Dysfunction of calcium handling by smooth muscle in hypertension

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 366-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Y. Kwan

Dysfunction of ion handling, including binding and fluxes (passive and active transport) of physiologically important ions such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, by vascular smooth muscle cell membranes has repeatedly been reported to be associated with the pathophysiology of hypertension. The specific purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate the evidence for alterations of calcium ion (Ca2+) handling by vascular smooth muscle in various forms of hypertension in the animal model on the basis that regulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration is a complex and yet vitally important process for a normal function of vascular smooth muscle and that derangement of such a regulation may result in excessive retention of cytoplasmic Ca2+, contribute toward increase of total peripheral resistance, and ultimately lead to elevation of blood pressure. Emphasis is placed upon the consideration of the usefulness of the subcellular membrane fractionation technique in studies of binding and transport of Ca2+ by vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle membranes from genetic as well as experimental hypertensive rats. The limitations of the interpretation of data using such an approach are also considered. Decreased active transport of Ca2+ across isolated plasma membrane vesicles from large and small arteries occurs in several but not all forms of hypertension. This membrane abnormality also occurs in nonvascular smooth muscles and other tissues or cells not confined to the cardiovascular system in genetic hypertension, but not in experimental hypertension. A hypothesis of general membrane defects in spontaneous hypertension is proposed. Since the long-term regulation of blood pressure at the sites of resistant blood vessels is under finely integrated and interacting control systems, namely, the myogenic, neurogenic, and humoral controls, involving many tissues or cells not necessarily confined to cardiovascular system, membrane abnormalities in Ca2+ handling by tissues in each or a combination of these control systems can conceivably lead to hypertension.

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1748
Author(s):  
Eda Demirel ◽  
Caroline Arnold ◽  
Jaspal Garg ◽  
Marius Andreas Jäger ◽  
Carsten Sticht ◽  
...  

The regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5) acts as an inhibitor of Gαq/11 and Gαi/o activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which regulate arterial tone and blood pressure. While RGS5 has been described as a crucial determinant regulating the VSMC responses during various vascular remodeling processes, its regulatory features in resting VSMCs and its impact on their phenotype are still under debate and were subject of this study. While Rgs5 shows a variable expression in mouse arteries, neither global nor SMC-specific genetic ablation of Rgs5 affected the baseline blood pressure yet elevated the phosphorylation level of the MAP kinase ERK1/2. Comparable results were obtained with 3D cultured resting VSMCs. In contrast, overexpression of RGS5 in 2D-cultured proliferating VSMCs promoted their resting state as evidenced by microarray-based expression profiling and attenuated the activity of Akt- and MAP kinase-related signaling cascades. Moreover, RGS5 overexpression attenuated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, VSMC proliferation, and migration, which was mimicked by selectively inhibiting Gαi/o but not Gαq/11 activity. Collectively, the heterogeneous expression of Rgs5 suggests arterial blood vessel type-specific functions in mouse VSMCs. This comprises inhibition of acute agonist-induced Gαq/11/calcium release as well as the support of a resting VSMC phenotype with low ERK1/2 activity by suppressing the activity of Gαi/o.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4525
Author(s):  
Amanda St. Paul ◽  
Cali B. Corbett ◽  
Rachael Okune ◽  
Michael V. Autieri

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western and developing world, and the incidence of cardiovascular disease is increasing with the longer lifespan afforded by our modern lifestyle. Vascular diseases including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke comprise the majority of cardiovascular diseases, and therefore represent a significant medical and socioeconomic burden on our society. It may not be surprising that these conditions overlap and potentiate each other when we consider the many cellular and molecular similarities between them. These intersecting points are manifested in clinical studies in which lipid lowering therapies reduce blood pressure, and anti-hypertensive medications reduce atherosclerotic plaque. At the molecular level, the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is the target, integrator, and effector cell of both atherogenic and the major effector protein of the hypertensive signal Angiotensin II (Ang II). Together, these signals can potentiate each other and prime the artery and exacerbate hypertension and atherosclerosis. Therefore, VSMCs are the fulcrum in progression of these diseases and, therefore, understanding the effects of atherogenic stimuli and Ang II on the VSMC is key to understanding and treating atherosclerosis and hypertension. In this review, we will examine studies in which hypertension and atherosclerosis intersect on the VSMC, and illustrate common pathways between these two diseases and vascular aging.


2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (7) ◽  
pp. H861-H872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujia Wang ◽  
Zenghui Wu ◽  
Eric Thorin ◽  
Johanne Tremblay ◽  
Julie L. Lavoie ◽  
...  

EPH kinases and their ligands, ephrins (EFNs), have vital and diverse biological functions, although their function in blood pressure (BP) control has not been studied in detail. In the present study, we report that Efnb3 gene knockout (KO) led to increased BP in female but not male mice. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were target cells for EFNB3 function in BP regulation. The deletion of EFNB3 augmented contractility of VSMCs from female but not male KO mice, compared with their wild-type (WT) counterparts. Estrogen augmented VSMC contractility while testosterone reduced it in the absence of EFNB3, although these sex hormones had no effect on the contractility of VSMCs from WT mice. The effect of estrogen on KO VSMC contractility was via a nongenomic pathway involving GPER, while that of testosterone was likely via a genomic pathway, according to VSMC contractility assays and GPER knockdown assays. The sex hormone-dependent contraction phenotypes in KO VSMCs were reflected in BP in vivo. Ovariectomy rendered female KO mice normotensive. At the molecular level, EFNB3 KO in VSMCs resulted in reduced myosin light chain kinase phosphorylation, an event enhancing sensitivity to Ca2+ flux in VSMCs. Our investigation has revealed previously unknown EFNB3 functions in BP regulation and show that EFNB3 might be a hypertension risk gene in certain individuals.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Cardoso-Teixeira ◽  
Klausen Oliveira-Abreu ◽  
Levy Gabriel de Freitas Brito ◽  
Andrelina Noronha Coelho-de-Souza ◽  
José Henrique Leal-Cardoso

Terpenes are a class of chemical compounds with carbon and hydrogen atoms in their structure. They can be classified into several classes according to the quantity of isoprene units present in its structure. Terpenes can have their structure modified by the addition of various chemical radicals. When these molecules are modified by the addition of atoms other than carbon and hydrogen, they become terpenoids. Terpenes and terpenoids come from the secondary metabolism of several plants. They can be found in the leaves, fruits, stem, flowers, and roots. The concentration of terpenes and terpenoids in these organs can vary according to several factors such as the season, collection method, and time of the day. Several biological activities and physiological actions are attributed to terpenes and terpenoids. Studies in the literature demonstrate that these molecules have antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antispasmodic, and antidiabetogenic activities. Additionally, repellent and gastroprotective activity is reported. Among the most prominent activities of monoterpenes and monoterpenoids are those on the cardiovascular system. Reports on literature reveal the potential effect of monoterpenes and monoterpenoids on systemic blood pressure. Studies show that these substances have a hypotensive and bradycardic effect. In addition, the inotropic activity, both positive and negative, of these compounds has been reported. Studies also have shown that some monoterpenes and monoterpenoids also have a vasorelaxing activity on several vascular beds. These effects are attributed, in many cases to the blocking of ion channels, such as voltage-gated calcium channels. It can also be observed that monoterpenes and monoterpenoids can have their effects modulated by the action of the vascular endothelium. In addition, it has been shown that the molecular structure and the presence of chemical groups influence the potency and efficacy of these compounds on vascular beds. Here, the effect of several monoterpenes and monoterpenoids on systemic blood pressure and vascular smooth muscle will be reported.


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