scholarly journals Human Vascular Endothelial Cells Express Oxytocin Receptors*

Endocrinology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
pp. 1301-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Thibonnier ◽  
Doreen M. Conarty ◽  
Judy A. Preston ◽  
Christine L. Plesnicher ◽  
Raed A. Dweik ◽  
...  

Abstract Pharmacological studies in humans and animals suggest the existence of vascular endothelial vasopressin (AVP)/oxytocin (OT) receptors that mediate a vasodilatory effect. However, the nature of the receptor subtype(s) involved in this vasodilatory response remains controversial, and its coupled intracellular pathways are unknown. Thus, we set out to determine the type and signaling pathways of the AVP/OT receptor(s) expressed in human vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Saturation binding experiments with purified membranes of primary cultures of ECs from human umbilical vein (HUVEC), aorta (HAEC), and pulmonary artery (HPAEC) and [3H]AVP or[ 3H]OT revealed the existence of specific binding sites with a greater affinity for OT than AVP (Kd = 1.75 vs. 16.58 nm). Competition binding experiments in intact HUVECs (ECV304 cell line) with the AVP antagonist[ 125I]4-hydroxyphenacetyl-d-Tyr(Me)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-NH2 or the OT antagonist[ 125I]d(CH2)5[O-Me-Tyr-Thr-Orn-Tyr-NH2]vasotocin, and various AVP/OT analogs confirmed the existence of a single class of surface receptors of the classical OT subtype. RT-PCR experiments with total RNA extracted from HUVEC, HAEC, and HPAEC and specific primers for the human V1 vascular, V2 renal, V3 pituitary, and OT receptors amplified the OT receptor sequence only. No new receptor subtype could be amplified when using degenerate primers. DNA sequencing of the coding region of the human EC OT receptor revealed a nucleotide sequence 100% homologous to that of the uterine OT receptor reported previously. Stimulation of ECs by OT produced mobilization of intracellular calcium and the release of nitric oxide that was prevented by chelation of extra- and intracellular calcium. No stimulation of cAMP or PG production was noted. Finally, OT stimulation of ECs led to a calcium- and protein kinase C-dependent cellular proliferation response. Thus, human vascular ECs express OT receptors that are structurally identical to the uterine and mammary OT receptors. These endothelial OT receptors produce a calcium-dependent vasodilatory response via stimulation of the nitric oxide pathway and have a trophic action.

2000 ◽  
Vol 275 (7) ◽  
pp. 5026-5030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Strong Russell ◽  
M. Page Haynes ◽  
Teresa Caulin-Glaser ◽  
James Rosneck ◽  
William C. Sessa ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiki Kida ◽  
Yoshiki Tsubosaka ◽  
Masatoshi Hori ◽  
Hiroshi Ozaki ◽  
Takahisa Murata

Objective TGR5, a membrane-bound, G-protein-coupled receptor for bile acids, is known to be involved in regulation of energy homeostasis and inflammation. However, little is known about the function of TGR5 in vascular endothelial cells. In the present study, we examined whether TGR5 agonism represents anti-inflammatory effects in vascular endothelial cells focusing on nitric oxide (NO) production. Methods and Results In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), treatment with taurolithocholic acid (TLCA), which has the highest affinity to TGR5 among various bile acids, significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 protein expression and adhesion of human monocytes, U937. These effects were abrogated by a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N G -Monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). In bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), treatment with TLCA as well as lithocholic acid, which also has high affinity to TGR5, significantly increased the NO production. In contrast, deoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, which possess low affinity to TGR5, did not affect the NO production. Gene depletion of TGR5 by siRNA transfection abolished TLCA-induced NO production in BAECs. TLCA-induced NO production was also observed in HUVECs measured as intracellular cGMP accumulation. We next investigated the signal pathways responsible for the TLCA-induced NO production in endothelial cells. Treatment with TLCA increased endothelial NOS (eNOS) ser1177 phosphorylation in HUVECs. This response was accompanied by increased Akt ser473 phosphorylation and intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] i ). Treatment with phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, or blockade of calcium channel with La 3+ , significantly decreased TLCA-induced eNOS ser1177 phosphorylation and subsequent NO production. Conclusion These results indicate that TGR5 agonism can mediate anti-inflammatory responses by suppressing VCAM-1 expression and monocytes adhesion to endothelial cells. This function is dependent on NO production via Akt activation and [Ca 2+ ] i increase.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dyah Wulan Anggrahini ◽  
Noriaki Emoto ◽  
Kazuhiko Nakayama ◽  
Bambang Widyantoro ◽  
Kazuya Miyagawa ◽  
...  

Endothelium plays important role in protective mechanism of vascular wall. The balance between endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide provide endothelial barrier to lipoprotein retain and macrophage recruitment. In contrasts, ET-1 is also a strong vasoconstrictor. In this study, we aim to determine the role of vascular endothelial cells-derived ET-1 in the development of atherosclerosis. For that purpose, we crossbred Vascular Endothelial Cells-specific ET-1 Knockout (VEETKO) mice to ApoEKO mice. ApoE/VEET-DKO exhibited significantly lower ET-1 plasma and mRNA level as compared to ApoEKO mice. No significant differences of blood pressure, plasma cholesterol or lipid profiles were observed in both mice. Surprisingly, after 8 weeks of western diet, we found that the atherosclerotic lesion was exaggerated in the aortic sinus and brachiochepalic artery of ApoE/VEET-DKO mice (n=7) as compared to those of ApoEKO mice (n=7) (ratio/vessel wall, 0.93±0.13vs.0.49±0.09, p<0.05). We further showed the increase in macrophage plaque content and peritoneal macrophage recruitment in DKO mice. To understand the mechanism of vascular protection, we found lower eNOS mRNA level in DKO mice despite only lower tendency of ETB receptor expression. Functionally, the mice lacking ET-1 in endothelial cells showed impaired NO-mediated endothelial function. Decreased vascular protection further led to increase plaque instability in DKO mice. Here we showed that plaque of DKO mice was more lipid enrich as compared to that of ApoEKO (ratio/lesion, 0.56±0.03vs.0.42±0.04, p<0.05). Moreover, lack of ET-1 significantly reduced matrix synthesis following lower SMCs accumulation in the lesion (ratio/vessel wall, 0.28±0.06vs.0.57±0.08, p<0.05), which was mediated by TGFβ. Interestingly, despite similar advance-typed lesion formed, 15% of DKO mice exhibited plaque hemorrhage in brachiochepalic artery. In conclusion, we demonstrated the increase in atherosclerosis and plaque instability in our model. This further suggests that ET-1 produced from vascular endothelial cells is required for protective mechanism in vascular wall in balance with nitric oxide production. Our data imply for the careful monitoring in the use of ET receptor antagonist in clinical setting.


2000 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Yoshimi Nomura ◽  
Shunichi Shimizu ◽  
Takaharu Okada ◽  
Yuji Hara ◽  
Yasuo Mori ◽  
...  

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