Vasoconstrictor-driven G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)/phospholipase C (PLC) signaling increases intracellular Ca2+ concentration to mediate arterial contraction. To counteract vasoconstrictor-induced contraction, GPCR/PLC signaling can be desensitized by G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), with GRK2 playing a predominant role in isolated arterial smooth muscle cells. In this study, we use an array of GRK2 inhibitors to assess their effects on the desensitization of UTP and angiotensin II (AngII)-mediated arterial contractions. The effects of GRK2 inhibitors on the desensitization of UTP- or AngII-stimulated mesenteric third-order arterial contractions, and PLC activity in isolated mesenteric smooth muscle cells (MSMC), were determined using wire myography and Ca2+ imaging, respectively. Applying a stimulation protocol to cause receptor desensitization resulted in reductions in UTP- and AngII-stimulated arterial contractions. Preincubation with the GRK2 inhibitor paroxetine almost completely prevented desensitization of UTP- and attenuated desensitization of AngII-stimulated arterial contractions. In contrast, fluoxetine was ineffective. Preincubation with alternative GRK2 inhibitors (Takeda compound 101 or CCG224063) also attenuated the desensitization of UTP-mediated arterial contractile responses. In isolated MSMC, paroxetine, Takeda compound 101, and CCG224063 also attenuated the desensitization of UTP- and AngII-stimulated increases in Ca2+, whereas fluoxetine did not. In human uterine smooth muscle cells, paroxetine reversed GRK2-mediated histamine H-1 receptor desensitization, but not GRK6-mediated oxytocin receptor desensitization. Utilizing various small-molecule GRK2 inhibitors, we confirm that GRK2 plays a central role in regulating vasoconstrictor-mediated arterial tone, highlighting a potentially novel strategy for blood pressure regulation through targeting GRK2 function.

Background and Purpose We investigated the hypothesis that elevated glucose increases contractile responses in vascular smooth muscle and that this enhanced constriction occurs due to the glucose‐induced PKC‐dependent inhibition of voltage‐gated potassium channels. Experimental Approach Patch‐clamp electrophysiology in rat isolated mesenteric arterial myocytes was performed to investigate the glucose‐induced inhibition of voltage‐gated potassium (K v ) current. To determine the effects of glucose in whole vessel, wire myography was performed in rat mesenteric, porcine coronary and human internal mammary arteries. Key Results Glucose‐induced inhibition of K v was PKC‐dependent and could be pharmacologically dissected using PKC isoenzyme‐specific inhibitors to reveal a PKCβ‐dependent component of K v inhibition dominating between 0 and 10 mM glucose with an additional PKCα‐dependent component becoming evident at concentrations greater than 10 mM. These findings were supported using wire myography in all artery types used, where contractile responses to vessel depolarization and vasoconstrictors were enhanced by increasing bathing glucose concentration, again with evidence for distinct and complementary PKCα/PKCβ‐mediated components. Conclusions and Implications Our results provide compelling evidence that glucose‐induced PKCα/PKCβ‐mediated inhibition of K v current in vascular smooth muscle causes an enhanced constrictor response. Inhibition of K v current causes a significant depolarization of vascular myocytes leading to marked vasoconstriction. The PKC dependence of this enhanced constrictor response may present a potential therapeutic target for improving microvascular perfusion following percutaneous coronary intervention after myocardial infarction in hyperglycaemic patients.

Uridine triphosphate (UTP) can be released from damaged cells to cause vasoconstriction. Although UTP is known to act through P2Y receptors and PLC activation in vascular smooth muscle, the role of PKC in generating the response is somewhat unclear. Here we have used Tat-linked membrane permeable peptide inhibitors of PKC to assess the general role of PKC and also of specific isoforms of PKC in the UTP induced contraction of rat mesenteric artery. We examined the effect of PKC inhibition on UTP induced contraction, increased cytoplasmic Ca(2+) and reduction of K(+) currents and found that PKC inhibition caused a relatively small attenuation of contraction but had little effect on changes in cytoplasmic Ca(2+). UTP attenuation of both voltage-gated (Kv) and ATP-dependent (KATP) K(+) currents was abolished when intracellular Ca(2+) was decreased from 100 to 20 nM. PKC inhibition reduced slightly the ability of UTP to attenuate Kv currents but had no effect on KATP current inhibition. In conclusion, both UTP induced contraction of mesenteric artery and the inhibition of Kv and KATP currents of mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells by UTP are relatively independent of PKC activation; furthermore, the inhibition of both Kv and KATP currents requires intracellular Ca(2+).

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels are abundantly expressed in the myocardium. Although a definitive role for the channel remains elusive they have been implicated in the phenomenon of cardioprotection, but the precise mechanism is unclear. We set out to test the hypothesis that the channel protects by opening early during ischemia to shorten action potential duration and reduce electrical excitability thus sparing intracellular ATP. This could reduce reperfusion injury by improving calcium homeostasis. Using a combination of contractile function analysis, calcium fluorescence imaging and patch clamp electrophysiology in cardiomyocytes isolated from adult male Wistar rats, we demonstrated that the opening of sarcolemmal KATP channels was markedly delayed after cardioprotective treatments: ischemic preconditioning, adenosine and PMA. This was due to the preservation of intracellular ATP for longer during simulated ischemia therefore maintaining sarcolemmal KATP channels in the closed state for longer. As the simulated ischemia progressed, KATP channels opened to cause contractile, calcium transient and action potential failure; however there was no indication of any channel activity early during simulated ischemia to impart an energy sparing hyperpolarization or action potential shortening. We present compelling evidence to demonstrate that an early opening of sarcolemmal KATP channels during simulated ischemia is not part of the protective mechanism imparted by ischemic preconditioning or other PKC-dependent cardioprotective stimuli. On the contrary, channel opening was actually delayed. We conclude that sarcolemmal KATP channel opening is a consequence of ATP depletion, not a primary mechanism of ATP preservation in these cells.