Hyperglycemia-impaired aortic vasorelaxation mediated through arginase elevation: Role of stress kinase pathways

Diabetes-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction has been reported to involve hyperglycemia-induced increases in arginase activity. However, upstream mediators of this effect are not clear. Here, we have tested involvement of Rho kinase, ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways in this process. Studies were performed with aortas isolated from wild type or hemizygous arginase 1 knockout (Arg1^+/-) mice and bovine aortic endothelial cells exposed to high glucose (HG, 25 mmol/l) or normal glucose (NG, 5.5 mmol/l) conditions for different times. Effects of inhibitors of arginase, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 or ROCK and ex vivo adenoviral delivery of active Arg1 and inactive (D128-Arg1) cDNA were also determined. Exposure in wild type aorta or endothelial cells to HG significantly increased arginase activity and Arg1 expression and impaired aortic relaxation. Transduction of wild type aorta with active Arg1 cDNA impaired vascular relaxation, whereas inactive Arg1 had no effect. The HG-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction was associated with increased phosphorylation (activation) of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK. Pretreatment with inhibitors of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, ROCK or arginase blocked HG-induced elevation of arginase activity and Arg1 expression and prevented the vascular dysfunction. Inhibition of ROCK blunted the HG-induced activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK. In summary, activated ROCK and subsequent activation of ERK1/2 or p38 MAPK elevates arginase activity and Arg1 expression in hyperglycemic states. Targeting this pathway may provide an effective means for preventing diabetes/hyperglycemia-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction.