Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Increased elastin production and accumulation is a rapid and sensitive response to elevated vascular wall stress in both systemic and pulmonary hypertension. While initially protecting the vessel wall, these structural changes may in the longer term result in reinforcement of the hypertensive state and contribute to the persistence of the pathology of hypertension. Rapid responses apparently uncorrelated with increased elastin mRNA, at least in the case of systemic vessels, suggest novel mechanisms perhaps including increased efficiency of message translation or matrix accumulation of the protein. Investigations using in vitro organ and cell culture models have indicated a role for phospholipases and protein kinases, including protein kinase C, in stretch-induced elastin synthesis. In addition, tyrosine phosphorylation of membrane/sub-membrane/cytoskeletal sensors, including focal adhesion kinase and members of the lipocortin family, have been shown to be important in this transduction mechanism. Because its turnover is normally very slow, additional vascular elastin accumulated during hypertensive episodes, together with its consequences for the physical properties of the vessel wall, may persist long after blood pressure is restored to normal levels. Thus, recent interest has been drawn to the possibility of achieving regression of accumulated matrix elastin by promoting turnover of this protein through activation of endogenous vascular elastase and collagenase activities.
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PMID:Elastin in systemic and pulmonary hypertension. 857 61

In this review, the role of tyrosine kinases in angiotensin II-mediated signal transduction pathways in vascular smooth muscle is discussed. Angiotensin II was isolated by virtue of its vasoconstrictor abilities and has long been thought to play a critical role in hypertension. However, recent studies indicate important roles for angiotensin II in inflammation, atherosclerosis, and congestive heart failure. The expanding role of angiotensin II indicates that multiple signal transduction pathways are likely to be activated in a tissue-specific manner. Exciting recent data show that angiotensin II directly stimulates tyrosine kinases, including pp60(c-src) kinase (c-Src), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and Janus kinases (JAK2 and TYK2). Angiotensin II may activate receptor tyrosine kinases, such as Axl and platelet-derived growth factor, by as-yet-undefined autocrine mechanisms. Finally, unknown tyrosine kinases may mediate tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, Raf, and phospholipase C-gamma after angiotensin II stimulation. These angiotensin II-regulated tyrosine kinases appear to be required for angiotensin II effects, such as vasoconstriction, proto-oncogene expression, and protein synthesis, on the basis of studies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Thus, understanding angiotensin II-stimulated signaling events, especially those related to tyrosine kinase activity, may form the basis for the development of new therapies for cardiovascular diseases.
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PMID:Angiotensin II signal transduction in vascular smooth muscle: role of tyrosine kinases. 913 Apr 41

Originally known to be a vasoconstrictor and thought to play a critical role in hypertension, angiotensin II has recently emerged to be important in inflammation, atherosclerosis and congestive heart failure. The expanding role of angiotensin II implies that multiple signal transduction pathways are likely to be activated in a tissue-specific manner. Recent data show that angiotensin II stimulates not only cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases including c-Src, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and Janus kinases (JAK2 and TYK2), but also may transactivate receptor tyrosine kinases such as Axl and PDGF by as yet undefined autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. Finally, tyrosine kinases, which mediate tyrosine phosphorylation of key signal mediators such as Shc, Raf, and phospholipase C-gamma following angiotensin II stimulation, remain to be defined. These tyrosine kinases, activated by angiotensin II, appear to be required for angiotensin II effects such as vasoconstriction, proto-oncogene expression, protein synthesis, and cell proliferation. Thus, it is important to understand angiotensin II-mediated signaling events, especially those related to tyrosine kinase activity, to develop new therapies for cardiovascular diseases.
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PMID:Angiotensin II signal transduction in vascular smooth muscle cells: role of tyrosine kinases. 921 88

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation still remains a poorly understood process, although it is believed to play a critical role in pathological states, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. Several reports have suggested that proteases may be directly involved in this process; however, it was still unclear which protease is responsible for VSMC proliferation. In this study, by use of a cell-permeable calpain inhibitor (calpeptin; benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-nLeu-H), its analogue (benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Met-H), the cell-impermeable serine protease inhibitor leupeptin, and antisense oligonucleotide against m-calpain to inhibit proliferation of primarily cultured human VSMCs, we investigated whether calcium-activated neutral protease (calpain) is involved in VSMC proliferation. Calpeptin and its analogue, more specific for m-calpain, equally inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs in a dose-related manner, whereas a more limited antiproliferative effect was observed in leupeptin-treated VSMCs. Antisense oligonucleotide against m-calpain, but not scrambled antisense, dose-dependently inhibited m-calpain expression and proliferation of VSMCs. Maximal inhibition was an approximately 50% reduction of cell number and m-calpain antigen observed at 50 micromol/L of antisense oligonucleotide. Calpeptin or antisense oligonucleotide against m-calpain increased the expression of the endogenous calpain substrate pp125FAK (focal adhesion kinase), whereas the expression of the endogenous calpain inhibitor calpastatin was not affected. These results suggest that the proliferation of VSMCs requires protease activity, some of which is due to m-calpain.
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PMID:Possible involvement of m-calpain in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. 951 20

The vascular wall is constantly subjected to a variety of mechanical forces in the form of stretch (tensile stress), due to blood pressure, and shear stress, due to blood flow. Alterations in either of these stresses are known to result in vascular remodeling, an adaptation characterized by modified morphology and function of the blood vessels, allowing the vessels to cope with physiological or pathological conditions. The processes involved in vascular remodeling include cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia, as well as enhanced protein synthesis or extracellular matrix protein reorganization. In vitro studies using vascular cells have attempted to identify the mechanisms behind structural alterations. Possible pathways include ion channels, integrin interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix, activation of various tyrosine kinases (such as c-Src, focal adhesion kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinases), and autocrine production and release of growth factors. These pathways lie upstream of de novo synthesis of immediate response genes and total protein synthesis, both of which are likely to be involved in the process of vascular remodeling.
Hypertension 1998 Aug
PMID:Signal transduction of mechanical stresses in the vascular wall. 971 64

The increase in vascular wall stress imposed by hypertension has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Much of this chronic cyclical mechanical strain is experienced by the vascular smooth (VSM) cells of the vascular media. The cellular mechanisms whereby VSM cells sense and respond to changing mechanical forces are poorly understood. This review focuses on an emerging field of cardiovascular research in which the direct effects of mechanical strain on VSM cells and isolated blood vessels in organ culture have been characterized, in vitro. Cyclical mechanical strain profoundly influences cultured VSM cell orientation, growth and phenotype. Mechanical strain also increases the secretory function of VSM cells leading to increased extracellular matrix protein production. Vasoactive mediators such as angiotensin II potentiate these effects. Mechanical strain increases VSM cell release of platelet derived growth factor, transforming growth factor beta1, fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, which act in autocrine or paracrine loops to influence VSM and endothelial cell growth and function. Mechanical strain may also activate local tissue renin-angiotensin systems and regulate expression of angiotensin II receptors within the cardiovascular system. The mechanism whereby VSM cells transduce mechanical stimuli into an intracellular signal and biological response, i.e. 'mechanotransduction', is strongly dependent on integrins. Moreover, specific matrix protein:integrin engagements lead to differential VSM cells responses via the selective activation of numerous intracellular signalling pathways including; mitogen-activated protein kinase, focal adhesion kinase and c-Src. The study of vascular mechanotransduction has begun to delineate the complex cellular basis of cardiovascular structural and functional modification in hypertension.
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PMID:Mechanical influences on vascular smooth muscle cell function. 988 78

In this review, the signal events regulated by angiotensin II (AngII) in vascular smooth muscle are analyzed based on activation of specific tyrosine kinases. AngII has been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, inflammation, atherosclerosis, and congestive heart failure. The expanding role of AngII indicates that multiple signal transduction pathways are likely to be activated in a tissue-specific manner. Although at least three AngII receptors have been characterized, it seems that the AngII type I receptor (AT1R) is physiologically most important since pharmacologic inhibitors of the AT1R block most AngII signal events and have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. The AT1R is a seven transmembrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptor that regulates intracellular signal events by activation of Gq and Gi. However, many recent data indicate that activation of tyrosine kinases by several different mechanisms contributes to AngII effects in target tissues. Tyrosine kinases activated by AngII include c-Src, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Pyk2 (CADTK), Janus kinases (JAK2 and TYK2), and the receptor tyrosine kinases Ax1, epidermal growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor. Finally, unknown tyrosine kinases may mediate tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, Shc, Raf, and phospholipase C-gamma after AngII stimulation. These AngII-regulated tyrosine kinases seem to be required for AngII effects such as vasoconstriction, proto-oncogene expression, and protein synthesis based on studies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Thus, understanding AngII-stimulated signaling events, especially those related to tyrosine kinase activity, may form the basis for the development of new therapies for cardiovascular diseases.
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PMID:Angiotensin II signal transduction in vascular smooth muscle: pathways activated by specific tyrosine kinases. 989 42

Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in cardiac remodeling through stimulation of proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in cardiac fibroblasts. Integrins are a family of transmembrane receptors that mediate the attachment of cells to ECM. We hypothesized that Ang II regulation of integrins further contributes to its role in cardiac remodeling. We cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts with and without Ang II (100 nmol/L) to determine the effects on mRNA and protein levels of integrins, as well as alpha-actinin and other cytoskeletal proteins that link to integrins at the site of focal adhesions. Ang II was also added in the presence of irbesartan (10 micromol/L), a specific Ang II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor antagonist, or PD 123319 (10 micromol/L), a specific Ang II type 2 receptor antagonist. To investigate the function of these integrins, we determined the effects of blocking antibodies on Ang II-induced adhesion to ECM. We also treated spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with an AT(1) receptor blocker, losartan, or with hydralazine to investigate integrin and alpha-actinin expression in treated and untreated SHR. Ang II enhanced alpha(v), beta(1), beta(3), and beta(5) integrins; osteopontin; and alpha-actinin mRNA and protein levels in cardiac fibroblasts. All of these effects were inhibited by irbesartan but not by PD 123319. Pretreatment of cardiac fibroblasts with Ang II enhanced cell attachment to ECM proteins and induced focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation. Blocking antibodies to beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) attenuated Ang II-induced adhesion. In SHR, ventricular alpha(v) and beta(5) integrin expression and alpha-actinin were increased compared with those in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Although both losartan and hydralazine lowered mean arterial pressure and decreased peripheral vascular resistance, only losartan attenuated the increased integrin, alpha-actinin, fibronectin laminin, and osteopontin expression and the increased left ventricular mass (as determined with echocardiography). Hydralzine had none of these effects. Although both agents attenuated beta-myosin heavy chain expression, a marker of hypertrophy, losartan had a greater effect. These results suggest that integrins and alpha-actinin are upregulated by Ang II and in left ventricular hypertrophy and that the block of expression of these proteins through inhibition of the AT(1) receptor is associated with attenuation of the hypertrophic response. Ang II induces integrin and alpha-actinin expression in cardiac fibroblasts that is associated with adhesion and left ventricular hypertrophy and blocked through inhibition of the AT(1) receptor.
Hypertension 2000 Jan
PMID:Angiotensin II enhances integrin and alpha-actinin expression in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts. 1064 10

It has been 100 years since the discovery of renin by Bergman and Tigerstedt. Since then, numerous studies have advanced our understanding of the renin-angiotensin system. A remarkable aspect was the discovery that angiotensin II (AngII) is the central product of the renin-angiotensin system and that this octapeptide induces multiple physiological responses in different cell types. In addition to its well known vasoconstrictive effects, growing evidence supports the notion that AngII may play a central role not only in hypertension, but also in cardiovascular and renal diseases. Binding of AngII to the seven-transmembrane angiotensin II type 1 receptor is responsible for nearly all of the physiological actions of AngII. Recent studies underscore the new concept that activation of intracellular second messengers by AngII requires tyrosine phosphorylation. An increasing number of tyrosine kinases have been shown to be activated by AngII, including the Src kinase family, the focal adhesion kinase family, the Janus kinases and receptor tyrosine kinases. These actions of AngII contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling, vascular thickening, heart failure and atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the important role of tyrosine kinases in AngII-mediated signal transduction. Understanding the importance of tyrosine phosphorylation in AngII-stimulated signaling events may contribute to new therapies for cardiovascular and renal diseases.
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PMID:Angiotensin II mediated signal transduction. Important role of tyrosine kinases. 1106 26

Mechanical stress activates various hypertrophic responses, including activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in cardiac myocytes. Stretch activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases partly through secreted humoral growth factors, including angiotensin II, whereas stretch-induced activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases and p38 MAPK was independent of angiotensin II. In this study, we examined the role of integrin signaling in stretch-induced activation of p38 MAPK in cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats. Overexpression of the tumor suppressor PTEN, which inhibits outside-in integrin signaling, strongly suppressed stretch-induced activation of p38 MAPK. Overexpression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) antagonized the effects of PTEN, and both tyrosine residues at 397 and 925 of FAK were necessary for its effects. Stretch induced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of FAK and Src. Stretch-induced activation of p38 MAPK was abolished by overexpression of FAT and CSK, which are inhibitors of the FAK and Src families, respectively, and was suppressed by overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of Ras. Mechanical stretch-induced increase in protein synthesis was suppressed by SB202190, a p38 MAPK inhibitor. These results suggest that mechanical stress activates p38 MAPK and induces cardiac hypertrophy through the integrin-FAK-Src-Ras pathway in cardiac myocytes.
Hypertension 2002 Feb
PMID:Integrins play a critical role in mechanical stress-induced p38 MAPK activation. 1184 90


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