Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II plays a major role in halothane-induced dose-dependent relaxation in the skinned pulmonary artery.

BACKGROUND Previously, the authors have shown in Ca(2+)-clamped skinned arterial strips that protein kinase C (PKC) plays a role in 3% halothane- or isoflurane-increased force. PKC in the pulmonary artery and Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the femoral artery have been implicated in isoflurane-induced relaxation. For this study, the authors used clinical concentrations of halothane to examine the role of PKC and CaMKII in the halothane-induced biphasic effect on contraction in skinned pulmonary arterial strips. METHODS Rabbit pulmonary arterial strips were mounted on force transducers and treated with saponin to make the sarcolemma permeable ("skinning"). Skinned strips were activated by low Ca(2+) (pCa 6.3) buffered with 7 mm EGTA, or the PKC activator phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu, 1 microm) until force reached a steady state (control). Halothane (1, 2, and 3%) was administered, and the force was observed at peak and 15 min (test results). Ca(2+) ionophore (A23187, 10 microm) and inhibitors were preincubated in a relaxing solution and present in subsequent contracting solutions. Inhibitors were bisindolylmaleimide and Gö6976 for PKC, and KN-93 and the inhibitor protein (CKIINtide) for CaMKII. RESULTS Halothane (1-3%) dose-dependently caused an initial increase (18-35%) and a subsequent decrease (48-68%) in pCa 6.3-induced force. Bisindolylmaleimide, 3 and 10 microm, completely blocked the increase in force at 2% and 3% halothane, respectively. CKIINtide, 0.1 microm, reduced the force at 3% halothane. The decrease in force at 1% and 2% halothane was partially prevented by 0.01 microm bisindolylmaleimide, and at 1, 2, and 3% halothane by 0.01, 0.1, and 1 microm CKIINtide, respectively. At 3% halothane, the increased force was abolished by A23187. In PDBu-induced force, 3% halothane-induced relaxation was also partially prevented by lower concentrations of KN-93 and CKIINtide. CONCLUSIONS In skinned pulmonary arterial strips, the dose-dependent increase in force by halothane is associated with PKC activation, and that of decrease is associated with CaMKII activation.