Towards an Understanding of the Mechanism of Action of Cyclic AMP and Cyclic GMP in Smooth Muscle Relaxation
- 1 January 1991
- journal article
- review article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Journal of Vascular Research
- Vol. 28 (1-3) , 129-137
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000158852
Abstract
Cyclic GMP (cGMP) mediates the relaxing action of a variety of vasodilator drugs and endogenous vasodilator substances. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) mediates relaxation by β-adrenergic agonists as well as other activators of adenylate cyclase. Both second messengers appear to reduce the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ in vascular smooth muscle cells, thus affecting relaxation. The presence of cGMP-dependent protein kinase in vascular smooth muscle cells is required for the reduction of Ca2+ by cAMP and cGMP, suggesting that this enzyme mediates the relaxing effects of both cyclic nucleotides. Although the specific substrate proteins for cGMP-dependent protein kinase are not well characterized in vascular smooth muscle, new evidence indicates that Ca2+-ATPase activation by phosphorylation of phospholamban by the kinase may underlie the mechanism of action of cyclic-nucleotide-dependent relaxation.Keywords
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