Role of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein in cGMP-mediated protection of human pulmonary artery endothelial barrier function

TY - JOUR

T1 - Role of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein in cGMP-mediated protection of human pulmonary artery endothelial barrier function

AU - Rentsendorj, Otgonchimeg

AU - Mirzapoiazova, Tamara

AU - Adyshev, Djanybek

AU - Servinsky, Laura E

AU - Renné, Thomas

AU - Verin, Alexander D

AU - Pearse, David B

PY - 2008/4/1

Y1 - 2008/4/1

N2 - Increased pulmonary endothelial cGMP was shown to prevent endothelial barrier dysfunction through activation of protein kinase G (PKG(I)). Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) has been hypothesized to mediate PKG(I) barrier protection because VASP is a cytoskeletal phosphorylation target of PKG(I) expressed in cell-cell junctions. Unphosphorylated VASP was proposed to increase paracellular permeability through actin polymerization and stress fiber bundling, a process inhibited by PKG(I)-mediated phosphorylation of Ser(157) and Ser(239). To test this hypothesis, we examined the role of VASP in the transient barrier dysfunction caused by H(2)O(2) in human pulmonary artery endothelial cell (HPAEC) monolayers studied without and with PKG(I) expression introduced by adenoviral infection (Ad.PKG). In the absence of PKG(I) expression, H(2)O(2) (100-250 microM) caused a transient increased permeability and pSer(157)-VASP formation that were both attenuated by protein kinase C inhibition. Potentiation of VASP Ser(157) phosphorylation by either phosphatase 2B inhibition with cyclosporin or protein kinase A activation with forskolin prolonged, rather than inhibited, the increased permeability caused by H(2)O(2). With Ad.PKG infection, inhibition of VASP expression with small interfering RNA exacerbated H(2)O(2)-induced barrier dysfunction but had no effect on cGMP-mediated barrier protection. In addition, expression of a Ser-double phosphomimetic mutant VASP failed to reproduce the protective effects of activated PKG(I). Finally, expression of a Ser-double phosphorylation-resistant VASP failed to interfere with the ability of cGMP/PKG(I) to attenuate H(2)O(2)-induced disruption of VE-cadherin homotypic binding. Our results suggest that VASP phosphorylation does not explain the protective effect of cGMP/PKG(I) on H(2)O(2)-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction in HPAEC.

AB - Increased pulmonary endothelial cGMP was shown to prevent endothelial barrier dysfunction through activation of protein kinase G (PKG(I)). Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) has been hypothesized to mediate PKG(I) barrier protection because VASP is a cytoskeletal phosphorylation target of PKG(I) expressed in cell-cell junctions. Unphosphorylated VASP was proposed to increase paracellular permeability through actin polymerization and stress fiber bundling, a process inhibited by PKG(I)-mediated phosphorylation of Ser(157) and Ser(239). To test this hypothesis, we examined the role of VASP in the transient barrier dysfunction caused by H(2)O(2) in human pulmonary artery endothelial cell (HPAEC) monolayers studied without and with PKG(I) expression introduced by adenoviral infection (Ad.PKG). In the absence of PKG(I) expression, H(2)O(2) (100-250 microM) caused a transient increased permeability and pSer(157)-VASP formation that were both attenuated by protein kinase C inhibition. Potentiation of VASP Ser(157) phosphorylation by either phosphatase 2B inhibition with cyclosporin or protein kinase A activation with forskolin prolonged, rather than inhibited, the increased permeability caused by H(2)O(2). With Ad.PKG infection, inhibition of VASP expression with small interfering RNA exacerbated H(2)O(2)-induced barrier dysfunction but had no effect on cGMP-mediated barrier protection. In addition, expression of a Ser-double phosphomimetic mutant VASP failed to reproduce the protective effects of activated PKG(I). Finally, expression of a Ser-double phosphorylation-resistant VASP failed to interfere with the ability of cGMP/PKG(I) to attenuate H(2)O(2)-induced disruption of VE-cadherin homotypic binding. Our results suggest that VASP phosphorylation does not explain the protective effect of cGMP/PKG(I) on H(2)O(2)-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction in HPAEC.

KW - Colforsin

KW - Cyclic GMP

KW - Cyclosporine

KW - Endothelium, Vascular

KW - Humans

KW - Hydrogen Peroxide

KW - Kinetics

KW - Phosphoproteins

KW - Phosphoserine

KW - Plasmids

KW - Pulmonary Artery

KW - RNA, Small Interfering

KW - Transfection

KW - Vasodilator Agents

U2 - 10.1152/ajplung.00417.2007

DO - 10.1152/ajplung.00417.2007

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 18281604

VL - 294

SP - L686-97

IS - 4

ER -