Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced activation of RhoA in airway smooth muscle cells: Role in the Ca2+ sensitization of myosin light chain(20) phosphorylation

Irene Hunter, Hannah J. Cobban, Peter Vandenabeele, David J. MacEwan, Graeme F. Nixon

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    Abstract

    Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), an inflammatory cytokine, has a potentially important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma and may contribute to airway hyper-responsiveness. Recent evidence has revealed that TNF can increase the Ca2+ sensitivity of agonist-stimulated myosin light chain(20) (MLC20) phosphorylation and contractility in guinea pig airway smooth muscle (ASM). In the present study, the potential intracellular pathways responsible for this TNF-induced Ca2+ sensitization were investigated. In permeabilized cultured guinea pig ASM cells, recombinant human TNF stimulated an increase in Ca2+ activated MLC20 phosphorylation under Ca2+ "clamp" conditions. This increased MLC20 phosphorylation was inhibited by preincubation with the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632. TNF also increased the proportion of GTP-bound RhoA, as measured using rhotekin Rho-binding domain, in a time course compatible with a role in the TNF-induced Ca2+ sensitization. In cultured human ASM cells, recombinant human TNF also activated RhoA with a similar time course. In addition, TNF stimulated phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit of the myosin phosphatase, which was inhibited by Y27632. Although human ASM cells expressed both receptor subtypes, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, the activation of RhoA was predominantly via stimulation of the TNF-R1, although RhoA did not immunoprecipitate with the TNF-R1. In conclusion, the TNF-induced increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of MLC20 phosphorylation is through stimulation of the TNF-R1 receptor and via a RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway leading to inhibition of the myosin light chain phosphatase. This intracellular mechanism may contribute to TNF-induced airway hyper-responsiveness.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)714-721
    Number of pages8
    JournalMolecular Pharmacology
    Volume63
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2003

    Keywords

    • G-ALPHA(13)
    • STIMULATION
    • GTPASE
    • TNF-ALPHA
    • RECEPTOR
    • P115 RHOGEF
    • PHOSPHATASE
    • KINASE INHIBITOR
    • BINDING PROTEIN-RHO
    • CYTOSKELETON

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