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KEY POINTS LRRC8A-containing anion channels associate with NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) and regulate superoxide production and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) signalling. Here we show that LRRC8C and 8D also co-immunoprecipitate with Nox1 in vascular smooth muscle cells. LRRC8C knockdown inhibited TNFα-induced O2•- production, receptor endocytosis, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and proliferation while LRRC8D knockdown enhanced NF-κB activation. Significant changes in LRRC8 isoform expression in human atherosclerosis and psoriasis suggest compensation for increased inflammation. The oxidant chloramine-T (ChlorT, 1 mM) weakly (∼25%) inhibited LRRC8C currents but potently (∼80%) inhibited LRRC8D currents. Substitution of the extracellular loop (EL1, EL2) domains of 8D into 8C conferred significantly stronger (69%) ChlorT-dependent inhibition. ChlorT exposure impaired subsequent current block by DCPIB, which occurs through interaction with EL1, further implicating external oxidation sites. LRRC8A/C channels most effectively sustain Nox1 activity at the plasma membrane. This may result from their ability to remain active in an oxidized microenvironment. ABSTRACT Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) activates NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), producing superoxide (O2•- ) required for subsequent signalling. LRRC8 family proteins A-E comprise volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs). The required subunit LRRC8A physically associates with Nox1, and VRAC activity is required for Nox activity and the inflammatory response to TNFα. VRAC currents are modulated by oxidants, suggesting that channel oxidant sensitivity and proximity to Nox1 may play a physiologically relevant role. In VSMCs, LRRC8C knockdown (siRNA) recapitulated the effects of siLRRC8A, inhibiting TNFα-induced extracellular and endosomal O2•- production, receptor endocytosis, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and proliferation. In contrast, siLRRC8D potentiated NF-κB activation. Nox1 co-immunoprecipitated with 8C and 8D, and colocalized with 8D at the plasma membrane and in vesicles. We compared VRAC currents mediated by homomeric and heteromeric LRRC8C and LRRC8D channels expressed in HEK293 cells. The oxidant chloramine T (ChlorT, 1 mM) weakly inhibited 8C, but potently inhibited 8D currents. ChlorT exposure also impaired subsequent current block by the VRAC blocker DCPIB, implicating external sites of oxidation. Substitution of the 8D extracellular loop domains (EL1, EL2) into 8C conferred significantly stronger ChlorT-mediated inhibition of 8C currents. Our results suggest that LRRC8A/C channel activity can be effectively maintained in the oxidized microenvironment expected to result from Nox1 activation at the plasma membrane. Increased ratios of 8D:8C expression may potentially depress inflammatory responses to TNFα. LRRC8A/C channel downregulation represents a novel strategy to reduce TNFα-induced inflammation.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) activates NADPH Oxidase 1 (Nox1) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), producing superoxide (O2•-) required for subsequent signaling. LRRC8 family proteins A-E comprise volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs). The required subunit LRRC8A physically associates with Nox1, and VRAC activity is required for Nox activity and the inflammatory response to TNFα. LRRC8 channel currents are modulated by oxidants, suggesting that oxidant sensitivity and proximity to Nox1 may play a physiologically relevant role. In VSMCs, LRRC8C knockdown (siRNA) recapitulated the effects of siLRRC8A, inhibiting TNFα-induced extracellular and endosomal O2•- production, receptor endocytosis, NF-κB activation, and proliferation. In contrast, siLRRC8D potentiated NF-κB activation. Nox1 co-immunoprecipitated with 8C and 8D, and co-localized with 8D at the plasma membrane and in vesicles. We compared VRAC currents mediated by homomeric and heteromeric 8C and 8D channels expressed in HEK293 cells. The oxidant chloramine T (ChlorT, 1 mM) weakly inhibited LRRC8C, but potently inhibited 8D currents. ChlorT exposure also greatly reduced subsequent current block by DCPIB, implicating external sites of oxidation. Substitution of the extracellular loop domains (EL1, EL2) of 8D onto 8C conferred significantly stronger ChlorT-dependent inhibition. 8A/C channel activity is thus more effectively maintained in the oxidized microenvironment expected to result from Nox1 activation at the plasma membrane. Increased ratios of 8D:8C expression may potentially depress inflammatory responses to TNFα. LRRC8A/C channel downregulation represents a novel strategy to reduce TNFα-induced inflammation.Key PointsLRRC8A-containing anion channels associate with Nox1 and regulate superoxide production and TNFα signaling. Here we show that .LRRC8C and 8D also co-immunoprecipitate with Nox1 in vascular smooth muscle cells.LRRC8C knockdown inhibited TNFα-induced O2•- production, receptor endocytosis, NF-κB activation, and proliferation while LRRC8D knockdown enhanced NF-κB activation. Significant changes in LRRC8 isoform expression in human atherosclerosis and psoriasis suggest compensation for increased inflammation.The oxidant chloramine-T (ChlorT, 1 mM) weakly (∼25%) inhibited 8C currents but potently (∼80%) inhibited 8D currents. Substitution of the two extracellular loop (EL) domains of 8D onto 8C conferred significantly stronger ChlorT-dependent inhibition.ChlorT also impaired current block by DCPIB, which occurs through interaction with EL1, further implicating external sites of oxidation.8A/C channels most effectively maintain activity in an oxidized microenvironment, as is expected to result from Nox1 activity at the plasma membrane.

RATIONALE: Precise regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is critical for normal brain function. Insufficient CBF contributes to brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Carbon dioxide (CO(2)), via effects on local acidosis, is one of the most potent regulators of CBF. Although a role for nitric oxide (NO) in intermediate signaling has been implicated, mechanisms that initiate CO(2) induced-vasodilation remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: Acid-sensing ion channel-1A (ASIC1A) is a proton-gated cation channel that is activated by extracellular acidosis. Based on work which implicated ASIC1A in the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in CO(2)-evoked and acid-evoked behaviors, we hypothesized that ASIC1A might also mediate microvascular responses to CO(2). METHODS AND RESULTS: To test this hypothesis we genetically and pharmacologically manipulated ASIC1A and assessed effects on CO(2)-induced dilation of cerebral arterioles in vivo. Effects of inhalation of 5 or 10% CO(2) on arteriolar diameter were greatly attenuated in mice with global deficiency in ASIC1A (Asic1a(−/−)) or by local treatment with the ASIC inhibitor, psalmotoxin. Vasodilator effects of acetylcholine, which acts via endothelial NO synthase were unaffected, suggesting a non-vascular source of NO may be key for CO(2) responses. Thus, we tested whether neurons may be the cell type through which ASIC1A influences microvessels. Using mice in which Asic1a was specifically disrupted in neurons, we found effects of CO(2) on arteriolar diameter were also attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data are consistent with a model wherein activation of ASIC1A, particularly in neurons, is critical for CO(2)-induced NO production and vasodilation. With these findings, ASIC1A emerges as major regulator of microvascular tone.

Leucine Rich Repeat Containing 8A (LRRC8A) is a required component of volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs). In vascular smooth muscle cells, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) activates VRAC via type 1 TNFα receptors (TNFR1), and this requires superoxide (O2•−) production by NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1). VRAC inhibitors suppress the inflammatory response to TNFα by an unknown mechanism. We hypothesized that LRRC8A directly supports Nox1 activity, providing a link between VRAC current and inflammatory signaling. VRAC inhibition by 4-(2-butyl-6,7-dichlor-2-cyclopentylindan-1-on-5-yl) oxobutyric acid (DCPIB) impaired NF-κB activation by TNFα. LRRC8A siRNA reduced the magnitude of VRAC and inhibited TNFα-induced NF-κB activation, iNOS and VCAM expression, and proliferation of VSMCs. Signaling steps disrupted by both siLRRC8A and DCPIB included; extracellular O2•− production by Nox1, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation and endocytosis of TNFR1. Extracellular superoxide dismutase, but not catalase, selectively inhibited TNFR1 endocytosis and JNK phosphorylation. Thus, O2•− is the critical extracellular oxidant for TNFR signal transduction. Reducing JNK expression (siJNK) increased extracellular O2•− suggesting that JNK provides important negative feedback regulation to Nox1 at the plasma membrane. LRRC8A co-localized by immunostaining, and co-immunoprecipitated with, both Nox1 and its p22phox subunit. LRRC8A is a component of the Nox1 signaling complex. It is required for extracellular O2•− production, which is in turn essential for TNFR1 endocytosis. These data are the first to provide a molecular mechanism for the potent anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of VRAC inhibition.

Prior exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produces a reduced or “tolerant” inflammatory response to subsequent challenges with LPS, however the potent pro-inflammatory effects of LPS limit its clinical benefit. The adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) is a weak toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist that induces negligible inflammation but retains potent immunomodulatory properties. We postulated that pre-treatment with MPLA would inhibit the inflammatory response of endothelial cells to secondary LPS challenge. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), were exposed to MPLA (10 μg/ml), LPS (100 ng/ml) or vehicle control. HUVECs were then washed and maintained in culture for 24 h before being challenged with LPS (100 ng/ml). Supernatants were collected and examined for cytokine production in the presence or absence of siRNA inhibitors of critical TLR4 signalling proteins. Pre-treatment with MPLA attenuated interleukin (IL)-6 production to secondary LPS challenge to a similar degree as LPS. The application of myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) siRNA dramatically reduced MPLA-induced tolerance while TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) siRNA had no effect. The tolerant phenotype in endothelial cells was associated with reduced IκB kinase (IKK), p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation and enhanced IL-1 receptor associated kinase-M (IRAK-M) expression for LPS-primed HUVECs, but less so in MPLA primed cells. Instead, MPLA-primed HUVECs demonstrated enhanced p-extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. In contrast with leucocytes in which tolerance is largely TRIF-dependent, MyD88 signalling mediated endotoxin tolerance in endothelial cells. Most importantly, MPLA, a vaccine adjuvant with a wide therapeutic window, induced tolerance to LPS in endothelial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), a proinflammatory cytokine, causes vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration and promotes inflammatory vascular lesions. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation by TNFα requires endosomal superoxide production by Nox1. In endothelial cells, TNFα stimulates c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which inhibits NF-κB signaling. The mechanism by which JNK negatively regulates TNFα-induced NF-κB activation has not been defined. We hypothesized that JNK modulates NF-κB activation in VSMC, and does so via a Nox1-dependent mechanism. TNFα-induced NF-κB activation was TNFR1- and endocytosis-dependent. Inhibition of endocytosis with dominant-negative dynamin (DynK44A) potentiated TNFα-induced JNK activation, but decreased ERK activation, while p38 kinase phosphorylation was not altered. DynK44A attenuated intracellular, endosomal superoxide production in wild-type (WT) VSMC, but not in NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) knockout (KO) cells. siRNA targeting JNK1 or JNK2 potentiated, while a JNK activator (anisomycin) inhibited, TNFα-induced NF-κB activation in WT, but not in Nox1 KO cells. TNFα-stimulated superoxide generation was enhanced by JNK1 inhibition in WT, but not in Nox1 KO VSMC. These data suggest that JNK suppresses the inflammatory response to TNFα by reducing Nox1-dependent endosomal ROS production. JNK and endosomal superoxide may represent novel targets for pharmacologic modulation of TNFα signaling and vascular inflammation.

Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by changes in eNOS, is a common finding in chronic inflammatory vascular diseases. These states are associated with increased infectious complications. We hypothesized that alterations in eNOS would enhance the response to LPS-mediated TLR4 inflammation. Human microvascular endothelial cells were treated with sepiapterin or N-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) to alter endogenous NO production, and small interfering RNA to knockdown eNOS. Alterations of endogenous NO by sepiapterin, and L-NAME provided no significant changes to LPS inflammation. In contrast, eNOS knockdown greatly enhanced endothelial IL-6 production and permeability in response to LPS. Knockdown of eNOS enhanced LPS-induced p38. Inhibition of p38 with SB203580 prevented IL-6 production, without altering permeability. Knockdown of p38 impaired NF-κB activation. Physical interaction between p38 and eNOS was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation, suggesting a novel, NO-independent mechanism for eNOS regulation of TLR4. In correlation, biopsy samples in patients with systemic lupus erythematous showed reduced eNOS expression with associated elevations in TLR4 and p38, suggesting an in vivo link. Thus, reduced expression of eNOS, as seen in chronic inflammatory disease, was associated with enhanced TLR4 signaling through p38. This may enhance the response to infection in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions.-Stark, R. J., Koch, S. R., Choi, H., Mace, E. H., Dikalov, S. I., Sherwood, E. R., Lamb, F. S. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase modulates Toll-like receptor 4-mediated IL-6 production and permeability via nitric oxide-independent signaling.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is an enzyme that detoxifies aldehydes to carboxylic acids. ALDH2 deficiency is known to increase oxidative stress, which is the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and antioxidant defense activity. Increased ROS contribute to vascular dysfunction and structural remodeling in hypertension. We hypothesized that ALDH2 plays a protective role to reduce vascular contraction in angiotensin-II (AngII) hypertensive mice. Endothelium-denuded aortic rings from C57BL6 mice, treated with AngII (3.6 μg/kg/min, 14 days), were used to measure isometric force development. Rings treated with daidzin (10 μmol/L), an ALDH2 inhibitor, potentiated contractile responses to phenylephrine (PE) in AngII mice. Tempol (1 mmol/L) and catalase (600 U/mL) attenuated the augmented contractile effect of daidzin. In normotensive mice, contraction to PE in the presence of the daidzin was not different from control, untreated values. AngII aortic rings transfected with ALDH2 recombinant protein decreased contractile responses to PE compared with control. These data suggest that ALDH2 reduces vascular contraction in AngII hypertensive mice. Because tempol and catalase blocked the contractile response of the ALDH2 inhibitor, ROS generation by AngII may be decreased by ALDH2, thereby preventing ROS-induced contraction.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that causes endothelial dysfunction. Endocytosis of TNF-α receptors (TNFR) precedes endosomal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which is required for NF-κB activation in vascular smooth muscle cells. It is unknown how endocytosis of TNFRs impacts signaling in endothelial cells. We hypothesized that TNF-α-induced endothelial dysfunction is induced by both endosomal and cell surface events, including NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation, and endocytosis of the TNFR modifies signaling. Mesenteric artery segments from C57BL/6 mice were treated with TNF-α (10 ng/ml) for 22 h in tissue culture, with or without signaling inhibitors (dynasore for endocytosis, SP600125 for JNK, SB203580 for p38, U0126 for ERK), and vascular function was assessed. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) was impaired by TNF-α, and dynasore exacerbated this, whereas JNK or p38 inhibition prevented these effects. In cultured endothelial cells from murine mesenteric arteries, dynasore potentiated JNK and p38 but not ERK phosphorylation and promoted cell death. NF-κB activation by TNF-α was decreased by dynasore. JNK inhibition dramatically increased both the magnitude and duration of TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation and potentiated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) activation. Dynasore still inhibited NF-κB activation in the presence of SP600125. Thus TNF-α-induced endothelial dysfunction is both JNK and p38 dependent. Endocytosis modulates the balance of NF-κB and MAPK signaling, and inhibition of NF-κB activation by JNK limits this pro-proliferative signal, which may contribute to endothelial cell death in response to TNF-α.

O-GlcNAcylation is an unusual form of protein glycosylation, where a single-sugar [GlcNAc (N-acetylglucosamine)] is added (via β-attachment) to the hydroxyl moiety of serine and threonine residues of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. A complex and extensive interplay exists between O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation. Many phosphorylation sites are also known glycosylation sites, and this reciprocal occupancy may produce different activities or alter the stability in a target protein. The interplay between these two post-translational modifications is not always reciprocal, as some proteins can be concomitantly phosphorylated and O-GlcNAcylated, and the adjacent phosphorylation or O-GlcNAcylation can regulate the addition of either moiety. Increased cardiovascular production of ROS (reactive oxygen species), termed oxidative stress, has been consistently reported in various chronic diseases and in conditions where O-GlcNAcylation has been implicated as a contributing mechanism for the associated organ injury/protection (for example, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, arterial hypertension, aging and ischaemia). In the present review, we will briefly comment on general aspects of O-GlcNAcylation and provide an overview of what has been reported for this post-translational modification in the cardiovascular system. We will then specifically address whether signalling molecules involved in redox signalling can be modified by O-GlcNAc (O-linked GlcNAc) and will discuss the critical interplay between O-GlcNAcylation and ROS generation. Experimental evidence indicates that the interactions between O-GlcNAcylation and oxidation of proteins are important not only for cell regulation in physiological conditions, but also under pathological states where the interplay may become dysfunctional and thereby exacerbate cellular injury.

Vascular dysfunction, including reduced endothelium-dependent dilation, is a major characteristic of hypertension. We previously investigated that thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibition impairs vasodilation via soluble guanylyl cyclase S-nitrosylation, but S-nitrosylation and TrxR function are not known in hypertension. We hypothesized that S-nitrosylation is associated with reduced vasodilation in hypertensive mice.Aortic rings from normotensive (sham) and angiotensin II (AngII)-induced hypertensive C57BL/6 mice were treated with a TrxR inhibitor, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) for 30 min, and relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) was measured in the rings following contraction with phenylephrine.DCNB reduced relaxation to ACh compared with vehicle in sham aorta but not in AngII (sham-vehicle E(max) = 77 ± 2, sham-DNCB E(max) = 59 ± 4, P 0.05). DNCB shifted the concentration-response relaxation to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) to the right in both sham and AngII aortic rings (sham-vehicle pD(2) = 8.8±0.1, sham-DNCB pD(2) = 8.4±0.1, *P 0.05; AngII-vehicle pD(2) = 8.5±0.1, AngII-DNCB pD(2) = 8.3 ± 0.1, P 0.05). As downstream signaling of nitric oxide, cyclic GMP level was reduced by DNCB during activation with SNP. The effect of DNCB to increase S-nitrosylation was confirmed by the biotin-switch method and western blot analysis, and total protein S-nitrosylation was increased in AngII aorta (1.5-fold) compared with sham. TrxR activity was inhibited in AngII aorta compared with sham.We conclude that increased S-nitrosylation contributes to impaired relaxation in aorta from AngII-induced hypertensive mice. AngII treatment resulted in inactivation of TrxR and increased S-nitrosylation, indicating that TrxR and S-nitrosylation may provide a critical mechanism in hypertension associated with abnormal vascular reactivity.

Oxidative stress is well known to lead to vascular dysfunction. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) catalyzes the reduction of oxidized thioredoxin. Reduced thioredoxin plays a role in cellular antioxidative defense and in decreasing S-nitrosylation. It is not known whether TrxR affects vascular reactivity. We hypothesized that TrxR inhibition decreases vascular relaxation via increased oxidative stress and S-nitrosylation. Aortic rings from C57BL/6 mice were treated with the TrxR inhibitor, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), or auranofin for 30 minutes. Vascular relaxation to acetylcholine was measured in the rings contracted with phenylephrine. DNCB and auranofin reduced relaxation compared with vehicle (vehicle Emax = 71 ± 3%, DNCB Emax = 53 ± 3%; P < 0.05). The antioxidants, apocynin (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase inhibitor), and tempol (superoxide dismutase mimetic) normalized impaired relaxation by DNCB in aorta (DNCB Emax = 53 ± 3%, DNCB + tempol Emax = 66 ± 3%; P < 0.05). In addition, DNCB reduced sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation. DNCB increased soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) S-nitrosylation and decreased sGC activity. These data suggest that TrxR regulates vascular relaxation via antioxidant defense and sGC S-nitrosylation. TrxR may be an enzyme to approach for treatment of vascular dysfunction and arterial hypertension.

S-Nitrosylation is a ubiquitous protein modification in redox-based signaling and forms S-nitrosothiol (SNO) from nitric oxide (NO) on cysteine residues. Dysregulation of (S)NO signaling (nitrosative stress) leads to impairment of cellular function. Protein kinase C (PKC) is an important signaling protein that plays a role in the regulation of vascular function and it is not known whether (S)NO affects PKC’s role in vascular reactivity. We hypothesized that S-nitrosylation of PKC in vascular smooth muscle would inhibit its contractile activity. Aortic rings from male C57BL6 mice were treated with auranofin or 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) as pharmacological tools, which lead to stabilize S-nitrosylation, and propylamine propylamine NONOate (PANOate) or S-nitrosocysteine (CysNO) as NO donors. Contractile responses of aorta to phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a PKC activator, were attenuated by auranofin, DNCB, PANOate, and CysNO. S-Nitrosylation of PKCα was increased by auranofin or DNCB and CysNO as compared to control protein. Augmented S-nitrosylation inhibited PKCα activity and subsequently downstream signal transduction. These data suggest that PKC is inactivated by S-nitrosylation and this modification inhibits PKC-dependent contractile responses. Since S-nitrosylation of PKC inhibits phosphorylation and activation of target proteins related to contraction, this post-translational modification may be a key player in conditions of decreased vascular reactivity.