scholarly journals A method for noninvasive longitudinal measurements of [Ca2+] in arterioles of hypertensive optical biosensor mice

2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (2) ◽  
pp. H173-H181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph R. H. Mauban ◽  
Seth T. Fairfax ◽  
Mark A. Rizzo ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Withrow Gil Wier

We used two-photon (2-p) Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy to provide serial, noninvasive measurements of [Ca2+] in arterioles of living “biosensor” mice. These express a genetically encoded Ca2+ indicator (GECI), either FRET-based exMLCK or intensity-based GCaMP2. The FRET ratios, Rmin and Rmax, required for in vivo Ca2+ calibration of exMLCK were obtained in isolated arteries. For in vivo experiments, mice were anesthetized (1.5% isoflurane), and arterioles within a depilated ear were visualized through the intact skin (i.e., noninvasively), by 2-p excitation of exMLCK (at 820 nm) or GCaMP2 (at 920 nm). Spontaneous or agonist-evoked [Ca2+] transients in arteriolar smooth muscle cells were imaged (at 2 Hz) with both exMLCK and GCaMP2. To examine changes in arteriolar [Ca2+] that might accompany hypertension, five exMLCK mice were implanted with telemetric blood pressure transducers and osmotic minipumps containing ANG II (350 ng·kg−1·min−1) and fed a high (6%)-salt diet for 9 days. [Ca2+] was measured every other day in five smooth muscle cells of two to three arterioles in each animal. Prior to ANG II/salt, [Ca2+] was 246 ± 42 nM. [Ca2+] increased transiently to 599 nM on day 2 after beginning ANG II/salt, then remained elevated at 331 ± 42 nM for 4 more days, before returning to 265 ± 47 nM 6 days after removal of ANG II/salt. In summary, two-photon excitation of exMLCK and GCaMP2 provides a method for noninvasive, longitudinal quantification of [Ca2+] dynamics and vascular structure in individual arterioles of a particular animal over an extended period of time, a capability that should enhance future studies of hypertension and vascular function.

2005 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna CASTOLDI ◽  
Serena REDAELLI ◽  
Willy M. M. van de GREEF ◽  
Cira R. T. di GIOIA ◽  
Giuseppe BUSCA ◽  
...  

Ang II (angiotensin II) has multiple effects on vascular smooth muscle cells through the modulation of different classes of genes. Using the mRNA differential-display method to investigate gene expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells in culture in response to 3 h of Ang II stimulation, we observed that Ang II down-regulated the expression of a member of the family of transmembrane receptors for Wnt proteins that was identified as Fzd2 [Fzd (frizzled)-2 receptor]. Fzds are a class of highly conserved genes playing a fundamental role in the developmental processes. In vitro, time course experiments demonstrated that Ang II induced a significant increase (P<0.05) in Fzd2 expression after 30 min, whereas it caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in Fzd2 expression at 3 h. A similar rapid up-regulation after Ang II stimulation for 30 min was evident for TGFβ1 (transforming growth factor β1; P<0.05). To investigate whether Ang II also modulated Fzd2 expression in vivo, exogenous Ang II was administered to Sprague–Dawley rats (200 ng·kg−1 of body weight·min−1; subcutaneously) for 1 and 4 weeks. Control rats received normal saline. After treatment, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher (P<0.01), whereas plasma renin activity was suppressed (P<0.01) in Ang II- compared with the saline-treated rats. Ang II administration for 1 week did not modify Fzd2 expression in aorta of Ang II-treated rats, whereas Ang II administration for 4 weeks increased Fzd2 mRNA expression (P<0.05) in the tunica media of the aorta, resulting in a positive immunostaining for fibronectin at this time point. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Ang II modulates Fzd2 expression in aortic smooth muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (2) ◽  
pp. H635-H643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Castoldi ◽  
Cira R. T. di Gioia ◽  
Federico Pieruzzi ◽  
Cristina D'Orlando ◽  
Willy M. M. van de Greef ◽  
...  

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) are involved in tissue remodeling processes. TIMP-1 is the main native inhibitor of MMPs and it contributes to the development of tissue fibrosis. It is known that ANG II plays a fundamental role in vascular remodeling. In this study, we investigated whether ANG II modulates TIMP-1 expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. In vitro, ANG II induces TIMP-1 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. The maximal increase in TIMP-1 expression was present after 3 h of ANG II stimulation. The ANG II increase in TIMP-1 expression was mediated by the ANG type 1 receptors because it was blocked by losartan. The increase in TIMP-1 expression was present after the first ANG II treatment, whereas repeated treatments (3 and 5 times) did not modify TIMP-1 expression. In vivo, exogenous ANG II was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats (200 ng · kg−1· min−1sc) for 6 and 25 days. Control rats received physiological saline. After treatment, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher ( P < 0.01), whereas plasma renin activity was suppressed ( P < 0.01), in ANG II-treated rats. ANG II increased TIMP-1 expression in the aorta of ANG II-treated rats both at the mRNA ( P < 0.05) and protein levels as evaluated by Western blotting ( P < 0.05) and/or immunohistochemistry. Neither histological modifications at the vascular wall nor differences in collagen content in the tunica media were present in both the ANG II- and saline-treated groups. Our data demonstrate that ANG II increases TIMP-1 expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. In vivo, both short- and long-term chronic ANG II treatments increase TIMP-1 expression in the rat aorta. TIMP-1 induction by ANG II in aortic smooth muscle cells occurs in the absence of histological changes at the vascular wall.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (2) ◽  
pp. F260-F270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjarne M. Iversen ◽  
William J. Arendshorst

Experiments were conducted to gain insight into mechanisms responsible for exaggerated renal vascular reactivity to ANG II and vasopressin (AVP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) during the development of hypertension. Cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured by ratiometric fura 2 fluorescence and a microscope-based photometer. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) from preglomerular arterioles were isolated and dispersed using an iron oxide-sieving method plus collagenase treatment. ANG II and AVP produced rapid and sustained increases in [Ca2+]i. ANG II elicited similar dose-dependent increases in [Ca2+]iin SMC from SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). In contrast, AVP caused almost twofold larger responses in afferent arteriolar SMC from SHR. ANG II effects were inhibited by the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan. AVP action was blocked by the V1receptor antagonist [d(CH2)5,Tyr(NH2)9]AVP. In SMC pretreated with nifedipine, neither ANG II nor AVP elicited [Ca2+]iresponses. Poststimulation nifedipine reversed elevated [Ca2+]ito basal levels. Short-term reductions in external [Ca2+]i(EGTA) mimicked the nifedipine effects. Our study shows that AT1 and V1 receptors stimulate [Ca2+]iby a common mechanism characterized by preferential action on voltage-gated L-type channels sensitive to dihydropyridines. Calcium signaling elicited by AT1receptors does not differ between SHR and WKY; thus the in vivo exaggerated reactivity may be dependent on interactions with other cell types, e.g., endothelium. In contrast, AVP produced larger changes in [Ca2+]iin arteriolar SMC from SHR, and such direct effects can account for the exaggerated renal blood flow responses.


1990 ◽  
Vol 1 (9) ◽  
pp. 649-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
A W Hahn ◽  
T J Resink ◽  
T Scott-Burden ◽  
J Powell ◽  
Y Dohi ◽  
...  

Endothelin (ET), a peptide originally isolated from the supernatants of cultured endothelial cells, exerts a wide variety of biological effects in different tissues. Endothelial-cell-synthesized ET-1 has been proposed to act in a paracrine manner on adjacent smooth muscle cells (SMC) in vivo, with effects that include both vascular reactivity (vasodilation/vasoconstriction) and mitogenesis. This study, by the use of immunocytochemically characterized SMC (rVSMC) isolated from the aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats, has investigated a possible autocrine role for ET in regulation of the vasculature. Although quiescent cultures of rVSMC apparently did not constitutively express prepro ET-1mRNA, ET-specific transcripts could be induced by a variety of growth factors (transforming growth factor beta [TGF-beta]; platelet-derived growth factor-AA homodimer [PDGF-A chain]) and vasoactive hormones (angiotensin II [Ang II], arginine-vasopressin, and ET-1 itself). The kinetics for prepro ET-1mRNA induction in rVSMC were characteristically rapid in onset and transient. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by 48 h pretreatment of rVSMC with phorbol ester markedly reduced the subsequent ability of rVSMC to express ET-1 transcripts and secrete ET-1 peptide in response to Ang II. Inducible prepro ET-1mRNA expression was accompanied by a cycloheximide-inhibitable release of ET-1 peptide into the medium of rVSMC. ET-1 peptide was determined by both radioreceptor- and radioimmunoassay. Stimulated rVSMC accumulated ET-1 (approximately 200 pg.10(6) cells-1 x 4 h-1) at levels that attained biological relevance (approximately 10(-10) M). Sep-pak C18 extracts of medium from stimulated rVSMC elicited contraction of isolated endothelium-denuded rat mesenteric resistance vessels, and this response was characteristically protracted and difficult to "wash out." Synthetic (porcine) ET-1 promoted the expression of transcripts for PDGF-A chain, TGF-beta, and thrombospondin in quiescent rVSMC. Such effects of ET-1 on gene expression may be relevant to the mitogenic potential of ET-1 on VSMC. Our findings imply a role for ET-1 in the control of vascular function via both paracrine and autocrine regulatory mechanisms. The expression of prepro ET-1mRNA and peptide biosynthesis by rVSMC may have both short-term (e.g., vasoconstriction) and long-term (e.g., structural remodeling) consequences. A sustained loop of autocrine stimulation by ET-1 in SMC could contribute toward the pathogenesis of vasospasm and/or atherosclerosis.


Blood ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
MC Galmiche ◽  
VE Koteliansky ◽  
J Briere ◽  
P Herve ◽  
P Charbord

In human long-term marrow cultures connective tissue-forming stromal cells are an essential cellular component of the adherent layer where granulomonocytic progenitors are generated from week 2 onward. We have previously found that most stromal cells in confluent cultures were stained by monoclonal antibodies directed against smooth muscle- specific actin isoforms. The present study was carried out to evaluate the time course of alpha-SM-positive stromal cells and to search for other cytoskeletal proteins specific for smooth muscle cells. It was found that the expression of alpha-SM in stromal cells was time dependent. Most of the adherent spindle-shaped, vimentin-positive stromal cells observed during the first 2 weeks of culture were alpha- SM negative. On the contrary, from week 3 to week 7, most interdigitated stromal cells contained stress fibers whose backbone was made of alpha-SM-positive microfilaments. In addition, in confluent cultures, other proteins specific for smooth muscle were detected: metavinculin, h-caldesmon, smooth muscle myosin heavy chains, and calponin. This study confirms the similarity between stromal cells and smooth muscle cells. Moreover, our results reveal that cells in vivo with the phenotype closest to that of stromal cells are immature fetal smooth muscle cells and subendothelial intimal smooth muscle cells; a cell subset with limited development following birth but extensively recruited in atherosclerotic lesions. Stromal cells very probably derive from mesenchymal cells that differentiate along this distinctive vascular smooth muscle cell pathway. In humans, this differentiation seems crucial for the maintenance of granulomonopoiesis. These in vitro studies were completed by examination of trephine bone marrow biopsies from adults without hematologic abnormalities. These studies revealed the presence of alpha-SM-positive cells at diverse locations: vascular smooth muscle cells in the media of arteries and arterioles, pericytes lining capillaries, myoid cells lining sinuses at the abluminal side of endothelial cells or found within the hematopoietic logettes, and endosteal cells lining bone trabeculae. More or less mature cells of the granulocytic series were in intimate contact with the thin cytoplasmic extensions of myoid cells. Myoid cells may be the in vivo counterpart of stromal cells with the above-described vascular smooth muscle phenotype.


1994 ◽  
Vol 269 (11) ◽  
pp. 8504-8509
Author(s):  
K.A. Pritchard ◽  
M.K. O'Banion ◽  
J.M. Miano ◽  
N. Vlasic ◽  
U.G. Bhatia ◽  
...  

Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Herrera ◽  
Matthew A Sparks ◽  
Beverky H Koller ◽  
Thomas M Coffman

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a major prostanoid produced by the kidney having the potential to influence renal blood flow, Na excretion, and thus mean arterial pressure (BP). PGE2 actions are mediated by four distinct E-prostanoid (EP) receptor isoforms: EP1-EP4. The EP4 receptor (EP4R) triggers macula densa stimulation of renin, induces vasodilation, and may inhibit epithelial sodium transport. Thus, the impact of EP4Rs on BP may differ with the sites of PGE2 synthesis and pattern of EP4R activation within the kidney. To examine the role of EP4R on BP regulation we generated EP4R-deficient mice. Because deletion of EP4R in utero causes peri-natal mortality due to persistent patent ductus arteriosus, we carried out conditional deletion by crossing EP4flox/flox with a transgenic line with tamoxifen-inducible Cre expression in all tissues. Resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) measured by radiotelemetry was increased by 5±1mm Hg (p<0.05) in mice with total-body EP4R-deficiency (EP4R-TBKO) vs. controls. In addition, EP4R-TBKOs had an exaggerated increase in MAP with high-salt (6% NaCl) feeding (MAP increase: 5±1 vs. 2±1mmHg for controls; p<0.05) and during angiotensin II (Ang II)-dependent hypertension (MAP increase: 37±2 vs. 24±3mmHg for controls; p<0.05). We next hypothesized that exaggerated hypertension in the EP4R-TBKOs was due to elimination of compensatory EP4R-depedent vasodilation mediated by direct actions in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Accordingly, we generated mice lacking EP4R in VSMCs (EP4R-SMKOs) using EP4flox/flox and transgenic mice with tamoxifen-inducible expression of Cre limited to smooth muscle cells. In contrast to the EP4R-TBKOs, elimination of EP4R only from VSMC reduced resting MAP by 5±1mm Hg (p<0.04) but did not affect the BP response to high salt feeding (MAP change: 2±1 vs. 2±1 mm Hg; ns) or chronic Ang II infusion (MAP increase: 29±3 vs. 34±4 mm Hg; ns). Thus, the EP4R modulates resting MAP but its specific impact may vary between EP4R populations in different cell lineages. EP4Rs resist the development of salt- and Ang II-dependent hypertension. These anti-hypertensive actions are not mediated by direct effects of EP4R in VSMCs, but may involve EP4R in endothelium, brain, or kidney epithelia.


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