whereas PD-098059 had no effect. These results suggest that ERK MAP kinases phosphorylate caldesmon in vivo but that activation of this pathway is unnecessary for force development. The generation of maximal force may be modulated by the p38 MAP kinase/HSP27 pathway.

Coupling of M(2) muscarinic receptors to ERK MAP kinases and caldesmon phosphorylation in colonic smooth muscle.

Coupling of M(2) and M(3) muscarinic receptors to activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and phosphorylation of caldesmon was studied in canine colonic smooth muscle strips in which M(3) receptors were selectively inactivated by N, N-dimethyl-4-piperidinyl diphenylacetate (4-DAMP) mustard (40 nM). ACh elicited activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1, ERK2, and p38 MAP kinases in control muscles and increased phosphorylation of caldesmon (Ser(789)), a putative downstream target of MAP kinases. Alkylation of M(3) receptors with 4-DAMP had only a modest inhibitory effect on ERK activation, p38 MAP kinase activation, and caldesmon phosphorylation. Subsequent treatment with 1 microM AF-DX 116 completely prevented activation of ERK and p38 MAP kinase and prevented caldesmon phosphorylation. Caldesmon phosphorylation was blocked by the MAP kinase/ERK kinase inhibitor PD-98509 but not by the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB-203580. These results indicate that colonic smooth muscle M(2) receptors are coupled to ERK and p38 MAP kinases. Activation of ERK, but not p38 MAP kinases, results in phosphorylation of caldesmon in vivo, which is a novel function for M(2) receptor activation in smooth muscle.

Phosphorylation of caldesmon by ERK MAP kinases in smooth muscle.

Phosphorylation of h-caldesmon has been proposed to regulate airway smooth muscle contraction. Both extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases phosphorylate h-caldesmon in vitro. To determine whether both enzymes phosphorylate caldesmon in vivo, phosphorylation-site-selective antibodies were used to assay phosphorylation of MAP kinase consensus sites. Stimulation of cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells with ACh or platelet-derived growth factor increased caldesmon phosphorylation at Ser789 by about twofold. Inhibiting ERK MAP kinase activation with 50 microM PD-98059 blocked agonist-induced caldesmon phosphorylation completely. Inhibiting p38 MAP kinases with 25 microM SB-203580 had no effect on ACh-induced caldesmon phosphorylation. Carbachol stimulation increased caldesmon phosphorylation at Ser789 in intact tracheal smooth muscle, which was blocked by the M(2) antagonist AF-DX 116 (1 microM). AF-DX 116 inhibited carbachol-induced isometric contraction by 15 +/- 1.4%, thus dissociating caldesmon phosphorylation from contraction. Activation of M(2) receptors leads to activation of ERK MAP kinases and phosphorylation of caldesmon with little or no functional effect on isometric force. P38 MAP kinases are also activated by muscarinic agonists, but they do not phosphorylate caldesmon in vivo.

A role for p38(MAPK)/HSP27 pathway in smooth muscle cell migration.

Smooth muscle cells are exposed to growth factors and cytokines that contribute to pathological states including airway hyperresponsiveness, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and hyperplasia. A common feature of several of these conditions is migration of smooth muscle beyond the initial boundary of the organ. Signal transduction pathways activated by extracellular signals that instigate migration are mostly undefined in smooth muscles. We measured migration of cultured tracheal myocytes in response to platelet-derived growth factor, interleukin-1beta, and transforming growth factor-beta. Cellular migration was blocked by SB203580, an inhibitor of p38(MAPK). Time course experiments demonstrated increased phosphorylation of p38(MAPK). Activation of p38(MAPK) resulted in the phosphorylation of HSP27 (heat shock protein 27), which may modulate F-actin polymerization. Inhibition of p38(MAPK) activity inhibited phosphorylation of HSP27. Adenovirus-mediated expression of activated mutant MAPK kinase 6b(E), an upstream activator for p38(MAPK), increased cell migration, whereas overexpression of p38alpha MAPK dominant negative mutant and an HSP27 phosphorylation mutant blocked cell migration completely. The results indicate that activation of the p38(MAPK) pathway by growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines regulates smooth muscle cell migration and may contribute to pathological states involving smooth muscle dysfunction.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression and activation in smooth muscle.

There is relatively little known about expression and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) through G protein-linked, seven-transmembrane-spanning (STM) receptors in mammalian smooth muscle. To investigate the role of p38 MAPK in smooth muscle, we cloned and sequenced the p38 MAPK expressed in canine smooth muscles. A full-length clone of the canine p38 MAPK expressed in colonic smooth muscle was obtained by RT-PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed 99% identity to the human p38 MAPK and differed from the human enzyme in only two conservative substitutions. The deduced molecular mass of the canine p38 MAPK is 41.2 kDa, with a calculated isoelectric point of 5.41. Canine p38 MAPK was found to be expressed in colonic, tracheal, and vascular smooth muscles and underwent increased tyrosine phosphorylation in response to motor neurotransmitters, acetylcholine (ACh) and neurokinin A (NKA), in colonic smooth muscle. There was an eightfold increase in p38 MAPK phosphorylation after a 10-min incubation with ACh and a threefold increase with NKA. We also identified a p38 immunoreactive kinase activity isolated from colonic smooth muscle homogenate by Mono Q chromatography. Partially purified p38 MAPK and activated recombinant p38 MAPK (Mpk2) phosphorylated both the known p38 MAPK substrate ATF2, as well as porcine stomach h-caldesmon in vitro. The results suggest that elements of the "stress-response" pathway may be coupled to transcriptional control as well as to cytoskeletal and possibly contractile protein phosphorylation in mammalian smooth muscle.

Endothelin-1 activates MAP kinases and c-Jun in pulmonary artery smooth muscle.

We tested the coupling of endothelin receptors to mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor c-Jun in intact canine pulmonary artery smooth muscle. Muscle rings denuded of endothelium were stimulated with 10(-7)M ET-1 and frozen during contraction. An <> kinase assay with myelin basic protein as substrate revealed protein kinase activities at 98, 75, 55, 50, 44 and 40 kDa. Erk1 and Erk2 MAPK were activated by ET-1 to 5.4+/-0.97 and 4.03+/-1. 54 times basal activity at 10 min. Using phospho-specific antibodies, we found increased threonine/tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 and JNK1 MAPK to 2.04+/-0.47 and 2.56+/-0.72 times basal. ET-1 increased the phosphorylation level of nuclear factor c-Jun with a time-course closely matching the activation of JNK1 and p38 MAPK. Therefore, endothelin receptors initiate intracellular signals leading to activation of Erk, p38 and JNK1 MAPK pathways and ultimately to nuclear targets. The activation of JNK1 MAPK seems closely related to the phosphorylation of nuclear transcription factor c-Jun.

Phosphorylation of the 27-kDa heat shock protein via p38 MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase in smooth muscle.

The 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) is expressed in a variety of tissues in the absence of stress and is thought to regulate actin filament dynamics, possibly by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism. HSP27 has also been suggested to be involved in contraction of intestinal smooth muscle. We have investigated phosphorylation of HSP27 in airway smooth muscle in response to the muscarinic agonist carbachol. Carbachol increased 32P incorporation into canine tracheal HSP27 and induced a shift in the distribution of charge isoforms on two-dimensional gels to more acidic, phosphorylated forms. The canine HSP27 amino acid sequence includes three serine residues corresponding to sites in human HSP27 known to be phosphorylated by mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase-2. To determine whether muscarinic receptors are coupled to a "stress response" pathway in smooth muscle culminating in phosphorylation of HSP27, we assayed MAPKAP kinase-2 activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, the enzyme thought to activate MAPKAP kinase-2. Recombinant canine HSP27 expressed in Escherichia coli was a substrate for MAPKAP kinase-2 in vitro as well as a substrate for endogenous smooth muscle HSP27 kinase, which was activated by carbachol. Carbachol also increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinases, reduced activation of endogenous HSP27 kinase activity and blocked the shift in HSP27 charge isoforms to acidic forms. We suggest that HSP27 in airway smooth muscle, in addition to being a stress response protein, is phosphorylated by a receptor-initiated signaling cascade involving muscarinic receptors, tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, and activation of MAPKAP kinase-2.

Effects of natriuretic peptides and endothelins on the nerve-evoked release of adenine nucleotides and nucleosides in guinea-pig vas deferens.

Two members of the natriuretic peptide family (rANF8-33 and pBNP1-32) and two members of the endothelin family (ET-1 and ET-2) have been studied for their effects on the neurogenically induced overflow of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), and adenosine (ADO) from the isolated guinea-pig vas deferens. rANF, pBNP, ET-1, and ET-2 each at 10 nM produced a significant increase in the evoked overflow of ATP, by 52, 85, 130, and 115%, respectively. None of the peptides altered the overflow of ADO. ET-1 and ET-2 each caused an increase in the overflow of ADP and AMP by an amount similar to their effects on ATP overflow, so that the ratio ATP:ADP remained 1:1 throughout. Natriuretic peptides, however, affected the overflow of ADP and AMP to a lesser extent than ATP, resulting in an ATP:ADP ratio of 2:1 after rANF and of 1.5:1 after pBNP. In addition, rANF or pBNP, but not ET-1 or ET-2, inhibited ecto-ATPase activity, suggesting that this mechanism may contribute to the facilitatory effect of the natriuretic peptides on the nerve-evoked overflow of ATP in this tissue.

Activation of MAP kinases in airway smooth muscle.

To test the hypothesis that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are activated by contractile agonists in intact nonproliferating airway smooth muscle, kinase activities were compared in resting and stimulated canine tracheal smooth muscle. Kinase activities in sodium dodecyl sulfate extracts were assayed by a gel renaturation method. Myelin basic protein kinase activities corresponding to ERK1 and ERK2 immunoreactive proteins were activated twofold above the basal level within 5 min by 1 microM carbachol. MAP kinase activity assayed in crude homogenates using a synthetic peptide substrate (APRTPGGRR) also increased twofold above basal in muscles stimulated with 1 microM carbachol. Two protein kinases separated by Mono-Q chromatography were identified on Western blots as ERK1 and ERK2 MAP kinases. Carbachol stimulation increased caldesmon phosphorylation in intact muscle, and purified caldesmon was a substrate for activated murine ERK2 MAP kinase. Activated ERK2 MAP kinase added to Triton X-100-permeabilized fibers potentiated Ca2+-induced contraction. The results show that ERK MAP kinases are activated after stimulation of muscarinic receptors in airway smooth muscle, which is consistent with coupling of MAP kinases to phosphorylation of caldesmon in vivo.

Activation of MAP kinases and phosphorylation of caldesmon in canine colonic smooth muscle.

1. Phosphorylation of caldesmon was assayed in canine colonic circular smooth muscle strips labelled with 32P and stimulated with 10 microM acetylcholine. Caldesmon was isolated by two-dimensional non-equilibrium pH gel electrophoresis. Stimulation with acetylcholine increased caldesmon phosphorylation significantly from a basal level of 0.6 +/- 0.07 to 1.1 +/- 0.15 mol P1 (mol caldesmon)-1 after 2 min. 2. MAP kinase activities were measured in SDS extracts of muscle by a gel reconstitution method using myelin basic protein. Myelin basic protein kinase activities were observed at 38, 44, 50 and 57 kDa by the gel reconstitution method. Endogenous caldesmon kinase activities were also identified by the gel reconstitution method at 38, 44 and 50 kDa. The 38 and 44 kDa kinases comigrated with proteins labelled by anti-ERK1 MAP kinase antibodies on Western blots. Both 38 and 44 kDa MBP kinase activities increased significantly during contractions induced by 10 microM acetylcholine, 0.1 microM neurokinin A and 70 mM potassium. 3. Phorbol dibutyrate (0.1 microM) potentiated activation of MAP kinases and contraction of depolarized muscles while producing a decrease in fura-2 fluorescence ratio. This suggests that protein kinase C activation is coupled to MAP kinase activity in colonic smooth muscle. 4. MAP kinases isolated form muscle homogenates by Mono Q chromatography were assayed using the specific MAP kinase substrate peptide APRTPGGRR. Stimulation of muscles for 2 min with 10 microM acetylcholine activated both ERK1 and ERK2 MAP kinase activities 2-fold. 5. To determine the effects of caldesmon phosphorylation by MAP kinase on the cross-bridge cycle, actin sliding velocity was measured with an in vitro motility assay. Unphosphorylated turkey gizzard caldesmon (3 microM) significantly reduced mean sliding velocity. Phosphorylation of caldesmon with sea star ERK1 MAP kinase reversed the inhibitory effect of caldesmon on sliding velocity. The results are consistent with a protein kinase cascade being activated by contractile agonists in gastrointestinal smooth muscle which activates ERK MAP kinases leading to phosphorylation of caldesmon. Phosphorylation of caldesmon in vivo may reverse inhibitory influences of caldesmon on cross-bridge cycling.

Comparative effects of the anticholinesterase drug galanthamine on the mechanical activity of isolated rat jejunum and ileum.

1. The effects of cumulatively applied galanthamine hydrobromide (0.1-300 microM) on the mechanical activity of isolated proximal jejunum and distal ileum were studied. 2. Galanthamine was found to increase the spontaneous mechanical activity and exert by itself an enhancement of the smooth muscle tone in the two segments, both effects being more pronounced in ileum than in jejunum. 3. The galanthamine-induced augmentation of the spontaneous mechanical activity was tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive, whereas the contractile effect of the drug on the tone was TTX-insensitive in both segments. 4. The present results showed not only quantitative differences in the tonic effects of galanthamine in both intestinal segments but they suggest some qualitative differences in cholinergic neuronal control along the gastro-intestinal tract.