Pericyte‐specific expression of Rgs5: implications for PDGF and EDG receptor signaling during vascular maturation

H Cho, T Kozasa, C Bondjers, C Betsholtz… - The FASEB …, 2003 - Wiley Online Library
H Cho, T Kozasa, C Bondjers, C Betsholtz, JH Kehrl
The FASEB Journal, 2003Wiley Online Library
RGS proteins finely tune heterotrimeric G‐protein signaling. Implying the need for such fine‐
tuning in the developing vascular system, in situ hybridization revealed a striking and
extensive expression pattern of Rgs5 in the arterial walls of E12. 5–E17. 5 mouse embryos.
The distribution and location of the Rgs5‐positive cells typified that of pericytes and strikingly
overlapped the known expression pattern of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor
(PDGFR)‐β. Both E14. 5 PDGFR‐β‐and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐B‐deficient …
RGS proteins finely tune heterotrimeric G‐protein signaling. Implying the need for such fine‐tuning in the developing vascular system, in situ hybridization revealed a striking and extensive expression pattern of Rgs5 in the arterial walls of E12.5–E17.5 mouse embryos. The distribution and location of the Rgs5‐positive cells typified that of pericytes and strikingly overlapped the known expression pattern of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)‐β. Both E14.5 PDGFR‐β‐ and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐B‐deficient mice exhibited markedly reduced levels of Rgs5 in their vascular plexa and small arteries. This likely reflects the loss of pericytes in the mutant mice. RGS5 acts as a potent GTPase activating protein for Giα and Gqα and it attenuated angiotensin II‐, endothelin‐1‐, sphingosine‐1‐phosphate‐, and PDGF‐induced ERK‐2 phosphorylation. Together these results indicate that RGS5 exerts control over PDGFR‐β and GPCR‐mediated signaling pathways active during fetal vascular maturation.
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