Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Homocysteine regulates endothelin type B receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells

Chen, Yulong ; Zhang, Hongmei ; Liu, Enqi ; Xu, Cang bao LU and Zhang, Yaping (2016) In Vascular Pharmacology 87. p.100-109
Abstract

Vascular smooth muscle endothelin type B (ETB) receptor is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for CVDs. The present study was designed to examine the hypothesis that homocysteine (Hcy) up-regulates vascular smooth muscle ETB receptors. In vitro experiments were performed in rat superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The rat SMA or VSMCs were cultured in serum-free medium for 24 h in the presence and absence of Hcy with or without specific inhibitors for the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and NF-κB. In vivo, the rats received subcutaneous injections of Hcy in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors... (More)

Vascular smooth muscle endothelin type B (ETB) receptor is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for CVDs. The present study was designed to examine the hypothesis that homocysteine (Hcy) up-regulates vascular smooth muscle ETB receptors. In vitro experiments were performed in rat superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The rat SMA or VSMCs were cultured in serum-free medium for 24 h in the presence and absence of Hcy with or without specific inhibitors for the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and NF-κB. In vivo, the rats received subcutaneous injections of Hcy in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors for the ERK1/2 signaling pathway (U0126) for 3 weeks. Levels of protein expression were determined using Western blot analysis. The contractile responses to sarafotoxin 6c (an ETB receptor agonist) were studied using a sensitive myograph. The blood pressure of the rats was measured via a noninvasive tail-cuff plethysmography method. The results from in vitro experiments showed that Hcy concentration-dependently increased the ETB receptor-mediated contractile responses, and up-regulated ETB receptor expression, in rat SMA. Blockage of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and NF-κB using the MEK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059 and U0126) or IκB kinase inhibitor (wedelolactone) significantly abolished Hcy-induced up-regulation of ETB receptor. Finally, we used VSMCs as a cellular model to further validate our finding. In vivo study found that hyperhomocysteinemia up-regulated ETB receptor expression, and elevated the blood pressure of rats via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, Hcy up-regulated vascular smooth muscle ETB receptor via activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and NF-κB.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Endothelin type B receptor, ERK1/2, Homocysteine, Hyperhomocysteinemia, NF-κB
in
Vascular Pharmacology
volume
87
pages
10 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:27592458
  • wos:000390633000016
  • scopus:84995519544
ISSN
1537-1891
DOI
10.1016/j.vph.2016.08.011
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6c210d72-4c6c-4a3b-bee5-770840ee7f4d
date added to LUP
2016-12-30 07:58:09
date last changed
2024-01-04 20:00:32
@article{6c210d72-4c6c-4a3b-bee5-770840ee7f4d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Vascular smooth muscle endothelin type B (ET<sub>B</sub>) receptor is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for CVDs. The present study was designed to examine the hypothesis that homocysteine (Hcy) up-regulates vascular smooth muscle ET<sub>B</sub> receptors. In vitro experiments were performed in rat superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The rat SMA or VSMCs were cultured in serum-free medium for 24 h in the presence and absence of Hcy with or without specific inhibitors for the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and NF-κB. In vivo, the rats received subcutaneous injections of Hcy in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors for the ERK1/2 signaling pathway (U0126) for 3 weeks. Levels of protein expression were determined using Western blot analysis. The contractile responses to sarafotoxin 6c (an ET<sub>B</sub> receptor agonist) were studied using a sensitive myograph. The blood pressure of the rats was measured via a noninvasive tail-cuff plethysmography method. The results from in vitro experiments showed that Hcy concentration-dependently increased the ET<sub>B</sub> receptor-mediated contractile responses, and up-regulated ET<sub>B</sub> receptor expression, in rat SMA. Blockage of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and NF-κB using the MEK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059 and U0126) or IκB kinase inhibitor (wedelolactone) significantly abolished Hcy-induced up-regulation of ET<sub>B</sub> receptor. Finally, we used VSMCs as a cellular model to further validate our finding. In vivo study found that hyperhomocysteinemia up-regulated ET<sub>B</sub> receptor expression, and elevated the blood pressure of rats via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, Hcy up-regulated vascular smooth muscle ET<sub>B</sub> receptor via activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and NF-κB.</p>}},
  author       = {{Chen, Yulong and Zhang, Hongmei and Liu, Enqi and Xu, Cang bao and Zhang, Yaping}},
  issn         = {{1537-1891}},
  keywords     = {{Endothelin type B receptor; ERK1/2; Homocysteine; Hyperhomocysteinemia; NF-κB}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{100--109}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Vascular Pharmacology}},
  title        = {{Homocysteine regulates endothelin type B receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vph.2016.08.011}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.vph.2016.08.011}},
  volume       = {{87}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}