Smoking activates rho-kinase in smooth muscle cells of forearm vasculature in humans.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that smoking is strongly associated with atherosclerosis and coronary vascular disease. Rho-kinase plays an important role in various cellular functions associated with atherosclerosis and hypertension. However, there is no information on the relationship between smoking and Rho-kinase activity in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine the Rho-kinase activity in forearm vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in healthy young male smokers. We evaluated the forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to fasudil (3, 10, and 30 microg/min for 5 minutes), a Rho-kinase inhibitor, or sodium nitroprusside (0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 microg/min for 5 minutes) in current smokers (n=8) and nonsmokers (n=8). FBF was measured with a strain-gauge plethysmograph. The vasodilatory effect of fasudil was significantly greater in smokers than in nonsmokers (14.9+/-3.5 versus 10.5+/-3.6 mL/min per 100 mL tissue; P<0.01). The FBF responses to sodium nitroprusside were similar in the 2 groups (34.7+/-10.4 versus 33.2+/-10.2 mL/min per 100 mL tissue; P=0.78). These findings suggest that smoking activates Rho-kinase in forearm VSMCs but does not alter the vasodilatory effect induced by exogenous nitric oxide in forearm VSMCs in healthy young men.

• Authors: Kensuke Noma, Yukihito Higashi, Daisuke Jitsuiki, Keiko Hara, Masashi Kimura, Keigo Nakagawa, Chikara Goto, Tetsuya Oshima, Masao Yoshizumi, Kazuaki Chayama
• Journal: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) (Hypertension) Vol. 41 Issue 5 Pg. 1102-5 (May 2003) ISSN: 1524-4563 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 12682081 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Vasodilator Agents
• Nitroprusside
• omega-N-Methylarginine
• 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine
• Nitric Oxide Synthase
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• rho-Associated Kinases
• fasudil

Topics

• 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Forearm (blood supply)
• Humans
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Male
• Muscle, Smooth, Vascular (enzymology)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Nitroprusside (pharmacology)
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Regional Blood Flow (drug effects)
• Smoking
• Vasodilator Agents (pharmacology)
• omega-N-Methylarginine (pharmacology)
• rho-Associated Kinases