Background:
We have shown that inhibition of cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) by sildenafil (SIL) blunts cardiomyocyte β-adrenergic stimulation, but this effect depends on the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to generate a specific pool of cyclic GMP. PDE5A normally localizes at Z-bands in myocytes, but localization is more diffuse in cells with eNOS chronically inhibited. Here, we tested whether the influence of eNOS on PDE5A localization and anti-adrenergic action depends upon cyclic GMP.
Methods and Results:
Mouse
in vivo
hemodynamics were assessed by pressure-volume analysis. Isoproterenol (ISO: 20 ng/kg/min,
iv
) stimulated contractility was inhibited by SIL (100 μg/kg/min,
iv
), however this did not occur in mice given N
w
-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME: 1 mg/mL in drinking water for 1 week) to inhibit NOS. Myocytes transfected with an adenoviral vector encoding a fusion protein (PDE5A-DSred)
in vivo
were subsequently isolated and examined for PDE5A/α-actinin localization. Normal cells showed strong co-localization, whereas L-NAME-treated cells had diffuse PDE5A distribution. If L-NAME was stopped for 1-wk washout, SIL regained anti-adrenergic activity, and PDE5A z-band localization was restored. If L-NAME was continued but combined with Bay 41– 8543 (BAY: 30 mg/kg/day,
po
), a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activator, both PDE5A localization and SIL anti-adrenergic action were also restored. Chronic L-NAME suppressed phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated protein (VASP), a marker of protein kinase G (PKG) activity, in hearts acutely exposed to ISO+SIL. After L-NAME washout or L-NAME+BAY, VASP phosphorylation with ISO+SIL was restored.
Conclusion:
NOS-dependent modulation of both PDE5A sarcomere localization and anti-adrenergic activity depends upon sGC-derived cyclic GMP, and is linked to PKG activation. This suggests sGC activators may have synergistic effects with PDE5A inhibitors.
Dissection of a Hypoxia-induced, Nitric Oxide–mediated Signaling Cascade