Augmented KCa2.3 Channel Feedback Regulation of Oxytocin Stimulated Uterine Strips from Nonpregnant Mice.

Uterine contractions prior to 37 weeks gestation can result in preterm labor with significant risk to the infant. Current tocolytic therapies aimed at suppressing premature uterine contractions are largely ineffective and cause serious side effects. Calcium (Ca2+) dependent contractions of uterine smooth muscle are physiologically limited by the opening of membrane potassium (K+) channels. Exploiting such inherent negative feedback mechanisms may offer new strategies to delay labor and reduce risk. Positive modulation of small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa2.3) channels with cyclohexyl-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine (CyPPA), effectively decreases uterine contractions. This study investigates whether the receptor agonist oxytocin might solicit KCa2.3 channel feedback that facilitates CyPPA suppression of uterine contractions. Using isometric force myography, we found that spontaneous phasic contractions of myometrial tissue from nonpregnant mice were suppressed by CyPPA and, in the presence of CyPPA, oxytocin failed to augment contractions. In tissues exposed to oxytocin, depletion of internal Ca2+ stores with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) impaired CyPPA relaxation, whereas blockade of nonselective cation channels (NSCC) using gadolinium (Gd3+) had no significant effect. Immunofluorescence revealed close proximity of KCa2.3 channels and ER inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) within myometrial smooth muscle cells. The findings suggest internal Ca2+ stores play a role in KCa2.3-dependent feedback control of uterine contraction and offer new insights for tocolytic therapies.

CyPPA, a positive modulator of small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, inhibits phasic uterine contractions and delays preterm birth in mice.

Organized uterine contractions, including those necessary for parturition, are dependent on calcium entry through voltage-gated calcium channels in myometrial smooth muscle cells. Recent evidence suggests that small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium channels (K(Ca)2), specifically isoforms K(Ca)2.2 and 2.3, may control these contractions through negative feedback regulation of Ca(2+) entry. We tested whether selective pharmacologic activation of K(Ca)2.2/2.3 channels might depress uterine contractions, providing a new strategy for preterm labor intervention. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed expression of both K(Ca)2.2 and K(Ca)2.3 in the myometrium of nonpregnant (NP) and pregnant (gestation day 10 and 16; D10 and D16, respectively) mice. Spontaneous phasic contractions of isolated NP, D10, and D16 uterine strips were all suppressed by the K(Ca)2.2/2.3-selective activator CyPPA in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was antagonized by the selective K(Ca)2 inhibitor apamin. Whereas CyPPA sensitivity was reduced in D10 and D16 versus NP strips (pIC(50) 5.33 ± 0.09, 4.64 ± 0.03, 4.72 ± 0.10, respectively), all contractions were abolished between 30 and 60 µM. Blunted contractions were associated with CyPPA depression of spontaneous Ca(2+) events in myometrial smooth muscle bundles. Augmentation of uterine contractions with oxytocin or prostaglandin F(2α) did not reduce CyPPA sensitivity or efficacy. Finally, in an RU486-induced preterm labor model, CyPPA significantly delayed time to delivery by 3.4 h and caused a 2.5-fold increase in pup retention. These data indicate that pharmacologic stimulation of myometrial K(Ca)2.2/2.3 channels effectively suppresses Ca(2+)-mediated uterine contractions and delays preterm birth in mice, supporting the potential utility of this approach in tocolytic therapies.

Sp1 transcription factor as a molecular target for nitric oxide-- and cyclic nucleotide--mediated suppression of cGMP-dependent protein kinase-Ialpha expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) expression is highly variable and decreases in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), exposure of cells to nitric oxide (NO), or in response to balloon catheter injury in vivo. In this study, the mechanisms of human type I PKG-alpha (PKG-Ialpha) gene expression were examined. Three structurally unrelated NO donors decreased PKG-Ialpha promoter activity after transfection of a promoter/luciferase construct in VSMCs. Promoter deletion analysis demonstrated that (1) a 120-bp promoter containing tandem Sp1 sites was sufficient to drive basal PKG-Ialpha promoter activity, and (2) NO was inhibitory at this site. Cyclic nucleotide analogues also suppressed PKG-Ialpha promoter activity with cAMP being more potent than cGMP. The effects of cyclic nucleotides to suppress PKG-Ialpha promoter activity were attenuated by a specific cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor. Single or double mutation of Sp1 binding sites abolished PKG-Ialpha expression. Moreover, Sp1 binding activity on the PKG-Ialpha promoter was detected in A7r5 cells, and this binding was inhibited by NO and cyclic nucleotides. These results indicate that PKG-Ialpha gene expression is driven by an Sp1 transcription mechanism, and that NO and cAMP inhibit Sp1-mediated PKG-Ialpha gene expression through separate mechanisms.

Cyclic guanosine 5' monophosphate (GMP) prevents expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and apoptosis in motor neurons deprived of trophic factors in rats.

Deprivation of trophic factors induces expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nitric oxide production in cultured motor neurons, leading to apoptosis. Motor neuron apoptosis requires the simultaneous production of nitric oxide and superoxide and is associated with increased nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity. Nitric oxide also stimulates cyclic guanosine 5' monophosphate (cGMP) synthesis, which enhances the survival of motor neurons treated with brain derived trophic factor (BDNF). Here we report that cGMP analogs blocked neuronal NOS induction, nitrotyrosine accumulation, and prevented apoptosis for up to 3 day of motor neurons deprived of trophic factors. Low concentrations of exogenous nitric oxide (<100 nM), which are not toxic for BDNF-treated cultures, reversed the protective effect of cGMP. These results suggest that elevation of cGMP could decrease nitric oxide production, and thereby preventing motor neuron apoptosis.

Myometrial expression of small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels depresses phasic uterine contraction.

Mechanisms regulating uterine contractility are poorly understood. We hypothesized that a specific isoform of small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (SK) channel, SK3, promotes feedback regulation of myometrial Ca(2+) and hence relaxation of the uterus. To determine the specific functional impact of SK3 channels, we assessed isometric contractions of uterine strips from genetically altered mice (SK3(T/T)), in which SK3 is overexpressed and can be suppressed by oral administration of doxycycline (SK3(T/T)+Dox). We found SK3 protein in mouse myometrium, and this expression was substantially higher in SK3(T/T) mice and lower in SK3(T/T)+Dox mice compared with wild-type (WT) controls. Sustained contractions elicited by 60 mM KCl were not different among SK3(T/T), SK3(T/T)+Dox, and WT mice. However, the rate of onset and magnitude of spontaneously occurring phasic contractions was muted significantly in isolated uterine strips from SK3(T/T) mice compared with those from WT mice. These spontaneous contractions were augmented greatly by blockade of SK channels with apamin or by suppression of SK3 expression. Phasic but not tonic contraction in response to oxytocin was depressed in uterine strips from SK3(T/T) mice, whereas suppression of SK3 channel expression or treatment with apamin promoted the predominance of large coordinated phasic events over tone. Spontaneous contractions and the phasic component of oxytocin contractions were blocked by nifedipine but not by cyclopiazonic acid. Our findings suggest that SK3 channels play an important role in regulating uterine function by limiting influx through L-type Ca(2+) channels and disrupting the development of concerted phasic contractile events.

cGMP-dependent protein kinase expression restores contractile function in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and restenosis following angioplasty or transplantation, are due to abnormal vascular smooth muscle growth and gene expression. The smooth muscle cells (SMC) in response to injury lose their contractile function, become highly proliferative and synthesize and secrete extracellular matrix proteins. Similar changes in the phenotypic properties of vascular SMC occur during in vitro culture. In this report, we examined whether restoration of the expression of the major receptor protein for nitric oxide (NO) signaling in smooth muscle, the guanosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG), reestablished contractile function to cultured rat aortic SMC. Contractile function was monitored using the silicone polymer wrinkle assay used previously to determine contractility in cultured mesangial cells. Noncontractile rat aortic smooth muscle cells transfected with the cDNA encoding the type I isoform of PKG, but not those transfected with empty vector, formed discreet wrinkles on the substratum in response to serum indicative of contraction. Treatment of the PKG-expressing SMC with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, and with cGMP analogs, or with the adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin, and with adenosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) analogs reduced wrinkling. The expression of a major PKG substrate protein involved in smooth muscle relaxation, heat shock-related protein-20 (HSP20), was also reestablished in PKG-expressing SMC. Treatment of the PKG-expressing SMC with nitroprusside resulted in phosphorylation of HSP20. Collectively, these results indicate that PKG expression is important to establish contractility to SMC in culture.

S-nitrosothiols inhibit uterine smooth muscle cell proliferation independent of metabolism to NO and cGMP formation.

S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) are important mediators of nitric oxide (NO) biology. The two mechanisms that appear to dominate in their biological effects are metabolism leading to the formation of NO and S-nitrosation of protein thiols. In this study we demonstrate that RSNOs inhibit uterine smooth muscle cell proliferation independent of NO. The antiproliferative effects of NO on vascular smooth muscle are well defined, with the classic NO-dependent production of cGMP being demonstrated as the active pathway. However, less is known on the role of NO in mediating uterine smooth muscle cell function, a process that is important during menstruation and pregnancy. The RSNOs S-nitrosoglutathione and S-nitroso-N-acetyl pencillamine inhibited growth factor-dependent proliferation of human and rat uterine smooth muscle cells (ELT-3). Interestingly, these cells reduced RSNOs to generate NO. However, use of NO donors and other activators of the cGMP pathway failed to inhibit proliferation. These findings demonstrate the tissue-specific nature of responses to NO and demonstrate the presence of a RSNO-dependent but NO-independent pathway of inhibiting DNA synthesis in uterine smooth muscle cells.