Angiotensin II-induced aortic ring constriction is mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/L-type calcium channel signaling pathway

Exp Mol Med. 2009 Aug 31;41(8):569-76. doi: 10.3858/emm.2009.41.8.062.

Abstract

Angiotensin II (AngII) is a crucial hormone that affects vasoconstriction and exerts hypertrophic effects on vascular smooth muscle cells. Here, we showed that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent calcium mobilization plays pivotal roles in AngII-induced vascular constriction. Stimulation of rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (RASMC)-embedded collagen gel with AngII rapidly induced contraction. AngII-induced collagen gel contraction was blocked by pretreatment with a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) whereas ERK inhibitor (PD98059) was not effective. AngII-induced collagen gel contraction was significantly blocked by extracellular calcium depletion by EGTA or by nifedipine which is an L-type calcium channel blocker. In addition, AngII-induced calcium mobilization was also blocked by nifedipine and EGTA, whereas intracellular calcium store-depletion by thapsigargin was not effective. Finally, pretreatment of rat aortic ring with LY294002 and nifedipine significantly reduced AngII-induced constriction. Given these results, we suggest that PI3K-dependent activation of L-type calcium channels might be involved in AngII-induced vascular constriction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / metabolism
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Aorta, Thoracic / drug effects*
  • Aorta, Thoracic / physiology
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / drug effects
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / metabolism*
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / enzymology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects*

Substances

  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Angiotensin II
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases