Lysophosphatidylcholine causes cGMP-dependent verapamil-sensitive Ca2+ influx in vascular smooth muscle cells

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) is a vasoactive phospholipid present in oxidized low-density lipoprotein. We used a coculture model of the vascular wall to study its interaction with endothelial cells (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Lyso-PC was taken up readily by SMC and gradually acylated to phosphatidylcholine. Low concentrations (< or = 1 microM) of lyso-PC present in the interstitial medium of an EC-SMC coculture system were taken up primarily by the SMC. Lyso-PC produced a rapid two- to three-fold increase in SMC guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels, reaching a maximum in 1 min. This increase was associated with decreased SMC proliferation and increased calcium influx. The increase in intracellular calcium was inhibited by verapamil and KT5823, a specific cGMP-dependent kinase inhibitor, while a similar increase was produced by the membrane-permeant cGMP analogue 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. These studies suggest that SMC are the primary target for the biological effects of lyso-PC present in the vessel wall and that the responses are mediated by calcium influx, possibly due to opening of a verapamil-sensitive cGMP kinase-dependent channel.