M3 receptor modulates extracellular matrix synthesis via ERK1/2 signaling pathway in human bladder smooth muscle cells

Extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation plays a key role in the progression of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Muscarinic receptors have been widely reported to serve as pivotal regulators in lung tissue remodeling. However, the influence of them on human bladder smooth muscle cells (HBSMCs) and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been evaluated. The purposes of the present study are to investigate the effect of muscarinic receptors on the synthesis of ECM in HBSMCs and the involvement of intracellular signal transducers. The results indicated that M-1-M-5 muscarinic receptors were all encoded in HBSMCs. The expression rank order was M-2 > M-1 > M-5 > M-3 > M-4. The gene and protein expression of collagen I (COL1), TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 was carbachol (CCH) concentration-dependently enhanced. The synthesis of COL1 in the supernatant of cell culture medium was significantly elevated by exposure to CCH. The CCH-induced protein expression of COL1, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, however, was obviously reduced by the pretreatment of muscarinic receptor antagonists, atropine, and M-3-preferring antagonist (1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenyl-acetoxypiperidinium iodide [4-DAMP]). Furthermore, ERK1/2 was activated by 100 mu M CCH when compared with the control group and the pretreatment of ERK1/2 inhibitor significantly suppressed the synthesis of COL1 induced by 100 mu M CCH. Besides, CCH-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was remarkably restrained by the pretreatment of 4-DAMP. All in all, these findings demonstrated that M-3 receptor can modulate extracellular matrix synthesis via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which may provide potential novel therapeutic targets for BOO.