Role of phosphodiesterase 3 in NO/cGMP-mediated antiinflammatory effects in vascular smooth muscle cells

Atherosclerosis involves cellular immune responses and altered vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function. Nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP is uniquely capable of inhibiting key processes in atherosclerosis. In this study, we determined the effects of NO/cGMP and their molecular mechanisms in the regulation of NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression in VSMCs. We found that cGMP-elevating agents such as the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), reduced TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression in rat aortic VSMCs in a cGMP-dependent manner. The effects of SNAP and CNP on NF-kappaB are mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) but not cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) based on the findings that the selective PKA inhibitor, PKI, abolished the effects of SNAP and CNP on NF-kappaB, whereas the PKG inhibitor Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMP had no effect. Inhibition of cGMP-inhibited cAMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) blocked SNAP- and CNP-elicited effects on NF-kappaB-dependent transcription. Furthermore, cGMP analogues such as 8-pCPT-cGMP, which selectively activates PKG but does not inhibit PDE3, had no effect on NF-kappaB-mediated transcription. Activation of PKA by SNAP or cAMP-elevating agents not only inhibited TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression but also reduced endogenous NF-kappaB-dependent adhesion molecule and chemokine expression. These results suggest that SNAP and CNP exert inhibitory effects on NF-kappaB-dependent transcription by activation of PKA via cGMP-dependent inhibition of PDE3 activity. Therefore, PDE3 is a novel mediator of inflammation in VSMCs.