Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.3.16 (calcineurin)
17,112 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The major functional alpha1-adrenoceptor in the rat aorta is of the alpha1Dsubtype and that in the caudal artery is of the alpha1A subtype. In the present study, the participation of protein kinase C (PKC) and Rho kinase (RhoK) in contractile responses to stimulation of the alpha1-adrenoceptors in these two arteries was investigated. Both the PKC inhibitor Ro-318220 and the RhoK inhibitor Y-27632 significantly blocked contractile responses of the aorta to phenylephrine (PE) and the selective alpha1A-adrenoceptor agonist A61603. When used in combination, the inhibitors had an additive blocking effect. In the caudal artery, Y-27632 but not Ro-318220 inhibited contractile responses to PE and A61603, and, in combination, the antagonism produced was no greater than that by Y-27632 alone. Contractile responses to direct activation of PKC with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate were much smaller and levels of CPI-17 (PKC-activated protein phosphatase inhibitor of 17 kDa) were much lower in the caudal artery than the aorta. The results suggest that both PKC and RhoK contribute independently to contractile responses to stimulation of alpha1D-adrenoceptors in the aorta. However, RhoK, but not PKC, participates in contractile responses to stimulation of alpha1A-adrenoceptors in the caudal artery. This difference may largely be due to differences between the two arteries in the extent to which PKC participates in contraction.
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PMID:Differential participation of protein kinase C and Rho kinase in alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated contraction in rat arteries. 1557 50

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have a remarkable degree of plasticity and in response to vascular injury, they can change to a dedifferentiated state that can be typically seen in cell cultures. Recently, Y27632, a Rho kinase inhibitor, has been reported to preferentially correct hypertension in a hypertensive rat model. We thus tested the hypothesis that the contraction of the cultured VSMCs might be more dependent on the function of RhoA than the VSMCs in fresh tissue. For this purpose, a tissue-like ring preparation was made using the cultured porcine coronary artery SMCs (CASMCs) and collagen gel (reconstituted ring: R-ring). The R-ring developed an isometric tension on stimulation by high external K+ or various receptor agonists. The phorbol ester (a protein kinase C (PKC) activator)-induced contraction of the intact R-ring was greatly inhibited, while the GTPgammaS (an activator of RhoA)-induced and Ca2+-independent contraction of permeabilized R-ring was greatly enhanced, in comparison to the fresh coronary artery ring. An immunoblot analysis showed the expression levels of RhoA and myosin phosphatase subunits (MYPT1 and PP1cdelta) to be up-regulated, while the levels of CPI-17 (PKC-potentiated protein phosphatase-1 inhibitory protein), h1-calponin and PKC isoforms were downregulated in cultured CASMCs. The knock down of RhoA by RNA interference decreased the contractility of the cultured CASMCs. It is concluded that the contractility of the cultured VSMCs thus appears to be much more dependent on the function of RhoA than VSMCs in fresh tissue. The expression level of RhoA thus plays a crucial role in regulating the contractility of cultured VSMCs.
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PMID:Contractile properties of the cultured vascular smooth muscle cells: the crucial role played by RhoA in the regulation of contractility. 1577 57

The signal transduction pathway whereby the TxA2 (thromboxane A2) mimetic U-46619 activates vascular smooth muscle contraction was investigated in de-endothelialized rat caudal artery. U-46619-evoked contraction was inhibited by the TP receptor (TxA2 receptor) antagonist SQ-29548, the ROK (Rho-associated kinase) inhibitors Y-27632 and H-1152, the MLCK (myosin light-chain kinase) inhibitors ML-7, ML-9 and wortmannin, the voltagegated Ca2+-channel blocker nicardipine, and removal of extracellular Ca2+; the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203x had no effect. U-46619 elicited Ca2+ sensitization in a-toxin-permeabilized tissue. U-46619 induced activation of the small GTPase RhoA, consistent with the involvement of ROK. Two downstream targets of ROK were investigated: CPI-17 [protein kinase C-potentiated inhibitory protein for PP1 (protein phosphatase type 1) of 17 kDa], a myosin light-chain phosphatase inhibitor, was not phosphorylated at the functional site (Thr-38); phosphorylation of MYPT1 (myosin-targeting subunit of myosin light-chain phosphatase) was significantly increased at Thr-855, but not Thr-697. U-46619-evoked contraction correlated with phosphorylation of the 20 kDa light chains of myosin. We conclude that: (i) U-46619 induces contraction via activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin/MLCK pathway and of the RhoA/ROK pathway; (ii) Thr-855 of MYPT1 is phosphorylated by ROK at rest and in response to U-46619 stimulation; (iii) Thr-697 of MYPT1 is phosphorylated by a kinase other than ROK under resting conditions, and is not increased in response to U-46619 treatment; and (iv) neither ROK nor protein kinase C phosphorylates CPI-17 in this vascular smooth muscle in response to U-46619.
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PMID:Thromboxane A2-induced contraction of rat caudal arterial smooth muscle involves activation of Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ sensitization: Rho-associated kinase-mediated phosphorylation of MYPT1 at Thr-855, but not Thr-697. 1582 93

Phospho-amino acids in proteins are directly associated with phospho-receptor proteins, including protein phosphatases. Here we produced and tested a scheme for docking together interacting phospho-proteins whose monomeric 3D structures were known. The phosphate of calyculin A, an inhibitor for protein phosphatase-1 and 2A (PP1 and PP2A), or phospho-CPI-17, a PP1-specific inhibitor protein, was docked at the active site of PP1. First, a library of 186,624 virtual complexes was generated in silico, by pivoting the phospho-ligand at the phosphorus atom by step every 5 degrees on three rotational axes. These models were then graded for probability according to atomic proximity between two molecules. The predicted structure of PP1 x calyculin A complex fitted to the crystal structure with r.m.s.d. of 0.23 A, providing a validate test of the modeling method. Modeling of PP1 x phospho-CPI-17 complex yielded one converged structure. The segment of CPI-17 around phospho-Thr38 is predicted to fit in the active site of PP1. Positive charges at Arg33/36 of CPI-17 are in close proximity to Glu274 of PP1, where the sequence is unique among Ser/Thr phosphatases. Single mutations of these residues in PP1 reduced the affinity against phospho-CPI-17. Thus, the interface of the PP1 x CPI-17 complex predicted by the phospho-pivot modeling accounts for the specificity of CPI-17 against PP1.
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PMID:Phospho-pivot modeling predicts specific interactions of protein phosphatase-1 with a phospho-inhibitor protein CPI-17. 1594 17

The contractile activity of prostatic stromal cells contributes to symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, the mechanisms for this contraction have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in prostatic contraction by measuring the isometric tension development of cultured human prostatic stromal cells (CHPSCs) derived from BPH patients. Fresh human BPH tissue was used only in a Western blot analysis. A ring preparation made of CHPSCs and collagen gel could develop an isometric tension during activation with various agonists. Phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDBu), a PKC activator, induced a relaxation. A Western blot analysis revealed the expression of PKC-potentiated protein phosphatase-1 inhibitory protein (CPI-17) in both CHPSCs and fresh human BPH tissue to be much lower than that in the rabbit aorta. When CPI-17 was over-expressed, PDBu induced a large contraction, but the agonist-induced contraction did not become larger than expected. In alpha-toxin permeabilized preparations, PDBu induced a relaxation in control CHPSCs, while it induced a contraction at a constant [Ca2+]i in CPI-17 over-expressing CHPSCs. These results indicated that the activation of PKC in CHPSCs induces a relaxation probably due to low expression level of CPI-17 and also that the PKC-CPI-17 pathway does not appear to play a major role in the agonist-induced contraction even when CPI-17 was over-expressed.
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PMID:Functional role of PKC in contraction of cultured human prostatic stromal cells. 1605 5

Phosphatase holoenzyme inhibitor (PHI)-1 is one of the newest members of the family of protein phosphatase inhibitor proteins. In isolated enzyme systems, several kinases, including PKC and rho kinase (ROCK), have been shown to phosphorylate PHI-1. However, it is largely unknown whether PHI-1 is phosphorylated in response to agonist stimulation in intact cells. We investigated this question in primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot, we found that there are two major PHI-1 spots under resting conditions: a minor spot with an acidic isoelectric point (pI) and a major spot with a more alkaline pI. Interestingly, U-46619, a G protein-coupled receptor agonist, caused a significant increase in the acidic spot, suggesting that it may represent a phosphorylated form of PHI-1. This was confirmed by phosphatase treatment and by a specific phospho-PHI-1 antibody. Furthermore, we found that angiotensin II, thrombin, and U-46619 increased phosphorylated PHI-1 from 9% of total PHI-1 in resting cells to 18%, 18%, and 30%, respectively. We also found that inhibition of ROCK by Y-27632 or H-1152 selectively diminished U-46619-induced CPI-17 phosphorylation, whereas it did not affect PHI-1 phosphorylation. Activation of ROCK by expressing V14RhoA selectively induced CPI-17 phosphorylation without affecting PHI-1 phosphorylation. In contrast, inhibition of PKC by GF-109203X or by PKC downregulation selectively diminished U-46619-induced PHI-1 phosphorylation without significantly affecting U-46619-induced CPI-17 phosphorylation. Activating PKC by PMA induced PHI-1 phosphorylation. Together, our results show for the first time that agonist induces PHI-1 phosphorylation in VSMCs and divergent kinase signaling couples agonist stimulation to PHI-1 and CPI-17 phosphorylation.
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PMID:Divergent kinase signaling mediates agonist-induced phosphorylation of phosphatase inhibitory proteins PHI-1 and CPI-17 in vascular smooth muscle cells. 1626 7

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are not terminally differentiated and, owing to their remarkable plasticity, can change to a dedifferentiated state in response to vascular injury. Our understanding of the contractility of VSMCs is mainly based on the data obtained from normal adult animals. However, to obtain a better understanding of the abnormal contractility seen in the vascular diseases such as hypertension and vasospasm superimposed on atherosclerosis, it is important to also know the contractility of proliferating dedifferentiated VSMCs. To this end, we studied the contractility of cultured VSMCs that undergo dedifferentiation similar to that induced by vascular injury. There are only a few reports in which the contractility of cultured VSMCs has been extensively studied. We established a method to investigate the contractility of the cultured VSMCs and determined that their contraction is dramatically changed to be more dependent on the Rho-Rho kinase system but less dependent on the PKC-CPI-17 (protein kinase C-potentiated protein phosphatase 1 inhibitory protein)-mediated pathway. In this review, we focus on the contractility of the cultured VSMCs as a model of the proliferating dedifferentiated VSMCs.
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PMID:Dependence of proliferating dedifferentiated vascular smooth muscle contraction on Rho-Rho kinase system. 1671 35

Preterm birth is associated with the majority of all death and chronic disability related to pregnancy, birth and the neonatal period. The costs to families and to the health care system are enormous. Current approaches to prevent or arrest preterm labour have been unsuccessful. This failure is largely based on our poor understanding of the regulation of the timing and maintenance of parturition. Oxytocin (OT) is the most potent known uterine stimulant. It is produced in the hypothalamus and secreted into the maternal bloodstream. However, OT also is produced within the uterine decidua in late gestation and the concentrations increase around the time of labour onset. The receptor for OT (OTR) is a G-protein coupled receptor linked through G alpha(q/11) to phospholipase C (PLC). Activation of PLC causes increased inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacyl glycerol (DAG). IP3 activates specific receptors in the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release Ca2+ into the cytosol. This may induce further influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular space and the increased Ca2+, after binding to calmodulin, activates myosin light chain kinase to phosphorylate myosin light chains (MLC) and cause contraction of the myocyte. DAG activates protein kinase C (PKC), several isoforms of which have been implicated in uterine contraction, but the substrates for this enzyme in the uterine myocyte are essentially unknown. Oxytocin may also cause "Ca2+-sensitization," a process whereby there is a greater contractile force generated from a given increase in cytosolic Ca2+, although the contribution of this process to myometrial contraction remains an area of debate. This phenomenon occurs mainly due to inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP), the enzyme that reverses the phosphorylation of MLC. There are several important potential mediators of this MLCP-inhibitory pathway in the myometrium, including the small monomeric G-protein RhoA, its downstream kinase Rho-associated kinase (ROK). and the 17-kDa PKC-potentiated inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1c (CPI-17). The roles in the myometrium of other recently identified MLCP interacting molecules also requires further investigation. These Ca2+-sensitization pathways could be important in the mechanisms underlying pre-term or term labour. An increased understanding of the complexities of the multitude of regulatory mechanisms for uterine contractility may lead to new pharmacologic agents for the prevention or reversal of uterine contractions. This, in turn, is necessary to facilitate the development of novel and effective strategies to reduce the incidence of preterm birth.
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PMID:Oxytocin and parturition: a role for increased myometrial calcium and calcium sensitization? 1712 23

Motility disorders are frequently observed in intestinal inflammation. We previously reported that in vitro treatment of intestinal smooth muscle tissue with IL-1beta decreases the expression of CPI-17, an endogenous inhibitory protein of smooth muscle serine/threonine protein phosphatase, thereby inhibiting contraction. The present study was performed to examine the pathophysiological importance of CPI-17 expression in the motility disorders by using an in vivo model of intestinal inflammation and to define the regulatory mechanism of CPI-17 expression by proinflammatory cytokines. After the induction of acute ileitis with 2,4,6,-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid, CPI-17 expression declined in a time-dependent manner. This decrease in CPI-17 expression was parallel with the reduction of cholinergic agonist-induced contraction of smooth muscle strips and sensitivity of permeabilized smooth muscle fibers to Ca(2+). Among the various proinflammatory cytokines tested, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were observed to directly inhibit CPI-17 expression and contraction in cultured rat intestinal tissue. Moreover, both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta inhibited CPI-17 expression and contraction of smooth muscle tissue isolated from wild-type and IL-1alpha/beta double-knockout mice. However, IL-1beta treatment failed to inhibit CPI-17 expression and contraction in TNF-alpha knockout mice. In beta-escin-permeabilized ileal tissues, pretreatment with anti-phosphorylated CPI-17 antibody inhibited the carbachol-induced Ca(2+) sensitization in the presence of GTP. These findings suggest that CPI-17 was downregulated during intestinal inflammation and that TNF-alpha plays a central role in this process. Downregulation of CPI-17 may play a role in motility impairments in inflammation.
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PMID:Intestinal inflammation downregulates smooth muscle CPI-17 through induction of TNF-alpha and causes motility disorders. 1730 24

Glucocorticoids are the most effective anti-inflammatory treatment for asthma, and inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective long-term control therapy for persistent asthma. In the present study, to determine the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on airway hyperresponsiveness, the effects of glucocorticoids on the expression and activation of PKC-potentiated protein phosphatase 1 inhibitory protein of 17 kDa (CPI-17) were examined in bronchial smooth muscles of antigen-induced airway hyperresponsive rats. Repeated antigen inhalation to animals sensitized with DNP-Ascaris antigen caused a marked bronchial smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine, accompanied by upregulation and acetylcholine-induced activation of CPI-17 to result in an increase in myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Treatment with glucocorticoids (prednisolone or beclomethasone, 10 mg/kg, i.p., respectively) significantly inhibited the airway hyperresponsiveness, and markedly reduced both the protein and mRNA levels of CPI-17 in bronchial smooth muscle. The acetylcholine-induced activation of CPI-17, i.e., phosphorylation of CPI-17, was also significantly inhibited by glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids also prevented the augmented acetylcholine-induced MLC phosphorylation observed in the airway hyperresponsive rats. Therefore, glucocorticoids might inhibit the airway hyperresponsiveness through the inhibition of overexpression and activation of CPI-17.
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PMID:Glucocorticoids inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness through downregulation of CPI-17 in bronchial smooth muscle. 1857 81


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