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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i)-dependent activation of myosin light chain kinase and its phosphorylation of the 20-kd light chain of myosin is generally considered the primary mechanism responsible for regulation of contractile force in arterial smooth muscle. However, recent data suggest that the relation between [Ca2+]i and myosin light chain phosphorylation is variable and depends on the form of stimulation. The dependence of myosin phosphorylation on [Ca2+]i has been termed the "[Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation." The [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation is "high" when relatively small increases in [Ca2+]i induce a large increase in myosin phosphorylation. Conversely, the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation is "low" when relatively large increases in [Ca2+]i are required to induce a small increase in myosin phosphorylation. There are two proposed mechanisms for changes in the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation: Ca(2+)-dependent decreases in the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation induced by phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase by Ca(2+)-calmodulin protein kinase II and agonist-dependent increases in the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation by inhibition of a myosin light chain phosphatase. I will review the proposed mechanisms responsible for the regulation of [Ca2+]i and the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation in arterial smooth muscle.
Hypertension 1992 Aug
PMID:Regulation of contraction and relaxation in arterial smooth muscle. 163 54

For many years the simple view was held that contractile force in smooth muscle was proportional to cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i). With the discovery that phosphorylation of myosin light chain by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase initiated contraction, regulation of the contractile elements developed more complex properties. Molecular and biochemical investigations have identified important domains of myosin light chain kinase: light chain binding sites, catalytic core, pseudosubstrate prototope, and calmodulin-binding domain. New protein phosphatase inhibitors such as okadaic acid and calyculin A should help in the identification of the physiologically important phosphatase and potential modes of regulation. The proposal of an attached, dephosphorylated myosin cross bridge (latch bridge) that can maintain force has evoked considerable controversy about the detailed functions of the myosin phosphorylation system. The latch bridge has been defined by a model based on physiological properties but has not been identified biochemically. Thin-filament proteins have been proposed as secondary sites of regulation of contractile elements, but additional studies are needed to establish physiological roles. Changes in the Ca2+ sensitivity of smooth muscle contractile elements with different modes of cellular stimulation may be related to inactivation of myosin light chain kinase or activation of protein phosphatase activities. Thus, contractile elements in smooth muscle cells are not dependent solely on [Ca2+]i but use additional regulatory mechanisms. The immediate challenge is to define their relative importance and to describe molecular-biochemical properties that provide insights into proposed physiological functions.
Hypertension 1991 Jun
PMID:Vascular smooth muscle contractile elements. Cellular regulation. 204 32

Sustained smooth muscle contraction has been proposed to be regulated by either 1) sustained increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration [(Ca2+]i)-dependent myosin phosphorylation or 2) diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase C activation. We measured diacylglycerol mass with the diacylglycerol kinase assay and myoplasmic [Ca2+] with aequorin in swine carotid medial smooth muscle. Sustained and significant increases in [Ca2+], myosin light chain phosphorylation, and isometric stress were observed with histamine or endothelin stimulation. Neither stimuli, however, induced significant increases in diacylglycerol mass. Relaxation of histamine-stimulated tissues was induced by removal of histamine or removal of extracellular CaCl2 in the continued presence of histamine. The rate of decline of both [Ca2+] and force was similar in both protocols, suggesting that removal of Ca2+ (without removing the stimulus) was equivalent to removal of the stimulus. These data suggest that [Ca2+]i is the primary regulator of sustained swine arterial smooth muscle contraction, whereas diacylglycerol has, at most, only a minor role.
Hypertension 1990 Jun
PMID:[Ca2+], not diacylglycerol, is the primary regulator of sustained swine arterial smooth muscle contraction. 219 Sep 21

The Ca2+, calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphorylation of the 20 kDa myosin light chain (LC20) is accepted as an important component of the regulatory mechanism in smooth muscle contraction. Since we have originally developed selective inhibitors of each process of the intracellular Ca2+ messenger system, the effect of a newly synthesized compound ML-9, a myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitor on superprecipitation of actomyosin, isometric tension development and phosphorylation of LC20 in vascular smooth muscle was investigated. Superprecipitation of actomyosin from bovine aorta was inhibited by the addition of ML-9 in a dose-dependent manner. In chemically skinned smooth muscle cells of the rabbit mesenteric artery, ML-9 inhibited both Ca2+ and Ca2+, CaM-independent MLCK-induced contraction. In the intact vascular strips, increase in LC20 phosphorylation reached a maximal value within 10 sec from a resting value, and then declined to near the basal level during the maintained isometric force developed in response to 50 mmol/L KCl. Both the maximal rate and extent of KCl-induced contraction and the phosphorylation of LC20 were also inhibited by ML-9. It antagonized the contraction induced by various contractile agonists, such as NE, 5HT, His, and Ang II concomitant with the inhibition of LC20 phosphorylation. These results suggest that ML-9 inhibits the actin-myosin interaction through the modulation of LC20 phosphorylation via the inhibition of MLCK activity. ML-9 will aid in determining pathophysiological functions of MLCK of increased vascular contractility in hypertension.
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PMID:Molecular pharmacology of calcium, calmodulin-dependent myosin phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle. 222 74

Increased peripheral resistance is the hallmark of hypertension. It may result in part from exaggerated vascular reactivity of resistance arteries. Some changes in density of surface receptors for different vasoconstrictors and vasorelaxants have been described that could play a role in physiological findings in hypertension. Smooth muscle cells of resistance arteries have increased cytosolic free calcium concentration in some models of experimental hypertension, which may contribute to enhance vascular responses. Exaggerated response of the inositol phosphate-calcium pathway has been demonstrated after stimulation with some vasoconstrictor agents such as norepinephrine, angiotension II, and vasopressin. In contrast, responses to the potent vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 are either normal (in spontaneously hypertensive rats) or blunted (in deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension). In the latter case, endothelin receptor density, inositol phosphate and diacylglycerol generation, and cytosolic calcium responses agree with blunted response of blood vessels. Increased basal cytosolic calcium and exaggerated sensitivity of myosin light chain to calcium may be mechanisms underlying increases in sensitivity of signal transduction in smooth muscle in some models of hypertension. However, in general, signal transduction of receptors for vasoconstrictors appears to be blunted rather than exaggerated, except for responses to angiotensin II. Altered structure of resistance arteries (remodeling) may be a mechanism that, even in presence of blunted intracellular signal transduction, may result in enhanced pressor responsiveness of blood vessels in hypertension.
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PMID:Intracellular signal transduction for vasoactive peptides in hypertension. 783 83

The human heart secretes both atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide. This study attempts to clarify the pathophysiological significance of the peptides in cardiovascular diseases. Using immunoradiometric assay, plasma brain natriuretic peptide and atrial natriuretic peptide levels in essential hypertension, various secondary hypertension, chronic renal failure, chronic heart failure during cardiac pacing, and acute myocardial infarction were determined. Mean plasma brain natriuretic peptide and atrial natriuretic peptide levels in healthy subjects were 3.7 +/- 0.3 and 5.7 +/- 0.3 pmol/L, respectively, and increased as a function of age. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels showed a larger increase than atrial natriuretic peptide levels in various cardiovascular diseases. In chronic renal failure, whereas plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels decreased significantly after hemodialysis and were correlated with the changes in body weight, changes in plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels were less prominent and did not show such a correlation. In chronic heart failure, both basal plasma brain natriuretic peptide and atrial natriuretic peptide levels were also significantly elevated. However, in response to acute ventricular or atrial pacing, brain natriuretic peptide levels did not show any increase in contrast to the marked increase of atrial natriuretic peptide levels. In acute myocardial infarction, brain natriuretic peptide levels showed more prominent changes than atrial natriuretic peptide levels and were correlated with serum levels of creatine kinase and cardiac myosin light chain I in most patients. These results suggest that both brain and atrial natriuretic peptides play an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hypertension 1994 Jan
PMID:Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides in cardiovascular diseases. 828 65

We investigated the linkage between high blood pressure (BP) and microsatellite genotypes in the independently produced F2 progenies between Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) at the age of 2.5, 3 and 5 months before salt loading and after 2 month salt loading. In 2.5, 3 and 5 month-old male and female F2 progenies, blood pressure was significantly higher in homozygotes of the SHRSP allele at the two loci on rat chromosome 1, leukosianine (LSN) and myosin light chain (MYL2), than those of heterozygotes or WKY homozygotes. However, this strong cosegregation was attenuated after salt loading for 2 months. Basal (non salt-loaded) blood pressure strongly cosegregates with the loci on rat chromosome 1 and, therefore, putative gene(s) in this region contribute to the development of basal high blood pressure in SHRSP.
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PMID:Basal high blood pressure cosegregates with the loci on chromosome 1 in the F2 generation from crosses between normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. 835 93

Smooth muscle contraction is the basis of the physiological reactivity of several systems (vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital ...). Hyperresponsiveness of smooth muscle may also contribute to a variety of problems such as arterial hypertension, asthma and spontaneous abortion. An increase in cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) is the key event in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle and the relationship linking the [Ca2+]i value to the force of contraction represents the calcium sensitivity of the contractile apparatus (CaSCA). Recently, it has become evident that CaSCA can be modified upon the action of agonists or drugs as well as in some pathophysiological situations. Such modifications induce, at a fixed [Ca2+]i value, either an increase (referred to as sensitization) or a decrease (desensitization) of the contraction force. The molecular mechanisms underlying this modulation are not yet fully elucidated. Nevertheless, recent studies have identified sites of regulation of the actomyosin interaction in smooth muscle. Sensitization primarily results from the inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) by intracellular messengers such as arachidonic acid or protein kinase C. In addition, phosphorylation of thin filament-associated proteins, caldesmon and calponin, increases CaSCA. Activation of small (monomeric) G-proteins such as rho or ras is also involved. Desensitization occurs as a consequence of phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) by the calcium-calmodulin activated protein kinase II, or stimulation of MLCP by cyclic GMP-activated protein kinase. In the present review, examples of physiological modulation of CaCSA as well as pharmacological and pathophysiological implications are illustrated for some smooth muscles.
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PMID:Modulation of the calcium sensitivity of the smooth muscle contractile apparatus: molecular mechanisms, pharmacological and pathophysiological implications. 926 58

Abnormal smooth muscle contraction may contribute to diseases such as asthma and hypertension. Alterations to myosin light chain kinase or phosphatase change the phosphorylation level of the 20-kDa myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC), increasing Ca2+ sensitivity and basal tone. One Rho family GTPase-dependent kinase, Rho-associated kinase (ROK or p160(ROCK)) can induce Ca2+-independent contraction of Triton-skinned smooth muscle by phosphorylating MRLC and/or myosin light chain phosphatase. We show that another Rho family GTPase-dependent kinase, p21-activated protein kinase (PAK), induces Triton-skinned smooth muscle contracts independently of calcium to 62 +/- 12% (n = 10) of the value observed in presence of calcium. Remarkably, PAK and ROK use different molecular mechanisms to achieve the Ca2+-independent contraction. Like ROK and myosin light chain kinase, PAK phosphorylates MRLC at serine 19 in vitro. However, PAK-induced contraction correlates with enhanced phosphorylation of caldesmon and desmin but not MRLC. The level of MRLC phosphorylation remains similar to that in relaxed muscle fibers (absence of GST-mPAK3 and calcium) even as the force induced by GST-mPAK3 increases from 26 to 70%. Thus, PAK uncouples force generation from MRLC phosphorylation. These data support a model of PAK-induced contraction in which myosin phosphorylation is at least complemented through regulation of thin filament proteins. Because ROK and PAK homologues are present in smooth muscle, they may work in parallel to regulate smooth muscle contraction.
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PMID:Different molecular mechanisms for Rho family GTPase-dependent, Ca2+-independent contraction of smooth muscle. 972 79

Hypercontraction or abnormal contraction of vascular smooth muscle is a major cause of diseases such as hypertension and vasospasm of the coronary and cerebral arteries. A better understanding of the mechanism of regulation of smooth muscle contraction should lead to improved treatments for such diseases. Recent studies have revealed important roles for the small GTPase Rho and its effector, Rho-associated kinase (Rho kinase) in Ca2+ independent regulation of smooth muscle contraction. The Rho-Rho-kinase pathway modulates the level of phosphorylation of the myosin light chain of myosin II, mainly through inhibition of myosin phosphatase, and contributes to agonist-induced Ca2+ sensitization in smooth muscle contraction. Rho-Rho-kinase mechanisms also participate in a variety of the cellular functions of non-muscle cells, such as stress-fibre formation, cytokinesis and cell migration. This review summarizes the role of the Rho-Rho-kinase pathway in contractile processes of smooth muscle and in non-muscle cell functions, and the pathophysiological implications of this pathway.
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PMID:Rho-Rho-kinase pathway in smooth muscle contraction and cytoskeletal reorganization of non-muscle cells. 1116 70


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