Published Online
on March 3, 2003

A more recent version of this article appeared on April 1, 2003

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Submitted on November 22, 2002
Revised on December 17, 2002

Pressure-Induced Activation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2 in Small Arteries

Yvonne E.G. Eskildsen-Helmond^* and Michael J. Mulvany

From the Department of Pharmacology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ye{at}farm.au.dk.

Abstract--Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) may play a central signaling role in vascular remodeling. We investigated a possible combined role for the renin-angiotensin system and platelet-derived growth factor -receptor (PDGF--R) in pressure-induced ERK1/2 activation in intact rat mesenteric small arteries. In an organ culture model, vessels were pressurized (70 mm Hg) for 1 hour plus a 5-minute intervention period. The intervention was either a rise in intraluminal pressure (up to 140 mm Hg) or challenge with angiotensin II (Ang II, 0.1 µmol/L) or PDGF-BB (30 µg/L). ERK1/2 activation was determined by Western blotting as formation of phosphorylated ERK1/2. All interventions caused ERK1/2 activation that was inhibited by the MEK inhibitor PD98059. The response to pressure was inhibited by an ACE inhibitor (perindoprilat), an Ang II receptor type 1 (R-AT₁) antagonist (candesartan), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein, herbimycin A). An R-AT₂ antagonist (PD123319) had no significant effect. Both a PDGF-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (RPR101511A) and a neutralizing PDGF--R antibody (AF385) inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 caused by PDGF-BB, Ang II, and pressure. That the latter interventions could indeed inhibit the PDGF--R was supported by experiments with unmounted vessels in which PDGF--R activation was measured by Western blot; both PDGF-BB and Ang II-mediated PDGF--R activation were inhibited by RPR101511A and AF385. Immunohistochemistry showed that ERK1/2 and PDGF--R was located in the adventitia, tunica media, and intima. The results suggest that pressure in rat mesenteric small arteries causes acute activation of ERK1/2 through pathways involving Ang II and PDGF--R.

Key words: platelet-derived growth factor • kinase • mesenteric arteries • rats • angiotensin-converting enzyme

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