Superoxide constricts rat pulmonary arteries via Rho-kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization

Reactive oxygen species play a key role in vascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. We investigated contractile responses, intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), Rho-kinase translocation, and phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit of myosin phosphatase (MYPT-1) and of myosin light chain (MLC20) in response to LY83583, a generator of superoxide anion, in small intrapulmonary arteries (IPA) of rat. LY83583 caused concentration-dependent constrictions in IPA and greatly enhanced submaximal PGF2α-mediated preconstriction. In small femoral or mesenteric arteries of rat, LY83583 alone was without effect, but it relaxed a PGF2α-mediated preconstriction. Constrictions in IPA were inhibited by superoxide dismutase and tempol, but not catalase, and were endothelium and guanylate cyclase independent. Constrictions were also inhibited by the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 and the Src-family kinase inhibitor SU6656. LY83583 did not raise [Ca2+]i, but caused a Y27632-sensitive constriction in α-toxin-permeabilized IPA. LY83583 triggered translocation of Rho-kinase from the nucleus to the cytosol in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and enhanced phosphorylation of MYPT-1 at Thr-855 and of MLC20 at Ser-19 in IPA. This enhancement was inhibited by superoxide dismutase and abolished by Y27632. Hydrogen peroxide did not activate Rho-kinase. We conclude that in rat small pulmonary artery, superoxide triggers Rho-kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization and vasoconstriction independent of hydrogen peroxide.