Stimulation of G-protein coupled receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells induces tyrosine kinase dependent increases in calcium without tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma-1.

It is often believed that increases in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) resulting from stimulation of G-protein coupled receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) require activation of the beta1 isoform of phospholipase C (PLC). However, recent studies showed that rat aortic VSMC do not express PLC beta-1 and that stimulation with angiotensin-II induces tyrosine kinase dependent increases in [Ca2+]i and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma-1. Whether this pathway is activated by other vasoactive agents that stimulate G-protein coupled receptors is unknown. Here, we show that A10 VSMC express PLC beta-2, PLC beta-3, PLC delta-1, and PLC gamma-1. The cells also expressed Galpha(q/11). However, neither PLC beta-1 nor PLC beta-4 was detected. Stimulation with angiotensin-II, vasopressin, serotonin, or endothelin induced tyrosine kinase dependent increases in [Ca2+]i. However, tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma-1 did not occur. In contrast, stimulation with platelet derived growth factor increased [Ca2+]i and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma-1. The results show that tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma-1 is not required for tyrosine kinase dependent increases in [Ca2+]i resulting from stimulation of diverse G-protein coupled receptors in VSMC.