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Vascular Biology |
From the Departments of Medicine (S.V.U., A.H.J., J.G.P., R.A.H., R.D.F.) and of Physiology & Pharmacology (R.G., R.D.F.), University of Western Ontario, and Cell Biology (Q.D., R.D.F.) and Vascular Biology (R.G., J.G.P., R.A.H.) Research Groups, Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
Correspondence to Dr Ross D. Feldman, Robarts Research Institute, P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Drive, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5K8. E-mail feldmanr{at}lhsc.on.ca
| Abstract |
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Methods and Results— In rat vascular smooth muscle cells, gene transfer of ADCY6 S674 increased adenylyl cyclase activity and arborization to a greater extent than gene transfer of ADCY6 A674. Similarly, in adherent mononuclear leukocyte cells isolated from ADCY6 S674-expressing human subjects, both adenylyl cyclase activity and adenylyl cyclase–mediated cell retraction were significantly increased. Additionally, in dorsal hand vein LVDT studies, subjects expressing the hyper-functional ADCY6 S674 variant had significantly greater vascular sensitivity to the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol as assessed by both a greater potency and greater maximal effect than subjects expressing the ADCY6 A674 enzyme.
Conclusion— These data indicate that the expression of a novel, relatively common variant of ADCY6 parallels an increase in adenylyl cyclase activity and adenylyl cyclase–mediated function in humans.
We examined the phenotypic characteristics of an adenylyl cyclase 6 (ADCY6 S674) variant in human subjects and isolated human mononuclear leukocytes and rat smooth muscle cells. Our data demonstrate that expression of this ADCY6 S674 variant is associated with enhanced adenylyl cyclase activity and enhanced cAMP-mediated regulation of contractile responses.
Key Words: smooth muscle adenylyl cyclase vasodilation
| Introduction |
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Variability in cAMP synthesis by adenylyl cyclase has previously been thought to be determined (predominantly) by the specific isoforms of adenylyl cyclase expressed in any individual cell. Nine membrane-bound isoforms of adenylyl cyclase arising from different genes have been cloned—grouped into 3 major subfamilies comprising: Group 1: ADCY1, ADCY3, ADCY8; Group 2: ADCY2, ADCY4, ADCY7; and Group 3: ADCY5, ADCY6.5 Also, ADCY9 has been characterized as a distinct (and atypical) isoform6 with restricted expression. Also, a soluble adenylyl cyclase has been characterized that is the predominant form in mammalian sperm.7
Each isoform has a specific pattern of tissue distribution and a specific pattern of regulation.5,6,8–10 Further, differential effects of specific isoforms on both PKA-mediated effects and growth regulation have been recently reported.11 In this regard ADCY6 has been shown to be more tightly coupled to PKA-regulated functions, including cAMP-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization.
Changes in the regulation or expression of adenylyl cyclase are of physiological and pathological importance. In a model of acquired diabetes, the defect in vascular relaxation responses have been linked to impaired adenylyl cyclase function and reduced protein expression of ADCY5/ADCY6.12 In mice with cardiomyopathy, cardiac expression of ADCY5 or ADCY6 improves cardiac function13,14 and survival.15 In transgenic mice, inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity via activation of Gi
2 results in insulin resistance.16 However, the physiological or pathobiological significance of regulation of adenylyl cyclase function via "genetic" variability (ie, the expression of missense genetic variant enzymes) is unknown.
Given the critical role of ADCY6 in regulation of vascular smooth muscle contractility,11 the expression of a genetic variant of ADCY6 that significantly alters ADCY6 function could lead to altered vascular adenylyl cyclase-mediated effects. The identification of dysfunctional genetic variants of adenylyl cyclase is presently limited to those in ADCY6 and ADCY9, of which the latter has a much more restricted distribution than the former.3 Recently a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in intron 17 of gene encoding the very widely expressed ADCY6 isoform,17 was identified in a Japanese population.18 However, the impact of this variant on adenylyl cyclase function is currently unknown.
In our initial studies, we discovered a relatively common (
6% genotypic frequency in Whites) missense SNP in ADCY6 (g.2714G>T), with trivial name A674S.4 This genetic variant was initially identified based on our screen of the ADCY6 sequence in normal subjects corresponding to residues 562 to 778, which include the C1b and IC4 regions of the molecule. This region was of particular interest because this includes domains critical in the regulation of catalytic activity.5,8,9 Additionally, our interest in this region was based on previous findings that serine to alanine alterations in this domain are associated with significant alterations in the regulation of ADCY6 function.19
Consequently, the present studies were undertaken to examine the impact of the expression of ADCY6 S674 variant both on vascular reactivity and on cellular adenylyl cyclase activity/function. Our data demonstrate that the expression of the ADCY6 S674 variant is associated with enhanced adenylyl cyclase activity and enhanced cAMP-mediated regulation of contractile responses.
| Methods |
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Those subjects expressing the ADCY6 S674 variant allele (all were heterozygous) were subsequently invited to: (1) donate an additional blood sample for the in vitro assessment of adenylyl cyclase activity/function in adherent mononuclear leukocyte cultures or (2) participate in dorsal hand vein linear variable differential transformer studies assessing vascular reactivity. An otherwise similar population of subjects was recruited from among those expressing the ADCY6 A674 gene (Table 1). Recorded blood pressure was based on the average of the last 5 measurements taken. A 10 mL blood sample was taken to confirm the ADCY6 genotype. Informed consent was obtained for all analyses, with approval from the University of Western Ontario Research Ethics Review Board.
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Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood as previously described.20 Genotyping of ADCY6 A674S variants was performed using exon-specific DNA amplification followed by purification using shrimp alkaline phosphatase (Roche) and exonuclease I (ExoI; New England Biolabs) and DNA sequencing as recently described.4,20
Construction of Adenovirus Expressing S674 and A674 Adenylyl Cyclase 6
cDNAs encoding flag-tagged ADCY6 A674 and ADCY6 S674 or GFP were used to generate adenoviral constructs (AdMax) as per manufacturers instructions (Microbix Biosystems Inc) as previously described.21
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Primary Cultures
Rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) primary cultures were isolated by a modification of the methods of Touyz et al.22 Briefly, freshly isolated thoracic aortae from Wistar rats (Harlan, Indianapolis, Indiana) were digested using collagenase and elastase incubations as previously described.11,23 Following digestion/isolation, vascular smooth muscle cells were resuspended in Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS, gentamicin and fungizone. Vascular smooth muscle cells were used between passages 4 to 12 for all experiments. The rats were cared for in accordance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines.
Gene Transfer in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Adenovirus
Vascular smooth muscle cells were infected with adenoviral constructs (either adeno-GFP, adeno-ADCY6 A674, or adeno-ADCY6 S674) for 16 hours at 37°C after which infection media was replaced with fresh DMEM culture media. Cells were used for experimentation 48 hours postinfection. Under these conditions, infection efficiency was greater than 95%, as assessed in GFP-infected cells.
Using Adherent Mononuclear Leukocyte Cultures to Assess Alterations in Adenylyl Cyclase-Mediated Responses With Variant ADCY6 Expression
Adherent mononuclear leukocyte fractions with fibrocyte characteristics can be separated from peripheral blood samples.24 Briefly, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from human blood by centrifugation over Histopaque-1077 (Sigma-Aldrich) following the manufacturers protocol. PBMCs were washed twice with sterile 0.9% NaCl, resuspended in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and gentamycin and seeded onto culture plates. This population of cells, isolated from adherent cell fractions, appears in a "spindle form" within 5 days after seeding onto culture plates and persist for several weeks (Figure 1A). Preliminary studies demonstrated that after one week of culture these spindle cells are "positive" for phalloidin, fibronectin, and CD68 but "negative" for
-smooth muscle actin—consistent with a "fibrocyte-type" cell of mononuclear leukocyte lineage (Figure 1B through 1D).
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Adenylyl cyclase activity in permeabilized adherent mononuclear leukocytes and in vascular smooth muscle cells was assessed using our previously described methods that we have used in a range of cell types including mononuclear leukocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells.25 Briefly, digitonin-permeabilized cells were resuspended in a solution of Hanks Balanced Salt Solution with 33 mmol/L HEPES, 0.5 mmol/L EDTA and 1 mmol/L magnesium sulfate (pH 7.4 at 4°C) were added in an aliquot of 40 µL to give a final incubation volume of 100 µL with 1 µCi [
32P] ATP, 0.3 mmol/L ATP, 2 mmol/L MgSO4, 0.1 mmol/L cAMP, 5 mmol/L phosphoenol pyruvate, 40 µg/mL pyruvate kinase and 20 µg/mL myokinase. Incubations with GTP (1 µmol/L), isoproterenol (µmol/L) or forskolin (100 µmol/L) were carried out at 37°C for 10 minutes and terminated by addition of 1 mL of a solution containing 100 µg ATP, 50 µg cAMP, and approximately 15 000 cpm [3H] cAMP. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 300g for 5 minutes. cAMP was isolated from the supernatant by sequential Dowex and alumina chromatography and was corrected for recovery using [3H] cAMP as the internal standard. Adenylyl cyclase activity was linear with time and cell number over the ranges used.
Adenylyl cyclase-mediated arborization response in rat vascular smooth muscle cells was assessed by video-microscopy, using our recently published techniques.11,23 Dishes were mounted in a temperature-controlled chamber (Bionomic controller, 20/20 Technology, Inc) on an inverted microscope (Zeiss, Axiovert S100). Arborization was induced by the addition of forskolin (10 µmol/L). Progression of arborization was evaluated using time-lapse video microscopy with a digital recording system. Images were obtained every minute and the extent of arborization was determined by the change in image intensity (Northern Eclipse 6.0, Empix Imaging). The change in image intensity was expressed as a percent of basal intensity ie, before the addition of drug. The change in image intensity was plotted against time and slopes were determined from linear regression analysis using Prism 4.0 (GraphPad Software).
Adenylyl cyclase-mediated cell retraction as a manifestation of arborization in adherent mononuclear leukocyte fractions was assessed by video-microscopy as described above for vascular smooth muscle cells. However, in adherent mononuclear leukocytes, the "arborization" effect was assessed by measurement of change in cell perimeter during 15 minutes of basal recording and after 15 minutes of forskolin (100 µmol/L) stimulation. This mode of analysis was chosen based on the much lower extent of optical density changes associated with comparable extents of retraction seen in the arborization response in cultured mononuclear leukocytes (versus those seen in vascular smooth muscle cells). Cell perimeter was obtained by using the trace tool within the analysis software (Northern Eclipse 6.0). Typically 6 to 8 cells in the field of view (1 or 2 cells in each quadrant chosen randomly and prospectively) were analyzed under basal and forskolin-treated conditions. Change in cell perimeter was expressed a percentage of the initial cell perimeter.
Linear Variable Differential Transformer Studies Assessment of Vascular Sensitivity to Isoproterenol by Dorsal Hand Vein Linear Variable Differential Transformer Technique
Studies using the linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) technique in dorsal hand veins were performed according to our previously described methods.26–29 Baseline venous distension was assessed after compression of the ipsilateral arm with a sphygmomanometer cuff inflated to 50 mm Hg. The extent of this distension at baseline was defined as 100%. Phenylephrine-mediated venoconstriction was assessed by infusion of increasing doses from 16 to 20 000 ng/min (in normal saline at an infusion rate of 0.1 mL/min). The maximal extent of phenylephrine-mediated constriction and the potency of phenylephrine (as defined by the dose that produced half-maximal effect [ED50]) were determined by computerized nonlinear curve fitting (Sigmoid Plot, Subroutine, Prism 4.0, GraphPad Software). To assess the extent of isoproterenol-mediated attenuation of phenylephrine-mediated venoconstriction, veins were preconstricted with phenylephrine at a dose that achieved approximately 80% of the maximum phenylephrine-induced effect; the dose was individualized for each subject in each study. In the assessment of vasodilator responses, the extent of venous distension achieved with this dose of phenylephrine was defined as 0% venodilation. Isoproterenol was then concurrently infused at a dose of 0.32 to 200 ng/min in normal saline at an infusion rate of 0.1 mL/min. Maximum isoproterenol-mediated venodilation and ED50 for isoproterenol were determined by analysis of the data by curve fitting techniques, as previously described. Maximal nitroglycerin-mediated vasorelaxation was determined at a dose of 100 ng/min.
Data Analysis
The nominal probability value for significance was <0.05. For 2-group comparisons, the statistical significance of differences was determined by student t test for unpaired data with Welchs correction when necessary. For column statistics, the significance of differences from control was determined by 1-sample t tests. P<0.05 on a 2-sided test was taken as a minimum level of significance (Prism 4.0, GraphPad Software).
When conventionally expressed, measures of potency (eg, ED50) are not normally distributed.30 However, after log transformation these data are normally distributed. Therefore, these parameters are expressed as their geometric means.
| Results |
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Effect of ADCY6 S674 Expression on Adenylyl Cyclase–Mediated Adherent Mononuclear Leukocyte Retraction
To determine whether the increase in forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in adherent mononuclear leukocytes from subjects with the ADCY6 S674 variant resulted in increased functional adenylyl cyclase-mediated responses, we performed adherent mononuclear leukocyte retraction assays. Forskolin treatment mediated both time- and concentration-dependent increases in cellular retraction (data not shown). Similar to the results obtained for the adenylyl cyclase activity assay, forskolin-mediated retraction was significantly increased in ADCY6 S674 variant-expressing adherent mononuclear leukocytes as compared with the ADCY6 A674 expressing cells (Figure 2B).
Assessment of the Impact of Expression of the ADCY6 Variant on Vascular Reactivity: LVDT Studies
In ADCY6 A674- expressing subjects, phenylephrine mediated a dose-dependent reduction in vascular distension with an ED50 of 553 ng/min to a nadir of 36±13% of baseline distension. With infusion of a dose of phenylephrine sufficient to mediate approximately 80% of its maximal effect, concurrent infusion of isoproterenol caused dose-dependent vasodilation with an ED50 of 8 ng/min reaching a maximum of 97±6% of initial baseline (Table 2). Subsequent infusion of nitroglycerin at a dose of 100 ng/min resulted in a further increase in distension to 109±9% of baseline (Table 2). These findings are similar to those we have previously reported in normal populations using this protocol.26,29
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In subjects expressing ADCY6 S674, vascular sensitivity to isoproterenol was increased on average by approximately 10-fold (ie, the ED50 isoproterenol was decreased by more than 90%, Table 2). Further, there was a significant increase in maximal isoproterenol-mediated vasodilation (Table 2). In contrast, neither the extent of baseline distension nor maximal nitroglycerin-mediated relaxation differed between groups (Table 2). Additionally, indices of vascular vasoconstrictor responses to phenylephrine (ED50 phenylephrine, maximal phenylephrine-mediated vasoconstriction) did not differ between groups (Table 2).
Assessment of Adenylyl Cyclase–Mediated Responses in Variant and ADCY6 A674–Expressing Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
To determine whether the difference in adenylyl cyclase activity observed in adherent mononuclear leukocytes obtained from subjects expressing the ADCY6 S674 variant was a property of the adherent mononuclear leukocytes or of the intrinsic adenylyl cyclase activity, we examined the effect of ADCY6 S674 expression on adenylyl cyclase activity in another cell type, rat vascular smooth muscle cells, which express a highly homologous (93% compared with human) endogenous ADCY6.31 With comparable expression of ADCY6 S674 and ADCY6 A674 in vascular smooth muscle cells (Figure 3A), gene transfer of the ADCY6 S674 variant resulted in a significant increase in forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity as compared with ADCY6 A674-expressing smooth muscle cells (Figure 3B).
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To determine whether increased ADCY6 S674-mediated enzymatic activity in vascular smooth muscle cells paralleled an increase in adenylyl cyclase-mediated function we examined forskolin-stimulated arborization in vascular smooth muscle cells. With gene transfer of ADCY6 S674 variant, forskolin-mediated arborization responses were significantly increased as compared with responses in ADCY6 A674-infected smooth muscle cells (Figure 3C).
| Discussion |
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The mechanism of the increase in adenylyl cyclase function in circulating adherent mononuclear leukocytes derived from whole blood samples taken from subjects expressing the ADCY6 S674 variant would appear to be best explained by an enhancement of ADCY6 function. This conclusion is supported by our findings that gene transfer of the ADCY6 S674 variant into rat vascular smooth muscle cells increased adenylyl cyclase effects, as assessed both enzymatically and functionally, to a significantly greater extent than expression of the WT ADCY6. It is important to note that in our prior evaluation of this variant we reported that, in the baculovirus/Sf9 insect cell system, the expression of ADCY6 S674 demonstrated reduced activity as compared with activity in cells expressing ADCY6 A674.4 The reason for this discrepancy with our current findings is speculative. However, for membrane proteins, the "functional readouts" from insect cell systems may not predict their impact in mammalian systems.32 This has been related to differences in functional responses of nonglycosylated protein forms as seen in insect models or to differences in intracellular scaffolding cytoskeletal structure that are critical for the functional effect of a number of membrane-associated proteins.32 However, regardless of the explanation for the differences in effect of ADCY6 S674 in insect versus mammalian cells, our current studies indicate that increase adenylyl cyclase activity associated with expression of the ADCY6 S674 variant in a more relevant mammalian cell system (and at a much lower extent of overexpression) parallels the increase in "global" adenylyl cyclase activity and in adenylyl cyclase-mediated function in ADCY6 S674 adherent mononuclear leukocytes.
In the hypothetical case that ALL adenylyl cyclase isoforms would contribute comparably to regulation of contractile function in vascular smooth muscle cells, a 2-fold increase in adenylyl cyclase activity between variants of a single isoform (ie, as seen for the genetic variant of ADCY6 S674 versus the more common ADCY6 A674 when expressed in rat vascular smooth muscle cells) would NOT be expected ultimately to impact on "global" adenylyl cyclase-mediated function. However, ADCY6 has been identified as a predominant isoform expressed in a range of tissues important in cardiovascular regulation.33 Further, our recent studies identified that among the AC isoforms, ADCY6 was selectively coupled to regulation of vascular smooth muscle contractile responses,11 suggesting that the regulation of ADCY6 function would have an impact on contractile regulation far exceeding the proportional contribution of ADCY6 to total adenylyl cyclase expression. Our current findings support the hypothesis that a significant alteration of ADCY6 function leads to increased adenylyl cyclase–mediated contractile effects, both at a single–cell level as well as in vivo in humans.
The cardiovascular significance of the expression of this hyper-functional ADCY6 is supported by our LVDT studies demonstrating enhanced β-adrenergic–mediated vasodilatory responses in subjects expressing the S674 variant of ADCY6. Notably, the heritability of vasodilatory responses has been associated with genetic variants of both the beta2-adrenoceptor (Ile164 and Gln27 variants34–37), as well as the G protein beta subunit GNB3 825T.38–40 However, genetic variability in vasodilatory responses related to expression of an AC isoform genetic variant has not previously been reported.
The expression of missense genetic variants of proteins regulating adenylyl cyclase function have been linked to both hypertension and obesity. The expression of β-adrenoceptor variants and variants of GRK4 (an enzyme that regulates G protein–coupled receptors linked to AC activation) have been associated with variation in blood pressure and development of hypertension.41 Further, hyper-functional G protein variants have been associated with variation in the development of obesity as well as hypertension (reviewed in42). Expression of this ADCY6 variant and the consequent enhancement of ADCY6-mediated effects would be predicted to be associated with a "hyperdynamic" cardiovascular phenotype, demonstrating increased pulse pressure, systolic blood pressure, or increased pulse rate. Further, expression of this adenylyl cyclase variant would be predicted to be associated with a "leaner" phenotype, marked by decreased abdominal obesity.
In summary, our data indicate that the expression of a novel, relatively common variant of ADCY6 parallels an increase in adenylyl cyclase activity and adenylyl cyclase mediated function in humans. Whether there might be an altered frequency of the expression of the A674 allele in patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hypertension, ie, whether this genetic variant might prove to be a predictive marker for cardiovascular disease, is the focus of ongoing studies.
| Acknowledgments |
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Sources of Funding
These studies were supported by grants-in-aid to R.D.F. from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. R.G. is supported by a New Investigator Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Disclosures
None.
| Footnotes |
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Original received April 4, 2007; final version accepted September 12, 2007.
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