cAMP inhibits modulation of airway smooth muscle phenotype via the exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) and protein kinase A

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Changes in airway smooth muscle (ASM) phenotype may contribute to the pathogenesis of airway disease. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) switches ASM from a contractile to a proliferative, hypo-contractile phenotype, a process requiring activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p70S6 Kinase (p70S6K). The effects of cAMP-elevating agents on these processes is unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of cAMP elevation by prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) and the activation of the cAMP effectors, protein kinase A (PKA) and exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) on PDGF-induced phenotype switching in bovine tracheal smooth muscle (BTSM). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of long-term treatment with the PGE(2) analogue 16,16-dimethyl-PGE(2), the selective Epac activator, 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP and the selective PKA activator, 6-Bnz-cAMP were assessed on the induction of a hypo-contractile, proliferative BTSM phenotype and on activation of ERK and p70S6K, both induced by PDGF. KEY RESULTS Treatment with 16,16-dimethyl-PGE(2) inhibited PDGF-induced proliferation of BTSM cells and maintained BTSM strip contractility and contractile protein expression in the presence of PDGF. Activation of both Epac and PKA similarly prevented PDGF-induced phenotype switching and PDGF-induced activation of ERK. Interestingly, only PKA activation resulted in inhibition of PDGF-induced phosphorylation of p70S6K. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our data indicate for the first time that both Epac and PKA regulated switching of ASM phenotype via differential inhibition of ERK and p70S6K pathways. These findings suggest that cAMP elevation may be beneficial in the treatment of long-term changes in airway disease.