‘A Step and a Ceiling’: Mechanical properties of Ca2+ spark vasoregulation in resistance arteries by pressure-induced oxidative activation of PKG

Viktoria Csato, Sharifah Z. Syed Abdul Kadir, Kaivan Khavandi, Hayley Bennett, Sarah Sugden, Alison Gurney, Harry Pritchard, David Hill-Eubanks, Philip Eaton, Mark Nelson, Adam Greenstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We investigated the biomechanical relationship between intraluminal pressure within small mesenteric resistance arteries, oxidant activation of PKG, Ca2+ sparks, and BK channel vasoregulation. Mesenteric resistance arteries from wild type (WT) and genetically modified mice with PKG resistance to oxidative activation were studied using wire and pressure myography. Ca2+ sparks and Ca2+ transients within vascular smooth muscle cells of intact arteries were characterized using high‐speed confocal microscopy of intact arteries. Arteries were studied under conditions of varying intraluminal pressure and oxidation. Intraluminal pressure specifically, rather than the generic stretch of the artery, was necessary to activate the oxidative pathway. We demonstrated a graded step activation profile for the generation of Ca2+ sparks and also a functional “ceiling” for this pressure –‐sensitive oxidative pathway. During steady state pressure ‐ induced constriction, any additional Ca2+ sensitive‐K+ channel functional availability was independent of oxidant activated PKG. There was an increase in the amplitude, but not the Area under the Curve (AUC) of the caffeine‐induced Ca2+ transient in pressurized arteries from mice with oxidant‐resistant PKG compared with wild type. Overall, we surmise that intraluminal pressure within resistance arteries controls Ca2+ spark vasoregulation through a tightly controlled pathway with a graded onset switch. The pathway, underpinned by oxidant activation of PKG, cannot be further boosted by additional pressure or oxidation once active. We propose that these restrictive characteristics of pressure‐induced Ca2+ spark vasoregulation confer stability for the artery in order to provide a constant flow independent of additional pressure fluctuations or exogenous oxidants.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere14260
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalPhysiological Reports
Volume7
Issue number22
Early online date28 Nov 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Ca2+ spark
  • vascular smooth muscle
  • oxygen signalling
  • Protein Kinase G
  • Pressure - induced constriction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '‘A Step and a Ceiling’: Mechanical properties of Ca2+ spark vasoregulation in resistance arteries by pressure-induced oxidative activation of PKG'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this