Characterization of system L and system y+ amino acid transport activity in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

The uptake of L-leucine and L-lysine into vascular smooth muscle cells cultured from the aortas of rats has been investigated. Both amino acids are taken up by saturable systems that are independent of the presence of a ^·Na⁺ gradient and can be stimulated in trans by neutral bulky amino acids for leucine and cationic amino acids for lysine. Leucine uptake is inhibited competitively in cis by several neutral amino acids, whereas lysine uptake is inhibited strongly by other cationic amino acids but also significantly by neutral amino acids such as leucine. The leucine inhibition is noncompetitive. Cells preloaded with leucine and lysine could also export these amino acids and the rate of efflux was stimulated by the presence of appropriate amino acids in trans. These data are all consistent with leucine being transported largely if not entirely by System L and lysine by the System y⁺ transporter. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Regulation of L-arginine transport and metabolism in vascular smooth muscle cells

L-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is metabolized to important regulatory molecules. L-Arginine is transported into vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) by the cationic amino acid transporter (CAT) family of proteins where it is metabolized to nitric oxide (NO), polyamines, or L-proline. Inflammatory mediators, growth factors, and hemodynamic forces stimulate the transport of L-arginine in vascular SMC by inducing CAT gene expression. However, they exert highly specific and divergent regulatory effects on L-arginine metabolism. Inflammatory cytokines induce the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and direct the metabolism of L-arginine to the antiproliferative gas, NO. In contrast, growth factors stimulate the expression of arginase I and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and channel the metabolism of L-arginine to growth stimulatory polyamines. Alternatively, cyclic mechanical strain blocks both iNOS and ODC activity and stimulates arginase I gene expression, directing the metabolism of L-arginine to the formation of L-proline and collagen. Thus, specific biochemical and biophysical stimuli that are found in the circulation regulate the transport and metabolism of L-arginine in vascular SMC. The ability of these physiologically relevant stimuli to upregulate L-arginine transport and generate specific L-arginine metabolites modulates SMC function and may influence the development of vascular disease.     

Regulation of amino acid transport in L6 muscle cells: I. Stimulation of transport system a by amino acid deprivation

The regulation of amino acid transport in L6 muscle cells by amino acid deprivation was investigated. Proline uptake was Na⁺-dependent, saturable and concentrative, and was predominantly through system A. Proline uptake was inhibited by alanine, α-amino isobutyric acid (AIB), and by α-methylamino isobutyric acid, but not by lysine or valine. At 25°C, Km of proline uptake was 0.5 mM. Amino acid-deprivation resulted in a progressive increase in the rate of proline uptake, reaching up to 6-fold stimulation after 6 hours. The basal and stimulated transport were equally Na⁺-dependent, and both were inhibited by competition with the same amino acids. Kinetic analysis showed that Km decreased by a factor of 2.4 and Vmax increased 1.9-fold in deprived cells. Amino acid-deprivation did not stimulate amino acid uptake through systems other than system A. This suggests that the higher Km in proline-supplemented cells is not due to release of intracellular amino acids into unstirred layers surrounding the cells. The presence of amino acids which are substrates of system A (including AIB) during proline-deprivation, prevented stimulation of proline uptake, whereas those transported by systems Ly⁺ or L exclusively were ineffective. The stimulation of the transport-rate in deprived cells could be reversed by subsequent exposure to proline or other substrates of system A. L6 cells, deprived of proline for 6 hours, retained the stimulation of transport after detachment from the monolayers with trypsin. Uptake rates were comparable in suspended and attached cells in monolayer culture. Thus, amino acid-depreivation of L6 cells results in an adaptive increase in proline uptake, which is not due to unstirred layers but appears to be mediated by other mechanisms of selective transport regulation.     

Pattern of angiogenic cytokine release from human vascular smooth muscle cells programmed by amino acid deprivation

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) may be programmed by nutrient deprivation. We found that after 2 and 12 h exposure to 75% reduced amino acids, the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF beta 1) from VSMC was significantly greater than that from cells maintained in control medium [2572.0 (546.3) vs 602.1 (241.7), P=0.001 and 16 028.0 (2192. 4) vs 13 027.3 (1233.5) pg/10(6)cells, P=0.022 respectively]. These differences were magnified after two passages of exposure for both bFGF (P=0.0001) and TGF beta 1 (P=0.0001). The stimulated release of VEGF by hypoxia and bFGF was unaffected. Amino acid deprivation of human VSMC is associated with a patterned release of angiogenic cytokines which could be relevant to the programmed changes in VSMC phenotype.     

Formation of 8-Hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid by vascular smooth muscle cells

Smooth muscle cells derived from the human umbilical vein produce four radioactive metabolites when they are incubated in culture with [³H]-12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. This conversion does not require the addition of an agonist for eicosanoid formation. The main product, which accounts for 60% of the radioactivity converted to these metabolites, has been identified as 8-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid.     

Vitamin C inhibits diethylmaleate-induced L-cystine transport in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Adaptive increases in intracellular glutathione (GSH) in response to oxidative stress are mediated by induction of L-cystine uptake via the anionic amino acid transport system x(c)(-). The recently cloned transporter xCT forms a heteromultimeric complex with the heavy chain of 4F2 cell surface antigen (4F2hc/CD98). Depletion of GSH by the electrophile diethylmaleate (DEM) induces the activity and expression of xCT in peritoneal macrophages. We here examine the effects of vitamin C on induction of xCT by DEM in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells. DEM caused time- (3-24 h) and concentration- (25-100 microM) dependent increases in L-cystine transport, with GSH depleted by 50% after 6 h and restored to basal values after 24 h. xCT mRNA levels increased after 4 h DEM treatment with negligible changes detected for 4F2hc mRNA. DEM caused a rapid (5-30 min) phosphorylation of p38(MAPK). Inhibition of p38(MAPK) by SB203580 (10 microM) enhanced DEM-induced increases in L-cystine transport and GSH, whereas inhibition of p42/p44(MAPK) (PD98059, 10 microM) had no effect. Pretreatment of cells with vitamin C (100 microM, 24 h) attenuated DEM-induced adaptive increases in L-cystine transport and GSH levels. Inhibition of p38(MAPK), but not p42/p44(MAPK), reduced the cytoprotective action of vitamin C. Our findings suggest that DEM induces activation of xCT via intracellular signaling pathways involving p38(MAPK), and that vitamin C, in addition to its antioxidant properties, may modulate this signaling pathway to protect smooth muscle cells from injury.     

MAPKK-dependent growth factor-induced upregulation of P2Y2 receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The ATP- and UTP-sensitive P2Y2 receptor which mediates both contractile and mitogenic effects has recently been shown to be upregulated in the synthetic phenotype of the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). Using a competitive RT-PCR we demonstrate that the P2Y2 receptor mRNA is increased by fetal calf serum and other growth factors in a MAPKK-dependent way. This was confirmed at the functional level by examining UTP-stimulated release of intracellular Ca2+. Furthermore, the P2Y2 receptor mRNA is positively autoregulated by ATP and the mRNA is rapidly degraded with only 26% remaining after 1 h in the presence of actinomycin D. Our results indicate growth factor regulation and rapid turnover of the P2Y2 receptor mRNA, which may be of importance in atherosclerosis and neointima formation after balloon angioplasty.     

Arachidonic acid activation of translation initiation signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells

To understand the role of arachidonic acid (AA) in regulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth, its effects on phosphorylation of Akt, S6K1, ribosomal protein S6, 4EBP1, and eIF4E were studied. Arachidonic acid stimulated phosphorylation of Akt, S6K1, ribosomal protein S6, 4EBP1, and eIF4E in a time-dependent manner in VSMC. Arachidonic acid stimulation of phosphorylation of the above signaling molecules is specific, as these events were not affected by other unsaturated or saturated fatty acids. Metabolic conversion of AA via the LOX/MOX and/or COX pathways, to some extent, was required for its effects on the phosphorylation of Akt, S6K1, ribosomal protein S6, 4EBP1, and eIF4E. In addition, AA increased PI3K activity in a time-dependent manner in VSMC. LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, completely blocked AA-induced phosphorylation of Akt, S6K1, ribosomal protein S6, 4EBP1, and eIF4E, suggesting a role for PI3K in these effects. Consistent with its effects on translation initiation signaling events, AA induced global protein synthesis in VSMC and this response was dependent, to some extent, on its metabolism via the LOX/MOX and/or COX pathways, and mediated by the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Thus, the above observations provide the first biochemical evidence for the role of AA in the activation of translation initiation signaling in VSMC.     

A steady-state electrochemical model of vascular smooth muscle cells

A model of the steady-state electrochemical response of vascular smooth muscle cells to external stimuli is presented, which accounts for K, Na, and Ca fluxes. The results of the model are broadly in accordance with experimental data 1), at various transmural pressures; 2), with channel and pump blockade; and 3), under manipulation of external ionic concentrations. The model exhibits dual stable states which sometimes coexist, and abrupt transitions between these states may account for nongraded responses in arteries as external potassium or pressure is varied. The simulations suggest that changes in the intracellular sodium concentration ([Na]i) often accompany smooth muscle responses. For example, [Na]i values vary threefold over the range of pressures from 10 to 100 mmHg.     

A morphometric study of vascular smooth muscle cells in culture

Summary Cultured arterial smooth muscle cells derived from different times in culture, different passages, and different species were evaluated by a combination of transmission electron microscopy and morphometry. The morphometric studies focused on point counting and monitored the following cellular components: lysosomes, myofilaments, mitochondria, ribosomes, and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). Percent volume composition values for the organelles involved in protein synthesis, namely ribosomes and RER, show significant fluctuations with time. Consistent with these observations, the cells showed increasing myofilaments during the early weeks in culture, which subsequently decreased significantly. The data also indicate that rabbit cells in culture may become synthetically quiescent with time and the distribution of cellular components is altered with each succeeding passage. Cultured calf (bovine) cells exhibit similar activity periods compared to rabbit but show a significantly higher lysosomal and lower myofilament content than rabbit. Calf cells could not be maintained for longer than 21 days in the absence of ascorbate, whereas ascorbate affects the ultrastructure of rabbit cells less dramatically. Age, passage, and donor, among others, are important considerations for studying in vitro smooth muscle cells. With proper morphologic and morphometric monitoring, these smooth muscle cell culture systems can be important tools in the study of aging or pathologic processes, or both. This work was presented as partial fulfillment for the degree of Ph.D. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants HL-13262, HL-19717, and AG-00001.     

A transient increase in amino acid transport modulated by insulin in differentiating muscle cells.

During synchronous differentiation of embryonic chick muscle cells in cultures, the Na-dependent uptake of an amino acid analog, alpha-amino isobutyric acid (AIB) undergoes in abrupt, transient increase. The increase in AIB uptake is concomitant with the rapid fusion of mononucleated myoblasts, and precedes the accumulation of muscle-specific proteins. Subsequently, Na-dependent AIB transport diminishes markedly during postfusional differentiation of myotubes. The rate of AIB uptake is increased by insulin both before and after myoblast fusion. This stimulation by insulin is restricted to the Na-dependent component of total AIB uptake but is apparently not the result of insulin-mediated increase in the trans-membrane Na gradient.     

A novel retinoid-response gene set in vascular smooth muscle cells

A modified suppression subtractive hybridization assay was performed to uncover genes induced by all-trans retinoic acid in cultured smooth muscle cells (SMC). Northern blotting studies confirmed the induction of 14 genes, many of which have heretofore been unrecognized as retinoid-inducible. Temporal expression and cycloheximide studies allowed us to categorize these genes as either immediate-early (LOX-1, endolyn, Stoned B/TFIIA alpha/beta-like factor, Src Suppressed C Kinase Substrate, and tissue transglutaminase) or delayed (cathepsin-L, ceruloplasmin, epithelin, importin alpha, alpha(8)-integrin, lactate dehydrogenase B, retinol dehydrogenase, spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase, and VCAM-1) retinoid-response genes. A survey of rat tissues showed two of the genes (tissue transglutaminase and alpha(8)-integrin) to be highly restricted to vascular tissue. In situ hybridization verified expression of both tissue transglutaminase and alpha(8)-integrin to SMC in balloon-injured rat carotid artery. These findings unveil a new retinoid-response gene set that should be exploited to define molecular pathways involved in the antagonistic effects of retinoids on SMC growth and neointimal formation.     

Oxidant-induced arachidonic acid release and impairment of fatty acid acylation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Oxidativedamage, which plays a major role in the early stages ofatherosclerosis, is associated with arachidonic acid (AA) release invascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) as in other cell types. In thisstudy,H₂O₂was used to investigate mechanisms of AA release from VSMC on oxidativestress. Cell treatment with H₂O₂inhibited AA incorporation in an inverse relationship to prolongedH₂O₂-inducedAA release. Identical kinetics of inhibition of AA incorporation and AArelease were observed after cell treatment withAlF₄, a process not involvingphospholipase A₂(PLA₂) activation as recentlydescribed (A. Cane, M. Breton, G. Béréziat, and O. Colard.Biochem. Pharmacol. 53: 327-337, 1997). AA release was not specific, since oleic acid also increased inthe extracellular medium of cells treated withH₂O₂or AlF₄ as measured by gaschromatography-mass spectrometry. In contrast, AA and oleic acid cellcontent decreased after cell treatment. Oleoyl and arachidonoylacyl-CoA synthases and acyltransferases, assayed using a cell-freesystem, were not significantly modified. In contrast, a goodcorrelation was observed between decreases in AA acylation and cell ATPcontent. The decrease in ATP content is only partially accounted for bymitochondrial damage as assayed by rhodamine 123 assay. We concludethat oxidant-induced arachidonate release results from impairment offatty acid esterification and that ATP availability is probablyresponsible for free AA accumulation on oxidative stress by preventingits reesterification and/or transmembranetransport.

     

Examining glucose transport in single vascular smooth muscle cells with a fluorescent glucose analog

Changes in vascular smooth muscle glucose transport are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular disease in conditions such as diabetes, yet no single-cell assay for glucose uptake by VSM exists. Therefore, we examined the uptake of the fluorescent glucose analog 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) in isolated pig vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) using digital imaging microscopy. Uptake of 2-NBDG by VSMC was inhibited by D-glucose but not by L-glucose, suggesting that 2-NBDG enters VSMC via glucose transporters. Uptake of 2-NBDG was linear in the presence of 10 mM D-glucose (n=6, R2=0.9408) but not in its absence (n=4, R2=0.9993), indicating that 2-NBDG is not metabolized and accumulates within the cells. 2-NBDG fluorescence in VSMC was often non-uniform and appeared to represent binding of 2-NBDG to some cytoplasmic component. The present study demonstrates that 2-NBDG is a useful tool for examining vascular smooth muscle glucose uptake at the single cell level.