A-kinase anchoring proteins regulate compartmentalized cAMP signaling in airway smooth muscle

A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) have emerged as important regulatory molecules that can compartmentalize cAMP signaling transduced by beta 2-adrenergic receptors (beta(2)ARs); such compartmentalization ensures speed and fidelity of cAMP signaling and effects on cell function. This study aimed to assess the role of AKAPs in regulating global and compartmentalized beta(2)AR signaling in human airway smooth muscle (ASM). Transcriptome and proteomic analyses were used to characterize AKAP expression in ASM. Stable expression or injection of peptides AKAP-IS or Ht31 was used to disrupt AKAP-PKA interactions, and global and compartmentalized cAMP accumulation stimulated by beta-agonist was assessed by radioimmunoassay and membrane-delineated flow through cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, respectively. ASM expresses multiple AKAP family members, with gravin and ezrin among the most readily detected. AKAP-PKA disruption had minimal effects on whole-cell cAMP accumulation stimulated by beta-agonist (EC50 and B-max) concentrations, but significantly increased the duration of plasma membrane-delineated cAMP (tau=251 +/- 51 s for scrambled peptide control vs. 399 +/- 79 s for Ht31). Direct PKA inhibition eliminated decay of membrane-delineated cAMP levels. AKAPs coordinate compartmentalized cAMP signaling in ASM cells by regulating multiple elements of beta(2)AR-mediated cAMP accumulation, thereby representing a novel target for manipulating beta 2AR signaling and function in ASM.-Horvat, S. J., Deshpande, D. A., Yan, H., Panettieri, R. A., Codina, J., DuBose Jr., T. D., Xin, W., Rich, T. C., Penn, R. B. A-kinase anchoring proteins regulate compartmentalized cAMP signaling in airway smooth muscle. FASEB J. 26, 3670-3679 (2012). www.fasebj.org