Angiotensin II-Induced Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species Is Regulated by a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/L-Type Calcium Channel Signaling Pathway

Angiotensin II (AngII)는 혈관평활근세포의 수축을 통해 혈관을 수축시키는 강력한 작용을 나타낼 뿐만 아니라 혈관세포의 성장 등에 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 AngII에 의해 형성되는 활성산소가 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)에 유리되는 칼슘에 의해 조절된다는 것을 검증하였다. 쥐의 대동맥으로부터 분리된 혈관평활근세포에서 AngII에 의해 활성산소가 농도 의존적, 그리고 시간 의존적으로 형성됨을 관찰하였다. AngII에 의해 형성되는 활성산소는 PI3K의 억제제에 의해 봉쇄되었으나 EKR의 억제제에 의해서는 봉쇄되지 않음을 알 수 있었다. AngII에 의해 유리되는 칼슘은 L-type 칼슘이온통로 봉쇄제인 Nifedipine 또는 배양액에 칼슘이 제거된 환경에서 억제됨을 확인할 수 있었다. 마지막으로 AngII에 의해 형성되는 활성산소는 배양액에 칼슘이 없는 조건이나 L-type 칼슘이온통로 억제제를 전처리 하였을 경우 억제되는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로 쥐의 대동맥으로부터 분리된 혈관평활근세포에서 AngII에 의한 활성산소의 형성은 PI3K/L-type 칼슘이온통로를 통한 기전을 통해 조절됨을 제안한다. Angiotensin II (AngII) is an essential hormone that affects vascular physiology. For example, stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) rapidly induces vasoconstriction and results in the up-regulation of blood pressure. Chronic stimulation of VSMCs with AngII also results in hypertrophy. In this study, we confirmed an involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent calcium mobilization in AngII-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Stimulation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) with AngII significantly induced the generation of ROS in a dose- and time-dependent manner. AngII-induced generation of ROS was completely abolished by pharmacological inhibition of PI3K (with LY294002), but inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway had no effect. AngII-induced calcium mobilization was completely blocked by inhibition of PI3K, whereas inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway by PD98059 was ineffective. Depletion of extracellular calcium or inhibition of the L-type calcium channel by nifedipine completely blocked AngII-induced calcium mobilization. Depletion of extracellular calcium by EGTA and incubation of RASMCs with calcium-free medium both significantly blocked AngII-induced ROS generation. Inhibition of the L-type calcium channel also significantly blocked AngII-induced ROS generation. These results suggest that AngII-induced ROS generation is regulated by calcium mobilization, which, in turn, is modulated by a PI3K/L-type calcium channel signaling pathway.