Adrenomedullin induces heme oxygenase-1 gene expression and cGMP formation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a potent vasodilatory peptide. It regulates blood pressure by increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP). We sought to investigate the effect of ADM on heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression and cGMP formation in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). ADM treatment, 10−9 and 10−8 mol/L, increased cGMP production, and it increased the intracellular cGMP content of platelets coincubated with VSMCs. It increased cGMP content by 158.8% and 273.5%, respectively; increased HO-1 activity by 49.5% and 87%, respectively; augmented HO-1 protein levels by 66% and 126%, respectively; upregulated the steady-state level of HO-1 mRNA by 73% and 159%, respectively, and increased HO-1 mRNA transcription synthesis by four- and seven-fold, respectively. These results suggest that ADM induces HO-1 gene expression and cGMP formation in rat VSMCs.