Angiotensin II-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction through RhoA/Rho kinase/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/arginase pathway

Alia Shatanawi, Maritza J. Romero, Jennifer A. Iddings, Surabhi Chandra, Nagavedi S. Umapathy, Alexander D. Verin, Ruth B. Caldwell, R. William Caldwell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

Enhanced vascular arginase activity impairs endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by decreasing Larginine availability to endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase, thereby reducing NO production. Elevated angiotensin II (ANG II) is a key component of endothelial dysfunction in many cardiovascular diseases and has been linked to elevated arginase activity. We determined signaling mechanisms by which ANG II increases endothelial arginase function. Results show that ANG II (0.1 μM, 24 h) elevates arginase activity and arginase I expression in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and decreases NO production. These effects are prevented by the arginase inhibitor BEC (100 μM). Blockade of ANG II AT1 receptors or transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) for Gα12 and Gα13 also prevents ANG II-induced elevation of arginase activity, but siRNA for Gαq does not. ANG II also elevates active RhoA levels and induces phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Inhibitors of RhoA activation (simvastatin, 0.1 μM) or Rho kinase (ROCK) (Y- 27632, 10 μM; H1152, 0.5 μM) block both ANG II-induced elevation of arginase activity and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Furthermore, pretreatment of BAECs with p38 inhibitor SB-202190 (2 μM) or transfection with p38 MAPK siRNA prevents ANG II-induced increased arginase activity/expression and maintains NO production. Additionally, inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB-203580, 5 μg·kg-1·day-1) or arginase (ABH, 8 mg·kg-1·day-1) or arginase gene knockout in mice prevents ANG II-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction and associated enhancement of arginase. These results indicate that ANG II increases endothelial arginase activity/expression through Gα12/13 G proteins coupled to AT1 receptors and subsequent activation of RhoA/ROCK/p38 MAPK pathways leading to endothelial dysfunction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)C1181-C1192
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
Volume300
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

Keywords

  • Endothelial nitric oxide synthase dysfunction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cell Biology

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