Desensitization of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by receptor agonists

Stimulation of endothelial cells with receptor agonists leads to an activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) that only lasts for a short duration. A more prolonged effect, however, is observed in response to non-receptor agonists, such as Ca²⁺ ionophores or thapsigargin (TG). To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid deactivation of eNOS after stimulation with receptor agonists, we measured the time courses of eNOS activation and intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in response to bradykinin (BK) and ATP. Incubation of porcine aortic endothelial cells with BK (1μM) in the presence of 3mM extracellular Ca²⁺ increased [Ca²⁺]_i from 110 to 350nM and enhanced the rate of l-[³H]citrulline formation from 0.1 to 5fmol/min. In the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, the BK-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_i was only marginal (from 30 to 110nM) and not sufficient to activate eNOS. When Ca²⁺ (final concentration 3mM) was added 10min after BK, [Ca²⁺]_i increased to 330nM within 3min, but interestingly, formation of l-[³H]citrulline was not detectable. A similar phenomenon was observed with ATP, but not with Ca²⁺ ionophores or TG. This indicates that stimulation of endothelial cells with receptor agonists leads to desensitization of eNOS, which renders the enzyme insensitive to activation by subsequent increases in [Ca²⁺]_i. However, when ATP was added to BK-pretreated cells or, conversely, BK to ATP-pretreated cells, activation of eNOS was comparable with that of untreated cells, suggesting that BK and ATP affect different pools of eNOS. The desensitization of eNOS was reversible, since removal of ATP or BK from the incubation buffer restored the response to the respective agonist within 20min. In addition to the transient Ca²⁺ signal, desensitization of eNOS may represent a further mechanism by which endothelial cells rapidly terminate receptor-dependent NO formation.