alpha1A-adrenoceptor is involved in norepinephrine-induced proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via CaMKII signaling

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease of the pulmonary vasculature characterized by excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Some studies have demonstrated the sympathetic nervous system is activated in PAH and norepinephrine (NE) released is closely linked with its activation. However, the subtypes of adrenoreceptor (AR) and the downstream molecular cascades which are involved in the proliferation of PASMCs are still unclear. In this study, adult male Wistar rats were exposed to chronic hypoxia and PASMCs were cultured in hypoxic condition. Significant upregulation of (1A)-AR was identified by Western blot analysis or immunofluorescence in all of the pulmonary arteries, lung tissues, and cell hypoxic models. Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were applied to detect the roles of (1A)-AR in NE mediated proliferation of PASMCs. We revealed 5-methylurapidil (5-MU) reversed NE-induced upregulation of PCNA, CyclinA and CyclinE, more cells from G(0)/G(1) phase to G(2)/M+S phase, enhancement of the microtubule formation. In addition, we found calcium/calmodulin(CaM)-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII) pathway was involved in (1A)-AR-mediated cell proliferation. [Ca2+](i) measurements showed that an increase of [Ca2+](i) caused by NE or/and hypoxia could be blocked by 5-MU in PASMCs. Western blot analysis results demonstrated the augmentation of CaMKII phosphorylation level was caused by hypoxia or NE in pulmonary arteries, lung tissues, and PASMCs. KN62 attenuated NE-induced proliferation of PASMCs under normoxia and hypoxia. In conclusion, those results suggested NE which stimulated (1A)-AR-mediated the proliferation of PASMCs, which may be via the CaMKII pathway, and it could be used as a novel treatment strategy in PAH.