RACK1 Regulates Angiotensin II-induced Contractions of SHR Preglomerular Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The preglomerular microcirculation of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is hypersensitive to angiotensin (ANG) II, and studies have shown that this is likely due to enhanced coincident signaling between G protein subunits α (Gα; released by ANG II) and βγ (Gβγ; released by G-coupled receptors) to active phospholipase C (PLC). Here we investigated the molecular basis for the enhanced coincident signaling between Gβγ and Gα in SHR preglomerular vascular smooth muscle cells (PGVSMCs). Because receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1; a scaffolding protein) organizes interactions between Gβγ, Gα, and PLC, we included RACK1 in this investigation. Cell fractionation studies demonstrated increased levels of membrane (but not cytosolic) Gβ, Gα, PLCβ, and RACK1 in SHR PGVSMCs compared with Wistar-Kyoto rat PGVSMCs. In SHR PGVSMCs, coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated RACK1 binding to Gβ and PLCβ, but only at cell membranes. Pertussis toxin (which blocks Gβγ) and U73122 (which blocks PLC) reduced membrane RACK1; however, RACK1 knockdown (shRNA) did not affect membrane levels of Gβ, Gα, or PLCβ In a novel gel contraction assay, RACK1 knockdown in SHR PGVSMCs attenuated contractions to ANG II and abrogated the ability of neuropeptide Y (which signals via Gβγ) to enhance ANG II-induced contractions. We conclude that in SHR PGVSMCs the enlarged pool of Gβγ and PLCβ recruits RACK1 to membranes and RACK1 then organizes signaling. Consequently, knockdown of RACK1 prevents coincident signaling between ANG II and the G pathway. This is the first study to implicate RACK1 in vascular smooth muscle cell contraction and suggests that RACK1 inhibitors could be effective cardiovascular drugs.