Microtubule disruption modulates the Rho-kinase pathway in vascular smooth muscle

J Muscle Res Cell Motil. 2001;22(2):193-200. doi: 10.1023/a:1010502201519.

Abstract

Microtubules constitute one of the main cytoskeletal components in eukaryotic cells. Recent studies have shown that microtubule disruption induced significant vasoconstriction or enhanced agonist-induced contraction in vascular smooth muscle. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. We hypothesize that microtubule disruption may affect contractile signaling in vascular smooth muscle and lead to the enhanced contraction. The present study demonstrates that both colchicine and nocodazole induced a small but sustained contraction (4-6% P0) in rat aortic rings. This microtubule disruption-induced contraction was abolished by co-treatment with either HA 1077 or Y-27632, both of which are relatively specific Rho-kinase inhibitors. However, co-treatment with ML-9, an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, (MLCK) did not have a significant effect on the colchicine-induced contraction. The enhanced KCl-induced contraction due to treatment with colchicine was also blocked by inhibition of Rho-kinase, but not by inhibition of MLCK. These results indicate that microtubule disruption modulates contractile signaling in vascular smooth muscle, mainly through the Rho-kinase pathway, but not MLCK. Interestingly, the colchicine-enhanced, phenylephrine-induced contraction was not completely blocked by inhibition of Rho-kinase suggesting that other signaling pathways might also be involved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / pharmacology
  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Azepines / pharmacology
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Colchicine / pharmacology
  • Drug Interactions / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / injuries
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Male
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Nocodazole / pharmacology
  • Phenylephrine / pharmacology
  • Potassium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / pharmacology
  • rho-Associated Kinases

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Azepines
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Pyridines
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • ML 9
  • Y 27632
  • Phenylephrine
  • Potassium Chloride
  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • fasudil
  • Nocodazole
  • Colchicine
  • Calcium