Journal
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Volume 70, Issue 11, Pages 1537-1547Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2005.07.017
Keywords
signal transduction; vascular smooth muscle; calcium; blood pressure
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Funding
- NHLBI NIH HHS [HL-65998, HL-70659, R01 HL065998, R01 HL070659] Funding Source: Medline
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Vascular contraction is an important determinant of the peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure. The mechanisms underlying vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contraction and the pathological changes that occur in hypertension have been the subject of numerous studies and interpretations. Activation of VSM by vasoconstrictor stimuli at the cell surface causes an increase in [Ca2+](i), Ca2+-dependent activation of myosin light chain (MLC) kinase, MLC phosphorylation, actin-myosin interaction and VSM contraction. Additional signaling pathways involving Rho-kinase and protein kinase C (PKC) may increase the myofilament force sensitivity to [Ca2+](i) and MLC phosphorylation, and thereby maintain vascular contraction. PKC is a particularly intriguing protein kinase as it comprises a family of Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent isoforms, which have different tissue and subcellular distribution, and undergo differential translocation during cell activation. PKC translocation to the cell surface may trigger a cascade of protein kinases, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and MAPK kinase (MEK) that ultimately interact with the contractile myofilaments and cause VSM contraction. Also, PKC translocation to the nucleus may promote VSM growth and proliferation. Increased PKC expression and activity have been identified in several forms of hypertension. The subcellular location of PKC may determine the state of VSM activity, and may be useful in the diagnosis/prognosis of hypertension. Vascular PKC isoforms may represent specific targets for modulation of VSM hyperactivity, and isoform-specific PKC inhibitors may be useful in treatment of Ca2+ antagonist-resistant forms of hypertension. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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