Yes / Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a silent, progressive disease with high mortality and increasing prevalence with aging. Smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction contributes to gradual dilatation and eventual rupture of the aorta. Here we studied phenotypic characteristics in SMC cultured from end-stage human AAA (5cm) and cells cultured from a porcine carotid artery (PCA) model of early and end-stage aneurysm. Human AAA-SMC presented a secretory phenotype and expressed elevated levels of differentiation marker miR-145 (2.2-fold, P<.001) and senescence marker SIRT-1 (1.3-fold, P<.05), features not recapitulated in aneurysmal PCA-SMC. Human and end-stage porcine aneurysmal cells were frequently multi-nucleated (3.9-fold, P<.001 and 1.8-fold, P<.01 respectively, versus control cells) and displayed aberrant nuclear morphology. Human AAA-SMC exhibited higher levels of the DNA damage marker H2AX (3.9-fold, P<.01 vs. control SMC). These features did not correlate with patients’ chronological age; and are therefore potential markers for pathological premature vascular aging. Early-stage PCA-SMC (control and aneurysmal) were indistinguishable from one another across all parameters. The principal limitation of human studies is tissue availability only at end-stage disease. Refinement of a porcine bioreactor model would facilitate study of temporal modulation of SMC behaviour during aneurysm development and potentially identify therapeutic targets to limit AAA progression. / Supported in part by a grant from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Charitable Foundation (9R11/8002)

No / Prolonged hyperglycaemia impairs vascular reactivity and inhibits voltage-activated K+ (Kv) channels. We examined acute effects of altering glucose concentration on the activity and inhibition by endothelin-1 (ET-1) of Kv currents of freshly isolated rat arterial myocytes. Peak Kv currents recorded in glucose-free solution were reversibly reduced within 200 s by increasing extracellular glucose to 4 mm. This inhibitory effect of glucose was abolished by protein kinase C inhibitor peptide (PKC-IP), and Kv currents were further reduced in 10 mm glucose. In current-clamped cells, membrane potentials were more negative in 4 than in 10 mm glucose. In 4 mmd-glucose, 10 nm ET-1 decreased peak Kv current amplitude at +60 mV from 23.5 ± 3.3 to 12.1 ± 3.1 pA pF−1 (n = 6, P < 0.001) and increased the rate of inactivation, decreasing the time constant around fourfold. Inhibition by ET-1 was prevented by PKC-IP. When d-glucose was increased to 10 mm, ET-1 no longer inhibited Kv current (n = 6). Glucose metabolism was required for prevention of ET-1 inhibition of Kv currents, since fructose mimicked the effects of d-glucose, while l-glucose, sucrose or mannitol were without effect. Endothelin receptors were still functional in 10 mmd-glucose, since pinacidil-activated ATP-dependent K+ (KATP) currents were reduced by 10 nm ET-1. This inhibition was nearly abolished by PKC-IP, indicating that endothelin receptors could still activate PKC in 10 mmd-glucose. These results indicate that changes in extracellular glucose concentration within the physiological range can reduce Kv current amplitude and can have major effects on Kv channel modulation by vasoconstrictors.

Yes / Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a significant clinical problem. Despite advancements in achieving good glycaemic control, this patient population remains susceptible to macrovascular complications. We previously discovered that vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) cultured from T2DM patients exhibit persistent phenotypic aberrancies distinct from those of individuals without a diagnosis of T2DM. Notably, persistently elevated expression levels of microRNA-145 co-exist with characteristics consistent with aging, DNA damage and senescence. We hypothesised that increased expression of microRNA-145 plays a functional role in DNA damage signalling and subsequent cellular senescence specifically in SMC cultured from the vasculature of T2DM patients. In this study, markers of DNA damage and senescence were unambiguously and permanently elevated in native T2DM versus non-diabetic (ND)-SMC. Exposure of ND cells to the DNA-damaging agent etoposide inflicted a senescent phenotype, increased expression of apical kinases of the DNA damage pathway and elevated expression levels of microRNA-145. Overexpression of microRNA-145 in ND-SMC revealed evidence of functional links between them; notably increased secretion of senescence-associated cytokines and chronic activation of stress-activated intracellular signalling pathways, particularly the mitogen-activated protein kinase, p38a. Exposure to conditioned media from microRNA-145 overexpressing cells resulted in chronic p38a signalling in naïve cells, evidencing a paracrine induction and reinforcement of cell senescence. We conclude that targeting of microRNA-145 may provide a route to novel interventions to eliminate DNA-damaged and senescent cells in the vasculature and to this end further detailed studies are warranted.

Yes / Early vascular ageing (EVA) is a pathological phenomenon whereby the vascular system ages more quickly than chronological age. This underpins many cardiovascular diseases including the complications of type 2 diabetes, aneurysm formation and hypertension. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are the principal cell type in the vascular wall and maintain vascular tone. EVA-related phenotypic switching of these cells contributes towards disease progression. EVA is distinct from chronological ageing, and research is ongoing to identify a definitive molecular signature of EVA. This will facilitate the discovery of new clinical tests for early detection of EVA and identify therapeutic targets to halt (or prevent) EVA in SMC, thus reducing macrovascular morbidity and mortality.

Kattaya-Annappa-Seema. / Thesis submitted in: December 2006. / "2+" and "+" in the title are superscripts. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-188). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.viii / Abstracts published based on work in this thesis --- p.ix / Table of contents --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Pulmonary hypertension / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Pulmonary circulation and its functions --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Pulmonary vascular diseases and symptoms --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Muscarinic Receptor functions --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Acetylcholine (ACh) and its function --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- ACh receptors in pulmonary vascular bed --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- Potassium channel classification and functions --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- "Importance of High-conductance, Ca2+ activated potassium channel (BKca) in vascular smooth muscle functions" --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Modulation of BKca channel by various cations --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6 --- Calcium signaling and homeostasis --- p.20 / Chapter 1.7 --- Role of sodium in hypertension --- p.22 / Chapter 1.8 --- Na+-H+ exchanger (NHE) functions --- p.25 / Chapter 1.9 --- Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) in vascular smooth muscle cells --- p.29 / Chapter 1.10 --- Spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) / Chapter 1.10.1 --- Hypertension in SHR --- p.32 / Chapter 1.10.2 --- BKca in smooth muscle vasculature of SHR --- p.33 / OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Material and methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Material / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Solutions and Drugs --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Chemicals and Enzymes --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Isolation of single pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Electrophysiological measurement --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Receptor-mediated activation of BKca Channel / Chapter 3.1 --- BKCa activation by ACh/ Carbachol (CCh) --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2 --- Role of extracellular sodium ([Na+]o）on BKca activation --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Receptor-mediated activation of BKca in a [Na+]o-containing solution --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4 --- Receptor-mediated activation of BKca in a [Na+]o-free solution --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Non-receptor mediated activation of BKCa Channel / Chapter 4.1 --- Effect of different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on BKCa activation --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Effect of SNP on BKca activation in a [Na+]o-containing and [Na+]o-free solutions --- p.62 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Role of NHE in modulating activation of BKCa Channel / Chapter 5.1 --- Effect of Monensin on BKca activation / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Effect of monensin on CCh-mediated activation of BKca in a [Na+]o-containing solution --- p.70 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Effect of monensin on CCh-mediated activation of BKca in a [Na+]o-free solution --- p.74 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Effect of monensin on SNP- mediated activation of BKca in [Na+]o-containing and [Na+]o-free solutions --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2 --- Effect of 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyI) amiloride (EIPA) on BKCa activation / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Effect of EIPA on CCh-mediated activation of BKca in a [Na+]o-containing solution --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Effect of EIPA on CCh-mediated activation of BKca in a [Na+]。-free solution --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Effect of EIPA on SNP-mediated activation of BKCa in [Na+]o-containing and [Na+]o-free solutions --- p.93 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Role of NCX in modulating activation of BKCa Channel / Chapter 6.1 --- Effect of KB-R7943 on CCh-mediated activation of BKCa in a [Na+]o-containing solution --- p.100 / Chapter 6.2 --- Effect of KB-R7943 on CCh-mediated activation of BKCa in a [Na+]o-free solution --- p.104 / Chapter 6.3 --- Effect of KB-R7943 on SNP-mediated activation of BKca in [Na+]o-containing and [Na+]o-free solutions --- p.109 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Effect of intracellular sodium ([Na+]i) on BKCa channel activation / Chapter 7.1 --- Effect of CCh on BKCa channel activation with elevated [Na+]i pipette solution --- p.117 / Chapter 7.2 --- Effect of SNP on BKca channel activation with elevated [Na+]j pipette solution --- p.130 / Chapter Chapter 8: --- Discussion / Chapter 8.1 --- Modulatory effect of ACh and SNP --- p.138 / Chapter 8.2 --- Role of ion exchangers: NHE and NCX in modulating BKca channel function --- p.144 / Chapter 8.3 --- Modulatory effect of elevated [Na+]i on BKca activation --- p.153 / CONCLUSION --- p.161 / References --- p.162

Cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is a key signaling molecule involved in a myriad of physiological processes, including vascular smooth muscle (VSM) tone, water- and electrolyte homeostasis, platelet aggregation, airway smooth muscle tone, smooth muscle proliferation and bone formation. Increased occurrence of vascular disorders including erectile dysfunction, hypertension, stroke and coronary artery disease, have made it increasingly important to study the dynamic interplay between cGMP synthesis and hydrolysis in VSM cells. This dissertation examines the spatial distribution of intracellular cGMP, [cGMP]i, in response to NO and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in VSM cells. To investigate the spatial patterning of [cGMP]i, we have developed a new generation of non-FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) cGMP biosensors that are suitable to monitor [cGMP]i in response to physiological (low-nanomolar) NO and ANP concentrations and that qualify for real-time, confocal imaging techniques. We have termed these indicators FlincGs, for green fluorescent indicators of cGMP. For the development of FlincGs, we made use of the specific cGMP binding characteristics of PKG. We utilized site-specific mutagenesis, kinetic cGMP binding, dissociation and kinase assays, as well as crystallography, in order to investigate PKG activation and cGMP binding dynamics in greater detail. Based on these studies, our novel, non-FRET cGMP biosensors were designed by attaching cGMP binding fragments of PKG to the N-terminus of circular permutated green fluorescent protein. We applied FlincGs in cultured VSM cells as well as in intact tissue to determine whether two spatially distinct populations of guanlylyl cyclase (cytosolic versus membrane bound) underlie the generation of spatiotemporally-specific patterns of [cGMP]i formation.

Nous avons étudié l’expression et la régulation de la lipogenèse dans les aortes et CMLV et déterminé si elle est modifiée par l’insulino-résistance et le diabète. Les rats Zucker obèses (ZO), diabétiques et Psammomys obesus accumulent plus de lipides dans leurs aortes que leurs contrôles. Cependant l’expression des gènes de la lipogenèse et ceux impliqués dans la captation des acides gras, n’est pas augmentée. Un résultat similaire a été retrouvé dans des pièces d’endartériectomies chez l’homme. Le milieu adipogénique, le glucose ou l’insuline seule stimulent modérément la lipogenèse uniquement dans les CML de Zucker contrôles, aucun effet n’a été observé dans les CML de ZO. Nous avons montré que les effets du TO901317 sur la lipogenèse dans les CMLV sont dus uniquement à l’activation du récepteur nucléaire LXRα, PXR n’a aucun effet. En conclusion, la lipogenèse n’est pas augmentée dans la paroi artérielle durant l’insulino-résistance et le diabète. / We investigated the expression and regulation of lipogenesis in aortas and VSMC and determined if it is modified during metabolic abnormalities. Zucker obese (ZO), diabetic (ZDF) rats, and the high fat diet fed Psammomys obesus accumulated more triglycerides in their aortas than control rats. However the expression of lipogenic genes, or of genes involved in fatty acids uptake, was not increased. Lipogenesis was not increased in human carotid endarterectomy of diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients. The adipogenic medium (ADM), glucose or insulin stimulated moderately lipogenesis but only in VSMC from control rats. No effect was observed in VSMC from ZO. We showed that the lipogenic effects of TO901317observed in VSMC from Zucker control rats are due solely to the nuclear receptor LXRα, PXR agonist had no effect. Conclusion: Lipogenesis is not increased in arterial wall during insulin-resistance and diabetes.

La cellule musculaire lisse (CML) a un rôle pivot dans la physiopathologie de l’asthme. Dans ce travail de thèse nous avons pu mettre en avant l’implication du récepteur de type 2 activé par les protéases (PAR-2) dans une composante majeure du remodelage bronchique : la prolifération musculaire lisse. Dans le premier travail, nous avons montré une augmentation de l’expression du PAR-2 au niveau des CML bronchiques d’asthmatiques in vitro. La réponse calcique est dépendante du niveau d’expression du récepteur, mais n’influence pas la réponse proliférante. La stimulation répétée du PAR-2 augmente la prolifération des seules CML d’asthmatiques, par un mécanisme dépendant de la voie ERK. Dans le second travail, nous avons montré que la production basale d’un épithélium reconstitué entraine une prolifération plus importante des CML d’asthmatiques comparée aux CML de témoins. Une augmentation supplémentaire de la prolifération des seules CML d’asthmatiques a été observée, après activation par le surnageant d’épithélium stimulé par des acariens de maison comparé au surnageant épithélial non stimulé. Ce mécanisme est dépendant du PAR-2 épithélial, qui induit la production de leucotriènes C4, sur des CML dont l’expression du récepteur (CysLTR1) est augmentée chez l’asthmatique. Ces résultats apportent de nouvelles connaissances dans le remodelage musculaire lisse bronchique de l’asthmatique et met en avant le PAR-2 comme cible thérapeutique potentielle. / Smooth muscle cells (SMC) play an important role in asthma pathophysiology. In this thesis, we have highlighted the involvement of protease activated receptor type-2 (PAR-2) in SMC proliferation, which is a major component of airway remodeling. In the first study, we have shown an increased expression of PAR-2 in asthmatic bronchial SMC in vitro. Calcium response is dependent on the expression level of PAR-2, which does not affect the proliferative response. Repeated stimulation of PAR-2 increases the proliferation of asthmatics SMC only, by an ERK-dependent mechanism. In the second study, we have demonstrated that the basal production of reconstituted epithelium leads to a greater proliferation of asthmatics SMC compared to controls. Increased proliferation of asthmatics SMC only was observed, after stimulation with supernatant of the epithelium stimulated by house dust mites (HDM) compared to unstimulated epithelial supernatant. This mechanism is epithelial PAR-2-dependent, which induces the production of leukotrienes C4, whose receptor expression (CysLTR1) is increased in asthmatics SMC. These results provide new insights into bronchial smooth muscle remodeling in asthma and highlights the PAR-2 as a potential therapeutic target.

A Síndrome de Marfan (MFS) é uma doença autossômica dominante do tecido conjuntivo, que acomete principalmente os sistemas esquelético, ocular e cardiovascular. O fenótipo cardiovascular, em especial o aneurisma de aorta, é responsável pela maior parte da morbi-mortalidade. MFS é resultante da mutação da fibrilina-1, uma glicoproteína que além de ser um dos principais componentes estruturais da matriz extracelular, tem como função a regulação da atividade do TGF-Beta, por meio de seu sequestro mecânico na matriz extracelular. No entanto, os mecanismos pelos quais a mutação da fibrilina-1 determina aneurismas de aorta torácica com elevada variabilidade fenotípica são ainda pouco elucidados. Um alvo central na fisiopatologia do aneurisma são células musculares lisas vasculares (VSMC), que constituem a maior porção da camada média da aorta. Por meio do controle do tônus contrátil da aorta, da estrutura do citoesqueleto e da interação com a matriz extracelular controlam a estrutura da aorta e a resposta a estímulos patológicos. Mutações que geram perda de função no aparato contrátil de VSMCs prejudicam força contrátil e respostas mecanoadaptativas. No entanto, o papel da VSMC na MFS foi pouco estudado. Neste estudo, investigamos se alterações do fenótipo de VSMCs correlacionam-se a prejuízos na geração de força e alterações em respostas biomecânicas em VSMC cultivadas a partir de aortas obtidas de camundongos com ou sem a mutação mgDeltalpn para MFS na fase inicial (3 meses) e tardia (6 meses). Aos 3 meses de evolução, detectamos importantes alterações fenotípicas nas MFS-VSMC, com maior proliferação celular e redução de alguns marcadores de diferenciação (calponina-1), porém aumento de outros (alfa-actina e SM22). Ao mesmo tempo, ocorreu mudança morfológica, com aumento da área da célula e perda do formato fusiforme. Tais alterações foram consistentes com transição para fenótipo mesenquimal, que foi confirmada pela expressão de vários marcadores. Marcadores de estresse do retículo endoplasmático (RE) aumentaram em MFS-VSMC vs. WT (wild-type) -VSMC condição basal, sem aumento pós estiramento mecânico. Correção da matriz de fibrilina-1 defeituosa em MFS-VSMC promoveu reversão de alguns aspectos do fenótipo, mas não do estresse do RE. MFS-VSMC mostra perfil protêomico divergente de WT-VSMC, em particular menor expressão de proteínas regulatórias do citoesqueleto. Importante, MFSVSMC têm reduzida capacidade de gerar força de tração quando semeadas em substrato com rigidez fisiológica e geram momento contrátil in vitro, no entanto, sem perda na capacidade de adesão. Importante, MFS-VSMC têm forte atenuação da resposta de tração a aumentos da rigidez do substrato. Em paralelo, MFS-VSMC exibem menor densidade em fibras de estresse de actina em relação às WT-VSMC. A maioria destas alterações não foram observadas aos 6 meses de evolução da doença. Os dados indicam que na fase precoce da doença, MSF-VSMC exibem mudanças fenotípicas que vão além de uma simples modulação fenotípica, com aspectos de transição mesenquimal e reduzida capacidade de geração de força tensional associada não à adesão celular, porém à menor capacidade de geração de fibras de estresse de actina. Estes mecanismos, descritos pela primeira vez, contribuir para elucidar a fisiopatologia da MFS, com alguns aspectos comuns, porém outros distintos de outras modalidades de aneurisma de aorta / Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disease affecting to variable extents the musculoskeletal, ocular and cardiovascular systems. Cardiovascular phenotype and in particular thoracic aorta aneurysm/dissection (TAAD), is responsible for the bulk of disease morbimortality. MFS is due to mutations in fibrillin-1, one of the main structural proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which in addition regulates TGF-Beta activity by means of its physical retention in the ECM. However, mechanisms by which fibrillin-1 mutation determines TAAD with elevated phenotypic variability are yet poorly understood. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), the main component of aortic medial layer, are central targets of aneurysm pathophysiology in general. By exerting regulation of contractile tone, cytoskeletal structure and ECM interaction, VSMC control aortic structure and response to pathologic stimuli. Mutations that promote loss of VSMC contractile apparatus impair contractile function and mechanoadaptative responses and associate with distinct types of TAAD. However, the role of VSMC mechanobiology in MFS pathophysiology is poorly known. In this study, we investigated whether VSMC loss of force-generating capacity occurs in MFS and whether it associates with specific changes in cell phenotype. Biomechanical VSMC responses were assessed in cells cultured from aortas collected from mice with the mgDeltalpn MFS mutation at early (3-monthold mice, the main focus of our study) and advanced (6-month-old mice) stages of disease evolution. At 3 months of disease evolution, we detected important phenotypic alterations in MFS-VSMC, with enhanced expression of markers for cellular proliferation and lower expression of some differentiation markers (calponin-1), but, increase in others (SM alfaactin and SM22). In parallel, there were important morphologic changes, with increased VSMC area and loss of its fusiform shape. Such alterations are consistent with a transition towards a mesenchymal-like phenotype, which was confirmed through the expression of several markers. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers increased in MFS-VSMC vs. WT (wild-type)-VSMC in basal condition, without augmentation after cyclic mechanical stretching. Replacement of defective fibrillin-1 ECM from MFS-VSMC with a normal fibroblast-derived ECM promoted reversion of some aspects of the phenotype but not of ER stress. MFS-VSMC exhibited a proteomic profile divergent from that of WT-VSMC, particularly with respect to the lower expression of cytoskeleton regulatory proteins. Importantly, MFS-VSMC displayed a lower traction force-generating capacity when seeded in ECM under physiological stiffness and generated an impaired contractile moment in this situation. In particular, MFS-VSMC depicted a strong attenuation of the traction force response to enhanced ECM stiffening. These defects did not occur as a result of lower adhesion structure and decreased adhesion capacity of MFS-VSMC. In parallel, MFS-VSMC exhibited lower density of actin stress fiber vs. WT-VSMC. With 6 months of disease evolution, several of these alterations were not detectable. Both WTVSMC and MFS-VSMC showed reduced capacity of force generation, without evidence of cell senescence. In summary, starting already in the early stages of disease evolution, MSF-VSMC display important phenotypic changes which go beyond a simple reversible phenotypic modulation, with some aspects suggesting a transition mesenchymal-like phenotype, accompanied by reduced force-generating capacity not linked to loss of cell adhesion properties but rather to impaired organization of action stress fibers. These mechanisms, described for the first time, contribute to elucidate MFS pathophysiology, depicting both some aspects in common with the pathophysiology of other types of aortic aneurysm and some aspects peculiar to MFS

Processos celulares que governam as NADPH oxidases vasculares em condições patológicas não estão claros ainda. Como os processos redox são parte intrínseca da resposta da célula ao estresse, temos investigado se o estresse oxidativo pode convergir com outros tipos de estresse via Nox(es). No presente estudo, focamos na inibição do proteasoma como uma condição relevante de estresse. A incubação de células musculares lisas com concentrações não apoptóticas de inibidores do proteasoma, MG132 e lactacistina, promoveu aumento na produção basal de superóxido e na atividade da NADPH oxidase, diminuição da atividade da SOD e da razão GSH/GSSG. Por outro lado, a inibição do proteasoma diminui a atividade da Nox após estímulo com Angiotensina II ou Tunicamicina, conhecido estressor do retículo endoplasmático. Em condições basais, MG132 induz a expressão de mRNA da Nox1, entretanto o aumento de Nox1 induzido por Angiotensina II foi diminuído na presença de MG132. O mesmo efeito ocorre com a indução de Nox4 pela Tunicamicina, que nesse caso foi drasticamente reduzida na presença de MG132. Além disso, tanto Angiotensina II quanto Tunicamicina induziram a atividade lítica do proteasoma 20S. A seguir, investigamos as conseqüências fisiológicas do MG132 na sinalização do estresse do RE, uma conhecida resposta mediada por Nox4. Células vasculares incubadas com MG132 induzem a expressão de marcadores do estresse do RE, GRP78 e XBP1, e também os marcadores mais tardios ATF4 e o próapoptótico CHOP/GADD153. Resultados similares ocorrem também com a Tunicamicina. Entretanto, a co-incubação de Tunicamicina e MG132 diminui e a sinalização do estresse do RE. AKT e p38 MAPK foram ativados por MG132, possivelmente como resposta ao estresse induzido pela inibição do proteasoma. Assim, a inibição do proteasoma bloqueia a NADPH oxidase, com aumento da atividade basal e expressão da Nox1 versus forte inibição da ativação e expressão da Nox4 frente ao estímulo. A inibição da Nox4 associa-se e pode contribuir para a inibição pelo MG132 da sinalização do estresse do RE. Portanto, o proteasoma parece exercer papel na integração de estresses celulares envolvendo a NADPH oxidase. A inibição do proteasoma pode ter papel na terapia de doenças associadas a estresse do RE. / Cellular processes governing vascular Nox family NADPH oxidases in disease conditions are unclear. Since redox processes are intrinsic to cell stress response, we asked whether oxidative stress merges with other types of stress via Nox(es). We focused on proteasome inhibition as a relevant stress condition. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) incubation with non-apoptotic concentrations of proteasome inhibitors MG132 or lactacystin promoted increased baseline superoxide generation (HPLC/DHE products) and NADPH oxidase activity, decreased SOD activity and GSH/GSSG ratio. Conversely, proteasome inhibitors decreased by Nox response to Angiotensin II (AngII) and abrogated Nox response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressor tunicamycin. With MG132, basal Nox1 mRNA levels were increased, while Nox1 response to AngII was blunted. Moreover, MG132 abolished Nox4 mRNA levels TN-induced. Both AngII and TN (at 2 and 4 hs) promoted increased 20S proteasome lytic activity. We next assessed physiological consequences of MG132 in ER stress signaling, a known Nox4- mediated response. VSMC incubation with MG132 alone enhanced expression of the ER stress markers Grp78 and XBP1 and late markers such as ATF4 and proapoptotic CHOP/GADD153. Similar results occurred with the known ER stressor TN. However, co-incubation of TN and MG132 decreased Grp78, Grp94 and CHOP/GADD153, indicating that proteasome inhibition interrupts ER stress. AKT and p38 are activated by MG132 as response to stress and recover to survival. Thus, proteasome inhibition disrupts NADPH oxidase, with increased baseline activity and Nox1 expression vs. strong inhibition of stimulated Nox1 and Nox4 activation/expression. The later effect may underlie MG132-mediated inhibition of ER stress signaling. (Support: FAPESP, CNPq Milênio Redoxoma)