Orthovanadate-induced vasocontraction is mediated by the activation of Rho-kinase through Src-dependent transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor

Orthovanadate (OVA), a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) inhibitor, exerts contractile effects on smooth muscle in a Rho-kinase-dependent manner, but the precise mechanisms are not elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the potential roles of Src and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the OVA-induced contraction of rat aortas and the phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1; an index of Rho-kinase activity) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Aortic contraction by OVA was significantly blocked not only by Rho kinase inhibitors Y-27632 [R-[+]-trans-N-[4-pyridyl]-4-[1-aminoethyl]-cyclohexanecarboxamide] and hydroxyfasudil [1-(1-hydroxy-5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)homopiperazine] but also by Src inhibitors PP2 [4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(t-butyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine] and Src inhibitor No. 5 [4-(3'-methoxy-6'-chloro-anilino)-6-methoxy-7(morpholino-3-propoxy)-quinazoline], and the EGFR inhibitors AG1478 [4-(3-chloroanilino)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline] and EGFR inhibitor 1 [cyclopropanecarboxylic acid-(3-(6-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenylamino)-pyrimidin-4-ylamino)-phenyl)-amide]. OVA induced rapid increases in the phosphorylation of MYPT1 (Thr-853), Src (Tyr-416), and EGFR (Tyr-1173) in VSMCs, and Src inhibitors abolished these effects. OVA-induced Src phosphorylation was abrogated by Src inhibitors, but not affected by inhibitors of EGFR and Rho-kinase. Inhibitors of Src and EGFR, but not Rho-kinase, also blocked OVA-induced EGFR phosphorylation. Furthermore, a metalloproteinase inhibitor TAPI-0 [N-(R)-[2-(hydroxyaminocarbonyl) methyl]-4-methylpentanoyl-l-naphthylalanyl-l-alanine amide] and an inhibitor of heparin-binding EGF (CRM 197) not only abrogated the OVA-induced aortic contraction, but also OVA-induced EGFR and MYPT1 phosphorylation, suggesting the involvement of EGFR transactivation. OVA also induced EGFR phosphorylation at Tyr-845, one of residues phosphorylated by Src. These results suggest that OVA-induced vasocontraction is mediated by the Rho-kinase-dependent inactivation of myosin light-chain phosphatase via signaling downstream of Src-induced transactivation of EGFR.