Open AccessChemerin Elicits Potent Constrictor Actions via Chemokine‐Like Receptor 1 ( CMKLR 1), not G‐Protein‐Coupled Receptor 1 ( GPR 1), in Human and Rat Vasculature
Author(s) -
Kennedy Amanda J.,
Yang Peiran,
Read Cai,
Kuc Rhoda E.,
Yang Lucy,
Taylor Emily J. A.,
Taylor Colin W.,
Maguire Janet J.,
Davenport Anthony P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.116.004421
Subject(s) - medicine , chemerin , receptor , g protein coupled receptor , chemokine receptor , ccr1 , microbiology and biotechnology , c c chemokine receptor type 6 , chemokine , endocrinology , adipokine , biology , insulin resistance , insulin
Background Circulating levels of chemerin are significantly higher in hypertensive patients and positively correlate with blood pressure. Chemerin activates chemokine‐like receptor 1 ( CMKLR 1 or ChemR23) and is proposed to activate the “orphan” G‐protein‐coupled receptor 1 ( GPR 1), which has been linked with hypertension. Our aim was to localize chemerin, CMKLR 1, and GPR 1 in the human vasculature and determine whether 1 or both of these receptors mediate vasoconstriction. Methods and Results Using immunohistochemistry and molecular biology in conduit arteries and veins and resistance vessels, we localized chemerin to endothelium, smooth muscle, and adventitia and found that CMKLR 1 and GPR 1 were widely expressed in smooth muscle. C9 (chemerin149–157) contracted human saphenous vein ( pD 2 =7.30±0.31) and resistance arteries ( pD 2 =7.05±0.54) and increased blood pressure in rats by 9.1±1.0 mm Hg at 200 nmol. Crucially, these in vitro and in vivo vascular actions were blocked by CCX 832, which we confirmed to be highly selective for CMKLR 1 over GPR 1. C9 inhibited cAMP accumulation in human aortic smooth muscle cells and preconstricted rat aorta, consistent with the observed vasoconstrictor action. Downstream signaling was explored further and, compared to chemerin, C9 showed a bias factor=≈5000 for the G i protein pathway, suggesting that CMKLR 1 exhibits biased agonism. Conclusions Our data suggest that chemerin acts at CMKLR 1, but not GPR 1, to increase blood pressure. Chemerin has an established detrimental role in metabolic syndrome, and these direct vascular actions may contribute to hypertension, an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study provides proof of principle for the therapeutic potential of selective CMKLR 1 antagonists.