Effect of simvastatin on vascular tone in porcine coronary artery: potential role of the mitochondria

Statins induce acute vasorelaxation which may contribute to the overall benefits of statins in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The mechanism underlying this relaxation is unknown. As statins have been shown to alter mitochondrial function, in this study we investigated the role of mitochondria in the relaxation to simvastatin. Relaxation of porcine coronary artery segments by statins was measured using isolated tissue baths. Mitochondrial activity was determined by measuring changes in rhodamine 123 fluorescence. Changes in intracellular calcium levels were determined in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells with Fluo-4 using standard epifluorescent imaging techniques. Simvastatin, but not pravastatin, produced a slow relaxation of the coronary artery, which was independent of the endothelium. The relaxation was attenuated by the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone (10 μM) and the complex III inhibitor myxothiazol (10 μM), or a combination of the two. The complex III inhibitor antimycin A (10 μM) produced a similar time-dependent relaxation of the porcine coronary artery, which was attenuated by rotenone. Changes in rhodamine 123 fluorescence showed that simvastatin (10 μM) depolarized the membrane potential of mitochondria in both isolated mitochondria and intact blood vessels. Simvastatin and antimycin A both inhibited calcium-induced contractions in isolated blood vessels and calcium influx in smooth muscle cells and this inhibition was prevented by rotenone. In conclusion, simvastatin produces an endothelium-independent relaxation of the porcine coronary artery which is dependent, in part, upon effects on the mitochondria. The effects on the mitochondria may lead to a reduction in calcium influx and hence relaxation of the blood vessel

A critical role for cystathionine-β-synthase in hydrogen sulfide-mediated hypoxic relaxation of the coronary artery

Hypoxia-induced coronary artery vasodilatation protects the heart by increasing blood flow under ischemic conditions, however its mechanism is not fully elucidated. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is reported to be an oxygen sensor/transducer in the vasculature. The present study aimed to identify and characterise the role of H2S in the hypoxic response of the coronary artery, and to define the H2S synthetic enzymes involved. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry showed expression of all three H2S-producing enzymes, cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST), in porcine coronary artery. Artery segments were mounted for isometric tension recording; hypoxia caused a transient endothelium-dependent contraction followed by prolonged endothelium-independent relaxation. The CBS inhibitor amino-oxyacetate (AOAA) reduced both phases of the hypoxic response. The CSE inhibitor dl-propargylglycine (PPG) and aspartate (limits MPST) had no effect alone, but when applied together with AOAA the hypoxic relaxation response was further reduced. Exogenous H2S (Na2S and NaHS) produced concentration-dependent contraction followed by prolonged relaxation. Responses to both hypoxia and exogenous H2S were dependent on the endothelium, NO, cGMP, K+ channels and Cl−/HCO3 − exchange. H2S production in coronary arteries was blocked by CBS inhibition (AOAA), but not by CSE inhibition (PPG). These data show that H2S is an endogenous mediator of the hypoxic response in coronary arteries. Of the three H2S-producing enzymes, CBS, expressed in the vascular smooth muscle, appears to be the most important for H2S generated during hypoxic relaxation of the coronary artery. A contribution from other H2S-producing enzymes only becomes apparent when CBS activity is inhibited

A role for the sodium pump in H2O2-induced vasorelaxation in porcine isolated coronary arteries

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been proposed to act as a factor for endothelium-derived hyperpolar-ization (EDH) and EDH may act as a ‘back up’ system to compensate the loss of the NO pathway. Here,the mechanism of action of H2O2in porcine isolated coronary arteries (PCAs) was investigated. DistalPCAs were mounted in a wire myograph and pre-contracted with U46619 (1 nM–50 muM), a throm-boxane A2-mimetic or KCl (60 mM). Concentration–response curves to H2O2(1 muM–1 mM), bradykinin(0.01 nM–1 muM), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (10 nM–10 muM), verapamil (1 nM–10 muM), KCl (0–20 mM)or Ca2+-reintroduction (1 muM–10 mM) were constructed in the presence of various inhibitors. Activityof the Na+/K+-pump was measured through rubidium-uptake using atomic absorption spectropho-tometry. H2O2caused concentration-dependent vasorelaxations with a maximum relaxation (Rmax) of100 ± 16% (mean ± SEM), pEC50= 4.18 ± 0.20 (n = 4) which were significantly inhibited by PEG-catalase at0.1–1.0 mM H2O2(P < 0.05). 10 mM TEA significantly inhibited the relaxation up to 100 muM H2O2(P < 0.05).60 mM K+and 500 nM ouabain significantly inhibited H2O2-induced vasorelaxation producing a relax-ation of 40.8 ± 8.5% (n = 5) and 47.5 ± 8.6% (n = 6) respectively at 1 mM H2O2(P < 0.0001). H2O2-inducedvasorelaxation was unaffected by the removal of endothelium, inhibition of NO, cyclo-oxygenase, gapjunctions, SKCa, IKCa, BKCaKir, KV, KATPor cGMP. 100 muM H2O2had no effects on the KCl-induced vasore-laxation or Ca2+-reintroduction contraction. 1 mM H2O2inhibited both KCl-induced vasorelaxation andrubidium-uptake consistent with inhibition of the Na+/K+-pump activity. We have shown that the vas-cular actions of H2O2are sensitive to ouabain and high concentrations of H2O2are able to modulate theNa+/K+-pump. This may contribute towards its vascular actions