COMP (Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein), a Novel PIEZO1 Regulator That Controls Blood Pressure

Background: Vascular endothelial cells are critical for maintaining blood pressure (BP) by releasing biologically active molecules, such as nitric oxide. A non-endothelial cell resident matricellular protein, COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein), plays a pivotal role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis, but little is known about its regulatory effect on BP. Methods: Mice were infused with AngII (angiotensin II; 450 ng/kg per minute) for 3 days via an osmotic minipump, and BP was monitored by a tail-cuff system. Second-order mesenteric arteries were isolated from mice for microvascular tension measurement. Nitric oxide was detected by an electron paramagnetic resonance technique. Small-interfering RNA transfection, co-immunoprecipitation, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer assays, and patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments were used for further detailed mechanism investigation. Results: COMP −/− mice displayed elevated BP and impaired acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation compared with wild-type mice with or without AngII. Inhibition of eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) abolished the difference in endothelium-dependent relaxation between wild-type and COMP −/− mice. Furthermore, COMP directly interacted with the C-terminus of Piezo1 via its C-terminus and activated the endogenous Piezo1 currents, which induced intracellular Ca 2+ influx, Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II and eNOS activation, and nitric oxide production. The Piezo1 activator, Yoda1, reduced the difference in endothelium-dependent relaxation and BP in wild-type and COMP − /− mice. Moreover, COMP overexpression increased eNOS activation and improved endothelium-dependent relaxation and BP. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that COMP is a novel Piezo1 regulator that plays a protective role in BP regulation by increasing cellular Ca 2+ influx, eNOS activity, and nitric oxide production.

Study of Lovastatin and L-Arginine Co-loaded PLGA Nanomedicine for Enhancing Nitric Oxide Production and eNOS Expression

Nitric oxide (NO) is an exceptional endogenous biological molecule gas that mediates and regulates physiological and pathological processes in the human body. However, its synthesis process is impaired during athero-progression...

Polyketide Derivatives, Guhypoxylonols A–D from a Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y45 That Inhibit Nitric Oxide Production

Four undescribed compounds, guhypoxylonols A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y45, together with seven previously reported metabolites. The structures of 1–4 were elucidated based on analysis of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons in 1–3 were established through a combination of spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Compounds 1–11 were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 showed an inhibitory activity against the production of nitric oxide (NO), with the IC50 values of 14.42 ± 0.11, 18.03 ± 0.14, 16.66 ± 0.21, and 21.05 ± 0.13 μM, respectively.