scholarly journals Androgen Receptor-Dependent Activation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Vascular Endothelial Cells: Role of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Pathway

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 1822-1828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yu ◽  
Masahiro Akishita ◽  
Masato Eto ◽  
Sumito Ogawa ◽  
Bo-Kyung Son ◽  
...  

The mechanisms of testosterone-induced vasodilatation are not fully understood. This study investigated the effect of testosterone on nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and its molecular mechanism using human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). Testosterone at physiological concentrations (1–100 nm) induced a rapid (15–30 min) increase in NO production, which was associated with phosphorylation and activation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Then, the involvement of the androgen receptor (AR), which is abundantly expressed in HAEC, was examined. The effect of testosterone on eNOS activation and NO production were abolished by pretreatment with an AR antagonist nilutamide and by transfection with AR small interference RNA. In contrast, testosterone-induced eNOS phosphorylation was unchanged by pretreatment with an aromatase inhibitor or by transfection with ERα small interference RNA. 5α-Dihydrotestosterone, a nonaromatizable androgen, also stimulated eNOS phosphorylation. Next, the signaling cascade that leads to eNOS phosphorylation was explored. Testosterone stimulated rapid phosphorylation of Akt in a time- and dose-dependent manner, with maximal response at 15–60 min. The rapid phosphorylation of eNOS or NO production induced by testosterone was inhibited by Akt inhibitor SH-5 or by phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. Co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed a testosterone-dependent interaction between AR and the p85α subunit of PI3-kinase. In conclusion, testosterone rapidly induces NO production via AR-dependent activation of eNOS in HAEC. Activation of PI3-kinase/Akt signaling and the direct interaction of AR with p85α are involved, at least in part, in eNOS phosphorylation.

Endocrinology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-bao Chen ◽  
Ian M. Bird ◽  
Jing Zheng ◽  
Ronald R. Magness

Abstract Rapid uterine vasodilatation after estrogen administration is believed to be mediated by endothelial production of nitric oxide (NO) via endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). However, the mechanism(s) by which estrogen activates eNOS in uterine artery endothelial cells (UAEC) is unknown. In this study, we observed that estradiol-17β (E2) and E2-BSA rapidly (<2 min) increased total NOx production in UAEC in vitro. This was associated with rapid eNOS phosphorylation and activation but was unaltered by pretreatment with actinomycin-D. estrogen receptor-α protein was detectable in isolated plasma membrane proteins by immunoblotting, and E2-BSA-fluorescein isothiocyanate binding was evident on the plasma membrane of UAEC. E2 did not mobilize intracellular Ca2+, but E2 and ionomycin in combination induced greater eNOS phosphorylation than either E2 or ionomycin alone. E2 did not stimulate rapid Akt phosphorylation. E2 stimulated rapid ERK2/1 activation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, with maximal responses observed at 5–10 min with E2 (10 nm to 1 μm) treatment. Acute activation of eNOS and NOx production by E2 could be inhibited by PD98059 but not by LY294002. When E2-BSA was applied, similar responses in NOx production, eNOS, and ERK2/1 activation to those of E2 were achieved. In addition, E2 and E2-BSA-induced ERK2/1 activation and ICI 182,780 could inhibit NOx production by E2. Thus, acute activation of eNOS to produce NO in UAEC by estrogen is at least partially through an ERK pathway, possibly via estrogen receptor localized on the plasma membrane. This pathway may provide a novel mechanism for NO-mediated rapid uterine vasodilatation by estrogen.


Author(s):  
Sarah Basehore ◽  
Samantha Bohlman ◽  
Callie Weber ◽  
Swathi Swaminathan ◽  
Yuji Zhang ◽  
...  

Rationale: In diabetic animals as well as high glucose cell culture conditions, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is heavily O-GlcNAcylated, which inhibits its phosphorylation and nitric oxide (NO) production. It is unknown, however, whether varied blood flow conditions, which affect eNOS phosphorylation, modulate eNOS activity via O-GlcNAcylation-dependent mechanisms. Objective: The goal of this study was to test if steady laminar flow, but not oscillating disturbed flow, decreases eNOS O-GlcNAcylation, thereby elevating eNOS phosphorylation and NO production. Methods and Results: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to either laminar flow (20 dynes/cm2 shear stress) or oscillating disturbed flow (4{plus minus}6 dynes/cm2 shear stress) for 24 hours in a cone-and-plate device. eNOS O-GlcNAcylation was almost completely abolished in cells exposed to steady laminar but not oscillating disturbed flow. Interestingly, there was no change in protein level or activity of key O-GlcNAcylation enzymes (OGT, OGA, or GFAT). Instead, metabolomics data suggest that steady laminar flow decreases glycolysis and hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) activity, thereby reducing UDP-GlcNAc pool size and consequent O-GlcNAcylation. Inhibition of glycolysis via 2-deoxy-2-glucose (2-DG) in cells exposed to disturbed flow efficiently decreased eNOS O-GlcNAcylation, thereby increasing eNOS phosphorylation and NO production. Finally, we detected significantly higher O-GlcNAcylated proteins in endothelium of the inner aortic arch in mice, suggesting that disturbed flow increases protein O-GlcNAcylation in vivo. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that steady laminar but not oscillating disturbed flow decreases eNOS O-GlcNAcylation by limiting glycolysis and UDP-GlcNAc substrate availability, thus enhancing eNOS phosphorylation and NO production. This research shows for the first time that O-GlcNAcylation is regulated by mechanical stimuli, relates flow-induced glycolytic reductions to macrovascular disease, and highlights targeting HBP metabolic enzymes in endothelial cells as a novel therapeutic strategy to restore eNOS activity and prevent EC dysfunction in cardiovascular disease.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (2) ◽  
pp. C519-C523 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Li ◽  
R. A. Fenton ◽  
B. S. Cutler ◽  
J. G. Dobson

Adenosine per se is a potent vasodilator of vascular smooth muscle. Endothelial cells modulate vascular tone via the release of nitric oxide (NO), which also elicits vasodilation. This study was undertaken to determine whether adenosine could directly stimulate endothelial cells to enhance NO production, which could subsequently reduce vascular tone. NO production was evaluated in porcine carotid artery endothelial cells (PCAEC) and human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVEC) seeded on multiwell plates, grown to confluence, and treated with adenosine for 1 h. The bathing medium was collected, and the NO production was determined as reflected by the formation of NO2- and NO3-. NO production by PCAEC was significantly increased by adenosine in a dose-dependent manner, whereas there was only an insignificant tendency for an increase by HSVEC. The addition of the NO synthase competitive inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), or the adenosine receptor antagonist, theophylline, prevented the increase in NO production by adenosine. The results suggest that adenosine stimulates, by a receptor-mediated mechanism, the production of NO by arterial, but not by venous, endothelial cells.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (3) ◽  
pp. C700-C707 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Chandler ◽  
K. Kopnisky ◽  
E. Richards ◽  
F. T. Crews ◽  
C. Sumners

Consistent with stimulation of expression of an inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), exposure of rat astroglial cultures to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused a time-dependent increase in the accumulation of nitrite in the culture media. Addition of the peptide angiotensin II (ANG II) with LPS decreased subsequent formation of nitrite in a concentration-dependent manner (concentration inhibiting 50% of maximal response approximately 1 nM). The ANG II effect could be blocked by the ANG II type 1 (AT1 receptor antagonist losartan but not by the ANG II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist PD-123177. ANG II had no effect on nitrite formation stimulated by a combination of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma). A brief 10-min exposure to ANG II was sufficient to cause an approximately 30% inhibition of the LPS response, with maximal inhibition of approximately 65% after 3 h, and occurred only when ANG II was added during the iNOS induction phase. Consistent with partial inhibition of LPS-stimulated expression of iNOS, ANG II reduced the levels of both iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein. These results demonstrate that ANG II can decrease LPS-stimulated NO production in astroglia by inhibiting induction of iNOS expression.


2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syamantak Majumder ◽  
Ajit Muley ◽  
Gopi Krishna Kolluru ◽  
Samir Saurabh ◽  
K. P. Tamilarasan ◽  
...  

Cadmium (Cd) perturbs vascular health and interferes with endothelial function. However, the effects of exposing endothelial cells to low doses of Cd on the production of nitric oxide (NO) are largely unknown. The objective of the present study was to evaluate these effects by using low levels of CdCl2 concentrations, ranging from 10 to 1000 nmol/L. Cd perturbations in endothelial function were studied by employing wound-healing and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. The results suggest that a CdCl2 concentration of 100 nmol/L maximally attenuated NO production, cellular migration, and energy metabolism in endothelial cells. An egg yolk angiogenesis model was employed to study the effect of Cd exposure on angiogenesis. The results demonstrate that NO supplementation restored Cd-attenuated angiogenesis. Immunofluorescence, Western blot, and immuno-detection studies showed that low levels of Cd inhibit NO production in endothelial cells by blocking eNOS phosphorylation, which is possibly linked to processes involving endothelial function and dysfunction, including angiogenesis.


1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (3) ◽  
pp. C753-C758 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Kuchan ◽  
H. Jo ◽  
J. A. Frangos

Exposure of cultured endothelial cells to shear stress resulting from well-defined fluid flow stimulates the production of nitric oxide (NO). We have established that an initial burst in production is followed by sustained steady-state NO production. The signal transduction events leading to this stimulation are not well understood. In the present study, we examined the role of regulatory guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) in shear stress-mediated NO production. In endothelial cells not exposed to shear stress, AIF4-, a general activator of G proteins, markedly elevated the production of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Pretreatment with NO synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine completely blocked this stimulation. Incubation with guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S), a general G protein inhibitor, blocked the flow-mediated burst in cGMP production in a dose-dependent manner. Likewise, GDP beta S inhibited NOx (NO2 + NO3) production for the 1st h. However, inhibition was not detectable between 1 and 3 h. Pertussis toxin (PTx) had no effect on the shear response at any time point. The burst in NO production caused by a change in shear stress appears to be dependent on a PTx-refractory G protein. Sustained shear-mediated production is independent of G protein activation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 143-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda W. Wyatt ◽  
Joern R. Steinert ◽  
Giovanni E. Mann

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from l-arginine, and in endothelial cells influx of l-arginine is mediated predominantly via Na+-independent cationic amino acid transporters. Constitutive, Ca2+-calmodulin-sensitive eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) metabolizes l-arginine to NO and l-citrulline. eNOS is present in membrane caveolae and the cytosol and requires tetrahydrobiopterin, NADPH, FAD and FMN as additional cofactors for its activity. Supply of l-arginine for NO synthesis appears to be derived from a membrane-associated compartment distinct from the bulk intracellular amino acid pool, e.g. near invaginations of the plasma membrane referred to as 'lipid rafts' or caveolae. Co-localization of eNOS and the cationic amino acid transport system y+ in caveolae in part explains the 'arginine paradox', related to the phenomenon that in certain disease states eNOS requires an extracellular supply of l-arginine despite having sufficient intracellular l-arginine concentrations. Vasoactive agonists normally elevate [Ca2+]i (intracellular calcium concentration) in endothelial cells, thus stimulating NO production, whereas fluid shear stress, 17ϐ-oestradiol and insulin cause phosphorylation of the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt/protein kinase B in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent manner and activation of eNOS at basal [Ca2+]i levels. Adenosine causes an acute activation of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase and NO release, with membrane hyperpolarization leading to increased system y+ activity in fetal endothelial cells. In addition to acute stimulatory actions of D-glucose and insulin on l-arginine transport and NO synthesis, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation and pre-eclampsia induce phenotypic changes in the fetal vasculature, resulting in alterations in the l-arginine/NO signalling pathway and regulation of [Ca2+]i. These alterations may have significant implications for long-term programming of the fetal cardiovascular system.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (4) ◽  
pp. L564-L574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreedhar Bodiga ◽  
Stephanie K. Gruenloh ◽  
Ying Gao ◽  
Vijay L. Manthati ◽  
Narsimhaswamy Dubasi ◽  
...  

We have shown that 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) increases both superoxide and nitric oxide (NO) production in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs). The current study was designed to determine mechanisms underlying 20-HETE-stimulated NO release, and particularly the role of NADPH oxidase, reactive oxygen species, and PI3-kinase in stimulated NO release. Intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and NO production were detected by dichlorofluorescein or dihydrorhodamine and diaminofluorescein fluorescence, respectively. Activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (Ser1179) and Akt (Ser473) was assessed by comparing the ratio of phosphorylated to total protein expression by Western blotting. Addition of 20-HETE to BPAECs caused an increase in superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, but not peroxynitrite. 20-HETE-evoked activation of Akt and eNOS, as well as enhanced NO release, are dependent on H2O2 as opposed to superoxide in that these endpoints are blocked by PEG-catalase and not PEG-superoxide dismutase. Similarly, 20-HETE-stimulated NO production in BPAECs is blocked by NADPH oxidase inhibitors apocynin or gp91 blocking peptide, and by PI3-kinase/Akt blockers wortmannin, LY-294002, or Akt inhibitor, implicating NADPH oxidase, PI3-kinase, and Akt signaling pathways, respectively, in this process. Together, these data suggest the following scheme: 20-HETE stimulates NADPH oxidase-dependent formation of superoxide. Superoxide is rapidly dismutated to hydrogen peroxide, which then mediates activation of PI3-kinase/Akt, phosphorylation of eNOS, and enhanced release of NO from eNOS in response to 20-HETE in BPAECs.


2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanxia Tang ◽  
GuoDong Li

Dyslipidemia is a common metabolic disorder in diabetes. Nitric oxide (NO) production from endothelium plays the primary role in endothelium-mediated vascular relaxation and other endothelial functions. Therefore, we investigated the effects of elevated free fatty acids (FFA) on the stimulation of NO production by phospholipase C (PLC)-activating receptor agonists (potent physiological endothelium-dependent vasodilators) and defined the possible alterations of signaling pathways implicated in this scenario. Exposure of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) to high concentrations of a mixture of fatty acids (oleate and palmitate) for 5 or 10 days significantly reduced NO production evoked by receptor agonists (bradykinin or ATP) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Such defects were not associated with alterations of either endothelial NO synthase mass or inositol phospholipid contents but were probably due to reduced elevations of intracellular free Ca2+levels ([Ca2+]i) under these conditions. Exposure of BAECs to FFA significantly attenuated agonist-induced [Ca2+]iincreases by up to 54% in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, bradykinin receptor affinity on the cell surface was significantly decreased by high concentrations of FFA. The morphology of BAECs was altered after 10-day culture with high FFA. Co-culture with protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors or antioxidants was able to reverse the impairments of receptor agonist-induced NO production and [Ca2+]irises as well as the alteration of receptor affinity in BAECs exposed to FFA. These data indicate that chronic exposure to high FFA reduces NO generation in endothelial cells probably by impairing PLC-mediated Ca2+signaling pathway through activation of PKC and excess generation of oxidants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (9) ◽  
pp. 879-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thanaporn Sriwantana ◽  
Pornpun Vivithanaporn ◽  
Kittiphong Paiboonsukwong ◽  
Krit Rattanawonsakul ◽  
Sirada Srihirun ◽  
...  

Iron chelation can improve endothelial function. However, effect on endothelial function of deferiprone has not been reported. We hypothesized deferiprone could promote nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells. We studied effects of deferiprone on blood nitrite and blood pressure after single oral dose (25 mg/kg) in healthy subjects and hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia patients. Further, effects of deferiprone on NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation in primary human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) were investigated in vitro. Blood nitrite levels were higher in patients with deferiprone therapy than those without deferiprone (P = 0.023, n = 16 each). Deferiprone increased nitrite in plasma and whole blood of healthy subjects (P = 0.002 and 0.044) and thalassemia patients (P = 0.003 and 0.046) at time 180 min (n = 20 each). Asymptomatic reduction in diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.005) and increase in heart rate (P = 0.009) were observed in healthy subjects, but not in thalassemia patients. In HPAEC, deferiprone increased cellular nitrite and phospho-eNOS (Ser1177) (P = 0.012 and 0.035, n = 6) without alteration in total eNOS protein and mRNA. We conclude that deferiprone can induce NO production by enhancing eNOS phosphorylation in endothelial cells.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document