Cyclooxygenase is regulated by ET-1 and MAPKs in peripheral lung microvascular smooth muscle cells

Departments of 1 Pathology and 2 Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2650 We examined the hypothesis that the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin (ET)-1 regulates both its own production and production of the vasodilator prostaglandins PGE 2 and prostacyclin in sheep peripheral lung vascular smooth muscle cells (PLVSMC). Confluent layers of PLVSMC were exposed to 10 nM ET-1; expression of the prepro (pp)-ET-1, cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, and COX-2 genes was examined by RT-PCR and Western analysis. Intracellular levels of ET-1 were measured by ELISA with and without addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor brefeldin A (50 µg/ml). Prostaglandin levels were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Through use of ET A and ET B antagonists (BQ-610 and BQ-788, respectively), the contribution of the ET receptors to COX-1 and -2 expression and ppET-1 gene expression was examined. The contribution of phosphorylated p38 and p44/42 MAPK on COX-1 and COX-2 expression was also examined with MAPK inhibitors (p38, SB-203580 and p44/42, PD-98056). ET-1 resulted in transient increases in ppET-1, COX-1, and COX-2 gene and protein expression and release of 6-keto-PGF 1 and PGE 2 ( P