scholarly journals PERSPECTIVES: Silencing vascular smooth muscle ATP-sensitive K+channels with caveolin-1

2010 ◽  
Vol 588 (17) ◽  
pp. 3133-3134
Author(s):  
William C. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
K Channels ◽  
Caveolin 1

Urokinase-receptor-mediated phenotypic changes in vascular smooth muscle cells require the involvement of membrane rafts

2009 ◽  
Vol 423 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Kiyan ◽  
Graham Smith ◽  
Hermann Haller ◽  
Inna Dumler
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Caveolin 1 ◽  
Phenotypic Changes ◽  
Dependent Cell

The cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains lipid rafts play a key role in cell activation by recruiting and excluding specific signalling components of cell-surface receptors upon receptor engagement. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol)-linked uPAR [uPA (urokinase-type plasminogen activator) receptor], which can be found in lipid rafts and in non-raft fractions, can mediate the differentiation of VSMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells) towards a pathophysiological de-differentiated phenotype. However, the mechanism by which uPAR and its ligand uPA regulate VSMC phenotypic changes is not known. In the present study, we provide evidence that the molecular machinery of uPAR-mediated VSMC differentiation employs lipid rafts. We show that the disruption of rafts in VSMCs by membrane cholesterol depletion using MCD (methyl-β-cyclodextrin) or filipin leads to the up-regulation of uPAR and cell de-differentiation. uPAR silencing by means of interfering RNA resulted in an increased expression of contractile proteins. Consequently, disruption of lipid rafts impaired the expression of these proteins and transcriptional activity of related genes. We provide evidence that this effect was mediated by uPAR. Similar effects were observed in VSMCs isolated from Cav1−/− (caveolin-1-deficient) mice. Despite the level of uPAR being significantly higher after the disruption of the rafts, uPA/uPAR-dependent cell migration was impaired. However, caveolin-1 deficiency impaired only uPAR-dependent cell proliferation, whereas cell migration was strongly up-regulated in these cells. Our results provide evidence that rafts are required in the regulation of uPAR-mediated VSMC phenotypic modulations. These findings suggest further that, in the context of uPA/uPAR-dependent processes, caveolae-associated and non-associated rafts represent different signalling membrane domains.

Involvement of K+ channels in the relaxant effects of YC-1 in vascular smooth muscle

1999 ◽  
Vol 382 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Seitz ◽  
Jörg W Wegener ◽  
Johanna Rupp ◽  
Makino Watanabe ◽  
Andreas Jost ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
K Channels

scholarly journals EDHF: an update

2009 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 139-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Félétou ◽  
Paul M. Vanhoutte
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
K Channels ◽  
Acid Metabolites

The endothelium controls vascular tone not only by releasing NO and prostacyclin, but also by other pathways causing hyperpolarization of the underlying smooth muscle cells. This characteristic was at the origin of the term ‘endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor’ (EDHF). However, this acronym includes different mechanisms. Arachidonic acid metabolites derived from the cyclo-oxygenases, lipoxygenases and cytochrome P450 pathways, H2O2, CO, H2S and various peptides can be released by endothelial cells. These factors activate different families of K+ channels and hyperpolarization of the vascular smooth muscle cells contribute to the mechanisms leading to their relaxation. Additionally, another pathway associated with the hyperpolarization of both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells contributes also to endothelium-dependent relaxations (EDHF-mediated responses). These responses involve an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of the endothelial cells, followed by the opening of SKCa and IKCa channels (small and intermediate conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels respectively). These channels have a distinct subcellular distribution: SKCa are widely distributed over the plasma membrane, whereas IKCa are preferentially expressed in the endothelial projections toward the smooth muscle cells. Following SKCa activation, smooth muscle hyperpolarization is preferentially evoked by electrical coupling through myoendothelial gap junctions, whereas, following IKCa activation, K+ efflux can activate smooth muscle Kir2.1 and/or Na+/K+-ATPase. EDHF-mediated responses are altered by aging and various pathologies. Therapeutic interventions can restore these responses, suggesting that the improvement in the EDHF pathway contributes to their beneficial effect. A better characterization of EDHF-mediated responses should allow the determination of whether or not new drugable targets can be identified for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

PCR-based analysis of voltage-gated K+ channels in vascular smooth muscle

1995 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Zahradka ◽  
Karen D. Harris ◽  
Barbara Triggs-Raine ◽  
Ginette Lamontagne ◽  
Normand Leblanc
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
K Channels ◽  
Voltage Gated
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