Versatile roles of cysteine persulfides in tumor biology.

Rewiring the transsulfuration pathway is recognized as a rapid adaptive metabolic response to environmental conditions in cancer cells to support their increased cysteine demand and to produce Reactive Sulfur Species (RSS) including hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and cysteine persulfide. This can directly (via RSS) or indirectly (by supplying Cys) trigger chemical or enzyme catalyzed persulfidation on critical protein cysteine residues to protect them from oxidative damage and to orchestrate protein functions, and thereby contribute to cancer cell plasticity. In this review key aspects of persulfide-mediated biological processes are highlighted and critically discussed in relation to cancer cell survival, bioenergetics, proliferation as well as in tumor angiogenesis, adaptation to hypoxia and oxidative stress, and regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Cystathionine ß-synthase overexpression drives metastatic dissemination in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma via inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation of cancer cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest of all cancer types with a constant rise in global incidence. Therefore, better understanding of PDAC biology, in order to design more efficient diagnostic and treatment modalities, is a priority. Here we found that the expression levels of cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS), a transsulfuration enzyme, is markedly elevated in metastatic PDAC cells compared to cell lines isolated from non-metastatic primary tumors. On human immunohistochemical samples from PDAC patients we also found higher CBS staining in cancerous ductal cells compared to in non-tumor tissue, which was further elevated in the lymph node metastasis of the same patients. In mice, orthotopically injected CBS-silenced T3M4 cells induced fewer liver metastases compared to control cells indicating important roles for CBS in PDAC cancer cell invasion and malignant transformation. Wound healing and colony formation assays in cell culture confirmed that CBS-deficient metastatic T3M4 and non-metastatic BxPC3 primary tumor cells migrate slower and have impaired anchorage-independent growth capacities compared to control T3M4 cells. CBS silencing in T3M4 cells lowered WNT5a and SNAI1 gene expression down to levels that were observed in BxPC3 cells as well as resulted in an increase in E-cadherin and a decrease in Vimentin signals in mouse tumors when injected orthotopically. These observations suggested a primary role for the epithelial to mesenchymal transformation of cancer cells in CBS-mediated tumor aggressiveness. Under normal conditions, STAT3, an upstream regulator of Wnt signaling pathways, was less phosphorylated and more oxidized in shCBS T3M4 and BxPC3 compared to control T3M4 cells, which is consistent with decreased transcriptional activity at lower CBS levels due to less protection against oxidation. Sulfur metabolome analyses suggested that this CBS-mediated protection against oxidative modifications is likely to be related to persulfide/sulfide producing activities of the enzyme rather than its canonical function to produce cystathionine for cysteine synthesis. Taken together, CBS overexpression through regulation of the EMT plays a significant role in PDAC cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

A Central Role for TRPM4 in Ca2+-Signal Amplification and Vasoconstriction.

Transient receptor potential melastatin-4 (TRPM4) is activated by an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and is expressed on smooth muscle cells (SMCs). It is implicated in the myogenic constriction of cerebral arteries. We hypothesized that TRPM4 has a general role in intracellular Ca2+ signal amplification in a wide range of blood vessels. TRPM4 function was tested with the TRPM4 antagonist 9-phenanthrol and the TRPM4 activator A23187 on the cardiovascular responses of the rat, in vivo and in isolated basilar, mesenteric, and skeletal muscle arteries. TRPM4 inhibition by 9-phenanthrol resulted in hypotension and a decreased heart rate in the rat. TRPM4 inhibition completely antagonized myogenic tone development and norepinephrine-evoked vasoconstriction, and depolarization (high extracellular KCl concentration) evoked vasoconstriction in a wide range of peripheral arteries. Vasorelaxation caused by TRPM4 inhibition was accompanied by a significant decrease in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, suggesting an inhibition of Ca2+ signal amplification. Immunohistochemistry confirmed TRPM4 expression in the smooth muscle cells of the peripheral arteries. Finally, TRPM4 activation by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 was competitively inhibited by 9-phenanthrol. In summary, TRPM4 was identified as an essential Ca2+-amplifying channel in peripheral arteries, contributing to both myogenic tone and agonist responses. These results suggest an important role for TRPM4 in the circulation. The modulation of TRPM4 activity may be a therapeutic target for hypertension. Furthermore, the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 was identified as the first high-affinity (nanomolar) direct activator of TRPM4, acting on the 9-phenanthrol binding site.

Reprogrammed transsulfuration promotes basal-like breast tumor progression via realigning cellular cysteine persulfidation.

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast tumors with poor prognosis and limited molecular-targeted therapy options. We show that BLBC cells have a high Cys demand and reprogrammed Cys metabolism. Patient-derived BLBC tumors from four different cohorts exhibited elevated expression of the transsulfuration enzyme cystathione ß-synthetase (CBS). CBS silencing (shCBS) made BLBC cells less invasive, proliferate slower, more vulnerable to oxidative stress and cystine (CySSCy) deprivation, prone to ferroptosis, and less responsive to HIF1-α activation under hypoxia. shCBS xenograft tumors grew slower than controls and exhibited impaired angiogenesis and larger necrotic areas. Sulfur metabolite profiling suggested that realigned sulfide/persulfide-inducing functions of CBS are important in BLBC tumor progression. Supporting this, the exclusion of serine, a substrate of CBS for producing Cys but not for producing sulfide/persulfide, did not exacerbate CySSCy deprivation-induced ferroptosis in shCBS BLBC cells. Impaired Tyr phosphorylation was detected in shCBS cells and xenografts, likely due to persulfidation-inhibited phosphatase functions. Overexpression of cystathione γ-lyase (CSE), which can also contribute to cellular sulfide/persulfide production, compensated for the loss of CBS activities, and treatment of shCBS xenografts with a CSE inhibitor further blocked tumor growth. Glutathione and protein-Cys levels were not diminished in shCBS cells or xenografts, but levels of Cys persulfidation and the persulfide-catabolizing enzyme ETHE1 were suppressed. Finally, expression of enzymes of the oxidizing Cys catabolism pathway was diminished, but expression of the persulfide-producing CARS2 was elevated in human BLBC tumors. Hence, the persulfide-producing pathways are major targetable determinants of BLBC pathology that could be therapeutically exploited.

Munc13 Is a Molecular Target of Bryostatin 1.

Bryostatin 1 is a natural macrolide shown to improve neuronal connections and enhance memory in mice. Its mechanism of action is largely attributed to the modulation of novel and conventional protein kinase Cs (PKCs) by binding to their regulatory C1 domains. Munc13-1 is a C1 domain-containing protein that shares common endogenous and exogenous activators with novel and conventional PKC subtypes. Given the essential role of Munc13-1 in the priming of synaptic vesicles and neuronal transmission overall, we explored the potential interaction between bryostatin 1 and Munc13-1. Our results indicate that in vitro bryostatin 1 binds to both the isolated C1 domain of Munc13-1 ( Ki = 8.07 ± 0.90 nM) and the full-length Munc13-1 protein ( Ki = 0.45 ± 0.04 nM). Furthermore, confocal microscopy and immunoblot analysis demonstrated that in intact HT22 cells bryostatin 1 mimics the actions of phorbol esters, a previously established class of Munc13-1 activators, and induces plasma membrane translocation of Munc13-1, a hallmark of its activation. Consistently, bryostatin 1 had no effect on the Munc13-1H567K construct that is insensitive to phorbol esters. Effects of bryostatin 1 on the other Munc13 family members, ubMunc13-2 and bMunc13-2, resembled those of Munc13-1 for translocation. Lastly, we observed an increased level of expression of Munc13-1 following a 24 h incubation with bryostatin 1 in both HT22 and primary mouse hippocampal cells. This study characterizes Munc13-1 as a molecular target of bryostatin 1. Considering the crucial role of Munc13-1 in neuronal function, these findings provide strong support for the potential role of Munc13s in the actions of bryostatin 1.

Temporal and Spatial Epigenome Editing Allows Precise Gene Regulation in Mammalian Cells.

Cell-type specific gene expression programs are tightly linked to epigenetic modifications on DNA and histone proteins. Here, we used a novel CRISPR-based epigenome editing approach to control gene expression spatially and temporally. We show that targeting dCas9-p300 complex to distal non-regulatory genomic regions reprograms the chromatin state of these regions into enhancer-like elements. Notably, through controlling the spatial distance of these induced enhancers (i-Enhancer) to the promoter, the gene expression amplitude can be tightly regulated. To better control the temporal persistence of induced gene expression, we integrated the auxin-inducible degron technology with CRISPR tools. This approach allows rapid depletion of the dCas9-fused epigenome modifier complex from the target site and enables temporal control over gene expression regulation. Using this tool, we investigated the temporal persistence of a locally edited epigenetic mark and its functional consequences. The tools and approaches presented here will allow novel insights into the mechanism of epigenetic memory and gene regulation from distal regulatory sites.

α-Arylidene Diacylglycerol-Lactones (DAG-Lactones) as Selective Ras Guanine-Releasing Protein 3 (RasGRP3) Ligands.

Diacylglycerol-lactones have proven to be a powerful template for the design of potent ligands targeting C1 domains, the recognition motif for the cellular second messenger diacylglycerol. A major objective has been to better understand the structure activity relations distinguishing the seven families of signaling proteins that contain such domains, of which the protein kinase C (PKC) and RasGRP families are of particular interest. Here, we synthesize a series of aryl- and alkyl-substituted diacylglycerol-lactones and probe their relative selectivities for RasGRP3 versus PKC. Compound 96 showed 73-fold selectivity relative to PKCα and 45-fold selectivity relative to PKCε for in vitro binding activity. Likewise, in intact cells, compound 96 induced Ras activation, a downstream response to RasGRP stimulation, with 8-29 fold selectivity relative to PKCδ S299 phosphorylation, a measure of PKCδ stimulation.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Fluorescent Bryostatin Analogues.

To investigate the cellular distribution of tumor-promoting vs. non-tumor-promoting bryostatin analogues, we synthesized fluorescently labeled variants of two bryostatin derivatives that have previously shown either phorbol ester-like or bryostatin-like biological activity in U937 leukemia cells. These new fluorescent analogues both displayed high affinity for protein kinase C (PKC) binding and retained the basic properties of the parent unlabeled compounds in U937 assays. The fluorescent compounds showed similar patterns of intracellular distribution in cells, however; this argues against an existing hypothesis that various patterns of intracellular distribution are responsible for differences in biological activity. Upon further characterization, the fluorescent compounds revealed a slow rate of cellular uptake; correspondingly, they showed reduced activity for cellular responses that were only transient upon treatment with phorbol ester or bryostatin 1.

Structural determinants of phorbol ester binding activity of the C1a and C1b domains of protein kinase C theta.

The PKC isozymes represent the most prominent family of signaling proteins mediating response to the ubiquitous second messenger diacylglycerol. Among them, PKCθ is critically involved in T-cell activation. Whereas all the other conventional and novel PKC isoforms have twin C1 domains with potent binding activity for phorbol esters, in PKCθ only the C1b domain possesses potent binding activity, with little or no activity reported for the C1a domain. In order to better understand the structural basis accounting for the very weak ligand binding of the PKCθ C1a domain, we assessed the effect on ligand binding of twelve amino acid residues which differed between the C1a and C1b domains of PKCθ. Mutation of Pro9 of the C1a domain of PKCθ to the corresponding Lys9 found in C1b restored in vitro binding activity for [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate to 3.6 nM, whereas none of the other residues had substantial effect. Interestingly, the converse mutation in the C1b domain of Lys9 to Pro9 only diminished binding affinity to 11.7 nM, compared to 254 nM in the unmutated C1a. In confocal experiments, deletion of the C1b domain from full length PKCθ diminished, whereas deletion of the C1a domain enhanced 5-fold (at 100 nM PMA) the translocation to the plasma membrane. We conclude that the Pro168 residue in the C1a domain of full length PKCθ plays a critical role in the ligand and membrane binding, while exchanging the residue (Lys240) at the same position in C1b domain of full length PKCθ only modestly reduced the membrane interaction.

Importance of the REM (Ras exchange) domain for membrane interactions by RasGRP3.

RasGRP comprises a family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors, regulating the dissociation of GDP from Ras GTPases to enhance the formation of the active GTP-bound form. RasGRP1 possesses REM (Ras exchange), GEF (catalytic), EF-hand, C1, SuPT (suppressor of PT), and PT (plasma membrane-targeting) domains, among which the C1 domain drives membrane localization in response to diacylglycerol or phorbol ester and the PT domain recognizes phosphoinositides. The homologous family member RasGRP3 shows less plasma membrane localization. The objective of this study was to explore the role of the different domains of RasGRP3 in membrane translocation in response to phorbol esters. The full-length RasGRP3 shows limited translocation to the plasma membrane in response to PMA, even when the basic hydrophobic cluster in the PT domain, reported to be critical for RasGRP1 translocation to endogenous activators, is mutated to resemble that of RasGRP1. Moreover, exchange of the C-termini (SuPT-PT domain) of the two proteins had little effect on their plasma membrane translocation. On the other hand, while the C1 domain of RasGRP3 alone showed partial plasma membrane translocation, truncated RasGRP3 constructs, which contain the PT domain and are missing the REM, showed stronger translocation, indicating that the REM of RasGRP3 was a suppressor of its membrane interaction. The REM of RasGRP1 failed to show comparable suppression of RasGRP3 translocation. The marked differences between RasGRP3 and RasGRP1 in membrane interaction necessarily will contribute to their different behavior in cells and are relevant to the design of selective ligands as potential therapeutic agents.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Dimeric Derivatives of Diacylglycerol-Lactones as Protein Kinase C Ligands.

Protein kinase C (PKC) mediates a central cellular signal transduction pathway involved in disorders such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. PKC is regulated by binding of the second messenger sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) to its tandem C1 domains, designated C1a and C1b, leading both to PKC activation and to its translocation to the plasma membrane and to internal organelles. Depending on the isoform, there may be differences in the ligand selectivity of the C1a and C1b domains, and there is different spacing between the C1 domains of the conventional and novel PKCs. Bivalent ligands have the potential to exploit these differences between isoforms, yielding isoform selectivity. In the present study, we describe the synthesis of a series of dimeric derivatives of conformationally constrained diacylglycerol (DAG) analogs (DAG-lactones). We characterize the derivatives in vitro for their binding affinities, both to a single C1 domain (the C1b domain of PKCδ) as well as to the conventional PKCα isoform and the novel PKCδ isoform, and we measure their abilities to cause translocation of PKCδ and PKCε in intact cells. The dimeric compound with the 10-carbon linker was modestly more effective for the isolated PKCδ C1b domain than was the monomeric compound. For the intact PKCα and PKCδ, the shortest DAG-lactone dimer had similar affinity to the monomer and affinity decreased progressively up to the 16-carbon linker. The dimeric derivatives did not cause the Golgi accumulation of PKCδ. The present results provide important insights into the development of new chemical tools for biological studies on PKC.

Structural Basis for the Failure of the C1 Domain of Ras Guanine Nucleotide Releasing Protein 2 (RasGRP2) to Bind Phorbol Ester with High Affinity.

The C1 domain represents the recognition module for diacylglycerol and phorbol esters in protein kinase C, Ras guanine nucleotide releasing protein (RasGRP), and related proteins. RasGRP2 is exceptional in that its C1 domain has very weak binding affinity (Kd = 2890 ± 240 nm for [(3)H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. We have identified four amino acid residues responsible for this lack of sensitivity. Replacing Asn(7), Ser(8), Ala(19), and Ile(21) with the corresponding residues from RasGRP1/3 (Thr(7), Tyr(8), Gly(19), and Leu(21), respectively) conferred potent binding affinity (Kd = 1.47 ± 0.03 nm) in vitro and membrane translocation in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in LNCaP cells. Mutant C1 domains incorporating one to three of the four residues showed intermediate behavior with S8Y making the greatest contribution. Binding activity for diacylglycerol was restored in parallel. The requirement for anionic phospholipid for [(3)H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding was determined; it decreased in going from the single S8Y mutant to the quadruple mutant. The full-length RasGRP2 protein with the mutated C1 domains also showed strong phorbol ester binding, albeit modestly weaker than that of the C1 domain alone (Kd = 8.2 ± 1.1 nm for the full-length protein containing all four mutations), and displayed translocation in response to phorbol ester. RasGRP2 is a guanyl exchange factor for Rap1. Consistent with the ability of phorbol ester to induce translocation of the full-length RasGRP2 with the mutated C1 domain, phorbol ester enhanced the ability of the mutated RasGRP2 to activate Rap1. Modeling confirmed that the four mutations helped the binding cleft maintain a stable conformation.

Vanilloid receptor-1 (TRPV1) expression and function in the vasculature of the rat.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels are emerging in vascular biology. In particular, the expression of the capsaicin receptor (TRPV1) was reported in vascular smooth muscle cells. This study characterized the arteriolar TRPV1 function and expression in the rat. TRPV1 mRNA was expressed in various vascular beds. Six commercially available antibodies were tested for TRPV1 specificity. Two of them were specific (immunostaining was abolished by blocking peptides) for neuronal TRPV1 and one recognized vascular TRPV1. TRPV1 was expressed in blood vessels in the skeletal muscle, mesenteric and skin tissues, as well as in the aorta and carotid arteries. TRPV1 expression was found to be regulated at the level of individual blood vessels, where some vessels expressed, while others did not express TRPV1 in the same tissue sections. Capsaicin (a TRPV1 agonist) evoked constrictions in skeletal muscle arteries and in the carotid artery, but had no effect on the femoral and mesenteric arteries or the aorta. In blood vessels, TRPV1 expression was detected in most of the large arteries, but there were striking differences at level of the small arteries. TRPV1 activity was suppressed in some isolated arteries. This tightly regulated expression and function suggests a physiological role for vascular TRPV1.

Different desensitization patterns for sensory and vascular TRPV1 populations in the rat: expression, localization and functional consequences.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: TRPV1 is expressed in sensory neurons and vascular smooth muscle cells, contributing to both pain perception and tissue blood distribution. Local desensitization of TRPV1 in sensory neurons by prolonged, high dose stimulation is re-engaged in clinical practice to achieve analgesia, but the effects of such treatments on the vascular TRPV1 are not known. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Newborn rats were injected with capsaicin for five days. Sensory activation was measured by eye wiping tests and plasma extravasation. Isolated, pressurized skeletal muscle arterioles were used to characterize TRPV1 mediated vascular responses, while expression of TRPV1 was detected by immunohistochemistry. KEY RESULTS: Capsaicin evoked sensory responses, such as eye wiping (3.6±2.5 versus 15.5±1.4 wipes, p<0.01) or plasma extravasation (evans blue accumulation 10±3 versus 33±7 µg/g, p<0.05) were reduced in desensitized rats. In accordance, the number of TRPV1 positive sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia was also decreased. However, TRPV1 expression in smooth muscle cells was not affected by the treatment. There were no differences in the diameter (192±27 versus 194±8 µm), endothelium mediated dilations (evoked by acetylcholine), norepinephrine mediated constrictions, myogenic response and in the capsaicin evoked constrictions of arterioles isolated from skeletal muscle. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Systemic capsaicin treatment of juvenile rats evokes anatomical and functional disappearance of the TRPV1-expressing neuronal cells but does not affect the TRPV1-expressing cells of the arterioles, implicating different effects of TRPV1 stimulation on the viability of these cell types.

Calcineurin regulates endothelial barrier function by interaction with and dephosphorylation of myosin phosphatase.

AIMS: Calcineurin (CN) influences myosin phosphorylation and alters endothelial barrier function; however, the molecular mechanism is still obscure. Here we examine whether CN controls myosin phosphorylation via mediating the phosphorylation state of Thr696 in myosin phosphatase (MP) target subunit 1 (MYPT1), the phosphorylation site inhibitory to the catalytic activity of MP. METHODS AND RESULTS: Exposure of bovine or human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs or HPAECs) to the CN inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA) induces a rise in intracellular Ca(2+) and increases the phosphorylation level of cofilin(Ser3) and MYPT1(Thr696) in a Ca(2+)-and Rho-kinase-dependent manner. An active catalytic fragment of CN overexpressed in tsA201 cells decreases endogenous MYPT-phospho-Thr696 (MYPT1(pThr696)) levels. Purified CN dephosphorylates (32)P-labelled MYPT1, suggesting direct action of CN on this substrate. Interaction of MYPT1 with CN is revealed by MYPT1 pull-down experiments and colocalization in both BPAECs and HPAECs as well as by surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based binding studies. Stabilization of the MYPT1-CN complex occurs via the MYPT1(300PLIEST305) sequence similar to the CN substrate-docking PxIxIT-motif. Thrombin induces a transient increase of MYPT1(pThr696) in BPAECs, whereas its combination with CsA results in maintained phosphorylation levels of both MYPT1(pThr696) and myosin. These phosphorylation events might correlate with changes in endothelial permeability since CsA slows down the recovery from the thrombin-induced decrease of the transendothelial electrical resistance of the BPAEC monolayer. CONCLUSION: CN may improve endothelial barrier function via inducing dephosphorylation of cofilin(pSer3) and by interaction with MYPT1 and activating MP through MYPT1(pThr696) dephosphorylation, thereby affecting actin polymerization and decreasing myosin phosphorylation.

Vascular metabolism of anandamide to arachidonic acid affects myogenic constriction in response to intraluminal pressure elevation.

AIMS: We hypothesized that arachidonic acid produced by anandamide breakdown contributes to the vascular effects of anandamide. MAIN METHODS: Isolated, pressurized rat skeletal muscle arteries, which possess spontaneous myogenic tone, were treated with anandamide, arachidonic acid, capsaicin (vanilloid receptor agonist), WIN 55-212-2 (cannabinoid receptor agonist), URB-597 (FAAH inhibitor), baicalein (lipoxygenase inhibitor), PPOH (cytochrome P450 inhibitor), and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Changes in the arteriolar diameter in response to the various treatments were measured. To assess the effect of anandamide metabolism, anandamide was applied for 20 min followed by washout for 40 min. This protocol was used to eliminate other, more direct effects of anandamide in order to reveal how anandamide metabolism may influence vasodilation. KEY FINDINGS: Anandamide at a low dose (1µM) evoked a loss of myogenic tone, while a high dose (30 µM) not only attenuated the myogenic response but also evoked acute dilation. Both of these effects were inhibited by the FAAH inhibitor URB-597 and were mimicked by arachidonic acid. The CB1 and CB2 agonist R-WIN 55-212-2 and the vanilloid receptor agonist capsaicin were without effect on the myogenic response. The inhibition of the myogenic response by anandamide was blocked by indomethacin and PPOH, but not by baicalein or removal of the endothelium. FAAH expression in the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. SIGNIFICANCE: Anandamide activates the arachidonic acid pathway in the microvasculature, affecting vascular autoregulation (myogenic response) and local perfusion.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-2 depletion reduces doxorubicin-induced damage through SIRT1 induction.

AIMS: Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used in cytostatic treatments, although it may cause cardiovascular dysfunction as a side effect. DOX treatment leads to enhanced free radical production that in turn causes DNA strand breakage culminating in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation and mitochondrial and cellular dysfunction. DNA nicks can activate numerous enzymes, such as PARP-2. Depletion of PARP-2 has been shown to result in a protective phenotype against free radical-mediated diseases, suggesting similar properties in the case of DOX-induced vascular damage. METHODS AND RESULTS: PARP-2(+/+) and PARP-2(-/-) mice and aortic smooth muscle (MOVAS) cells were treated with DOX (25 mg/kg or 3 µM, respectively). Aortas were harvested 2-day post-treatment while MOVAS cells were treated with DOX for 7 hours. Aortas from PARP-2(-/-) mice displayed partial protection against DOX toxicity, and the protection depended on the conservation of smooth muscle but not on the conservation of endothelial function. DOX treatment evoked free radical production, DNA breakage and PARP activation. Importantly, depletion of PARP-2 did not quench any of these phenomena, suggesting an alternative mechanism. Depletion of PARP-2 prevented DOX-induced mitochondrial dysfunction through SIRT1 activation. Genetic deletion of PARP-2 resulted in the induction of the SIRT1 promoter and consequently increased SIRT1 expression both in aortas and in MOVAS cells. SIRT1 activation enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, which provided protection against DOX-induced mitochondrial damage. CONCLUSION: Our data identify PARP-2 as a mediator of DOX toxicity by regulating vascular SIRT1 activity and mitochondrial biogenesis. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of SIRT1 as a protective factor in the vasculature upon oxidative stress.

Tissue-specific regulation of microvascular diameter: opposite functional roles of neuronal and smooth muscle located vanilloid receptor-1.

The transient receptor potential type V1 channel (vanilloid receptor 1, TRPV1) is a Ca(2+)-permeable nonspecific cation channel activated by various painful stimuli including ischemia. We hypothesized that TRPV1 is expressed in the arterioles and is involved in the regulation of microvascular tone. We found that TRPV1 stimulation by capsaicin (intra-arterial administration) of the isolated, perfused right hind limb of the rat increased vascular resistance (by 98 +/- 21 mm Hg at 10 mug) in association with decreased skeletal muscle perfusion and elevation of skin perfusion (detected by dual-channel laser Doppler flowmetry). Denervation of the hind limb did not affect capsaicin-evoked changes in vascular resistance and tissue perfusion in the hind limb but reduced the elevation of perfusion in the skin. In isolated, pressurized skeletal (musculus gracilis) muscle arterioles (diameter, 147 +/- 35 mum), capsaicin had biphasic effects: at lower concentrations, capsaicin (up to 10 nM) evoked dilations (maximum, 32 +/- 13%), whereas higher concentrations (0.1-1 muM) elicited substantial constrictions (maximum, 66 +/- 7%). Endothelium removal or inhibition of nitric-oxide synthase abolished capsaicin-induced dilations but did not affect arteriolar constriction. Expression of TRPV1 was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the aorta and in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (A7r5). Immunohistochemistry revealed expression primarily in the smooth muscle layers of the gracilis arteriole. These data demonstrate the functional expression of TRPV1 in vascular smooth muscle cells mediating vasoconstriction of the resistance arteries. Because of the dual effects of TRPV1 stimulation on the arteriolar diameter (dilation in skin, constriction in skeletal muscle), we propose that TRPV1 ligands represent drug candidates for tissue-specific modulation of blood distribution.