Modulation by bradykinin of angiotensin type 1 receptor-evoked RhoA activation of connective tissue growth factor expression in human lung fibroblasts

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Jun;290(6):L1291-9. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00443.2005.

Abstract

The mechanisms regulating the opposing physiological actions of bradykinin (BK) and angiotensin II (AngII) are not well understood. Here we investigate signaling interactions between these two effectors. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in IMR-90, human lung fibroblasts, is used as the endpoint target. In these cells the BK B2 receptor (BKB2R) is expressed constitutively, while no binding of AngII is detected. An inducible expression system is used to insert AngII receptor 1 (AT1R) and to obtain a signal level in response to AngII at the magnitude of BK. AngII and BK activate G protein-coupled targets, arachidonate release from cellular phospholipid stores, and intracellular phosphatidylinositol turnover equally. Both activate ERK, JNK, and p38 equally. However, AngII activates, whereas BK inactivates, RhoA. AngII induces a rapid (1 h) CTGF mRNA expression. RhoA siRNA and RhoA activation inhibitor, Y-27632, markedly reduce the AngII effect. Simultaneous treatment with BK and AngII attenuates the AT1R action. Additionally, BK in the absence of AngII lowers CTGF mRNA expression below basal levels over a span of 4 h. An AT1R/BKB2R chimera lacking heterotrimeric G protein coupling continues to activate MAP kinases to the same extent as wild-type (WT) AT1R and BKB2R. However, the increase of CTGF mRNA expression by this mutant is low, almost identical with that obtained by the simultaneous treatment of the WT AT1R-expressing cells with BK and AngII. In this context the chimeric receptor displays the characteristics of both receptors. These data demonstrate that, in human lung fibroblasts, BK modulates the action of AngII through the small G protein RhoA, but in a Galphai/Galphaq-independent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology
  • Angiotensin II / physiology
  • Bradykinin / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor
  • DNA Primers
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / genetics
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / physiology*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / physiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / chemistry
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / drug effects
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / physiology*
  • Tetracycline / pharmacology
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • CCN2 protein, human
  • DNA Primers
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1
  • Angiotensin II
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • Tetracycline
  • Bradykinin