cGMP antagonizes angiotensin-mediated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis and C kinase activation in mesangial cells

Abstract

Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that in cultured rat mesangial cells (MC), angiotensin II (ANG II) mediates its effects via activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and phospholipase D (PC-PLD). In addition, guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-elevating maneuvers that stimulate particulate and soluble guanylate cyclase [atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively] antagonize ANG II-mediated PI-PLC activation. The current study explored whether cGMP impairs ANG II-mediated PC-PLC and PLD activity. The ANG II-stimulated release of the water-soluble metabolites of PC breakdown (phosphorylcholine and choline) was blocked by ANF and SNP. ANG II-stimulated phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylethanol formation were significantly reduced by ANF and SNP, confirming that cGMP blunted PLD activity. The inhibitory effect of cGMP on PLD could be reversed by N-(2-[methylamino]ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide, a blocker of cGMP-dependent protein kinase. In parallel experiments, ANF and SNP abrogated sustained diacylglycerol (DAG) accumulation derived from ANG II stimulation of PC hydrolysis, confirming that cGMP diminished PC-PLC activity. Inhibition of PC-derived DAG accumulation by cGMP was associated with a concomitant decrement in ANG II-mediated translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity from the cytosol to the membrane. In summary, in MC, cGMP antagonizes ANG II-mediated PC hydrolysis, DAG formation, and PKC activation. We propose that cGMP-mediated inhibition of phospholipid metabolism and PKC translocation plays an important role in MC vasorelaxation.