Calmodulin kinase II is required for angiotensin II-mediated vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2010 Feb;298(2):H688-98. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01014.2009. Epub 2009 Dec 18.

Abstract

Despite our understanding that medial smooth muscle hypertrophy is a central feature of vascular remodeling, the molecular pathways underlying this pathology are still not well understood. Work over the past decade has illustrated a potential role for the multifunctional calmodulin-dependent kinase CaMKII in smooth muscle cell contraction, growth, and migration. Here we demonstrate that CaMKII is enriched in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) and that CaMKII inhibition blocks ANG II-dependent VSM cell hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, systemic CaMKII inhibition with KN-93 prevented ANG II-mediated hypertension and medial hypertrophy in vivo. Adenoviral transduction with the CaMKII peptide inhibitor CaMKIIN abrogated ANG II-induced VSM hypertrophy in vitro, which was augmented by overexpression of CaMKII-delta2. Finally, we identify the downstream signaling components critical for ANG II- and CaMKII-mediated VSM hypertrophy. Specifically, we demonstrate that CaMKII induces VSM hypertrophy by regulating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) activity, thereby stimulating activity of the hypertrophic transcription factor MEF2. MEF2 transcription is activated by ANG II in vivo and abrogated by the CaMKII inhibitor KN-93. Together, our studies identify a complete pathway for ANG II-triggered arterial VSM hypertrophy and identify new potential therapeutic targets for chronic human hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Aorta / pathology
  • Benzylamines / pharmacology
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / drug effects
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Hypertrophy
  • MADS Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • MEF2 Transcription Factors
  • Male
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / pathology*
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Benzylamines
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Camk2n1 protein, rat
  • Carrier Proteins
  • MADS Domain Proteins
  • MEF2 Transcription Factors
  • MEF2A protein, rat
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Sulfonamides
  • Angiotensin II
  • KN 93
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Histone Deacetylases