Protein kinase A and the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) modulate phenotype plasticity in human airway smooth muscle.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) modulates the airway smooth muscle (ASM) 'contractile' phenotype to a more 'proliferative' phenotype, resulting in increased proliferation and reduced contractility. Such phenotypic modulation may contribute to airway remodelling in asthma. We have previously shown that the cAMP effector molecules, protein kinase A (PKA) and the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) inhibited PDGF-induced phenotypic modulation in bovine ASM. Here, we investigated these mechanisms in human ASM strips and cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: ASM strips were incubated with PDGF in the absence or presence of the activators of Epac (8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP) or of PKA (6-Bnz-cAMP) for 4 days. Strips were mounted for isometric contraction experiments or analysed for the expression of contractile markers. Cell proliferation was measured and proliferative markers were analysed under similar conditions. KEY RESULTS: Activation of Epac and PKA prevented PDGF-induced ASM strip hypocontractility, and restored the expression of smooth muscle actin, myosin and calponin, which had been markedly diminished by PDGF. Epac and PKA activation inhibited the PDGF-induced ASM cell proliferation and G(1)/S phase transition and the expression and phosphorylation of cell cycle regulators. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Epac and PKA maintain a normally contractile ASM phenotype in a mitogenic environment, suggesting that specific activators of Epac and PKA may be beneficial in the treatment of airway remodelling in asthma.