Entry
Name
Vascular smooth muscle contraction - Homo sapiens (human)
Description
The vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is a highly specialized cell whose principal function is contraction. On contraction, VSMCs shorten, thereby decreasing the diameter of a blood vessel to regulate the blood flow and pressure.
The principal mechanisms that regulate the contractile state of VSMCs are changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c). In response to vasoconstrictor stimuli, Ca2+ is mobilized from intracellular stores and/or the extracellular space to increase [Ca2+]c in VSMCs. The increase in [Ca2+]c, in turn, activates the Ca2+-CaM-MLCK pathway and stimulates MLC20 phosphorylation, leading to myosin-actin interactions and, hence, the development of contractile force. The sensitivity of contractile myofilaments or MLC20 phosphorylation to Ca2+ can be secondarily modulated by other signaling pathways. During receptor stimulation, the contractile force is greatly enhanced by the inhibition of myosin phosphatase. Rho/Rho kinase, PKC, and arachidonic acid have been proposed to play a pivotal role in this enhancement.
The signaling events that mediate relaxation include the removal of a contractile agonist (passive relaxation) and activation of cyclic nucleotide-dependent signaling pathways in the continued presence of a contractile agonist (active relaxation). Active relaxation occurs through the inhibition of both Ca2+ mobilization and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in VSMCs.
Class
Organismal Systems; Circulatory system
BRITE hierarchy
Pathway map
hsa04270 Vascular smooth muscle contraction
Ortholog table
Drug
D00106 Epoprostenol (USAN/INN)
D00227 Aminophylline (USP/INN)
D00255 Carvedilol (JP18/USP/INN)
D00319 Felodipine (JP18/USP/INN)
D00357 Losartan potassium (JP18/USP)
D00400 Valsartan (JP18/USP/INN)
D00437 Nifedipine (JP18/USP/INN)
D00485 Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (USP)
D00507 Phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride (USP)
D00509 Phentolamine mesylate (USP)
D00511 Phenylephrine hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D00517 Amyl nitrite (JP18/USP)
D00523 Irbesartan (JP18/USP/INN)
D00600 Labetalol hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D00607 Guanadrel sulfate (USAN)
D00608 Doxazosin mesylate (USP)
D00609 Prazosin hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D00610 Terazosin hydrochloride (USP)
D00615 Amlodipine besylate (USP)
D00616 Diltiazem hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D00617 Nicardipine hydrochloride (JP18/USAN)
D00618 Nisoldipine (JAN/USAN/INN)
D00619 Verapamil hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D00626 Candesartan cilexetil (JP18/USP)
D00627 Telmisartan (JP18/USP/INN)
D00629 Nitrendipine (JP18/USAN/INN)
D00631 Bepridil hydrochloride (USAN)
D00636 Amiodarone hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D00679 Ergotamine tartrate (JP18/USP)
D00680 Methylergonovine maleate (USP)
D00756 Tetrahydrozoline nitrate (JAN)
D00757 Xylometazoline hydrochloride (USP)
D00996 Epinephrine hydrochloride (JAN)
D00997 Tolazoline hydrochloride (JAN/USP)
D01017 Dipivefrin hydrochloride (USP)
D01019 Metaraminol bitartrate (JAN/USP)
D01020 Methoxamine hydrochloride (JAN)
D01021 Naphazoline nitrate (JP18)
D01022 Oxymetazoline hydrochloride (JAN/USP)
D01023 Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride (JAN/USP)
D01024 Tamsulosin hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D01104 Barnidipine hydrochloride (JAN)
D01145 Azelnidipine (JP18/INN)
D01163 Ergonovine maleate (USP)
D01171 Monatepil maleate (JAN/USAN)
D01204 Olmesartan medoxomil (JP18/USP)
D01224 Phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (JAN/USP)
D01290 Nicergoline (JP18/USAN/INN)
D01307 Midodrine hydrochloride (JAN/USP)
D01337 Epoprostenol sodium (JAN/USAN)
D01347 Tramazoline hydrochloride (JAN/USAN)
D01369 Bevantolol hydrochloride (JAN/USAN)
D01386 Ephedrine hydrochloride (JP18/USP)
D01444 Bunitrolol hydrochloride (JAN)
D01445 Ifenprodil tartrate (JP18)
D01453 Caffeine hydrate (JP18)
D01469 Amosulalol hydrochloride (JP18)
D01551 Beraprost sodium (JP18/USAN)
D01553 Manidipine hydrochloride (JP18)
D01571 Moxisylyte hydrochloride (JAN)
D01573 Etilefrine hydrochloride (JP18)
D01604 Efonidipine hydrochloride ethanolate (JAN)
D01692 Alfuzosin hydrochloride (JAN/USAN)
D01697 Colforsin daropate hydrochloride (JAN)
D01712 Theophylline sodium acetate (JAN)
D01771 Proxyphylline (JAN/INN)
D01810 Nicorandil (JP18/USAN/INN)
D01830 Arotinolol hydrochloride (JP18)
D01840 Fasudil hydrochloride (JAN)
D01849 Lercanidipine hydrochloride (JAN/USAN)
D01887 Bunazosin hydrochloride (JP18)
D01908 Nilvadipine (JP18/USAN/INN)
D01933 Vatanidipine hydrochloride (JAN)
D01952 L-Methylephedrine hydrochloride (JAN)
D01969 Gallopamil hydrochloride (JAN)
D02045 Benidipine hydrochloride (JP18)
D02082 Eprosartan mesylate (USAN)
D02109 dl-Methylephedrine hydrochloride (JP18)
D02149 Epinephrine bitartrate (JAN/USP)
D02268 Ergoloid mesylates (USP)
D02914 Amlodipine maleate (USAN)
D02935 Anaritide acetate (USAN)
D02939 Angiotensin amide (USAN)
D02983 Argipressin tannate (USAN)
D03115 Fasudil hydrochloride hydrate (JAN)
D03415 Carvedilol phosphate (USAN)
D03536 Clentiazem maleate (JAN/USAN)
D03648 Dapiprazole hydrochloride (USAN)
D03830 Diltiazem malate (USAN)
D03887 Domazoline fumarate (USAN)
D03914 Dronedarone hydrochloride (USP)
D04006 Enprofylline (USAN/INN)
D04018 Ephedrine sulfate (USP)
D04051 Erythrityl tetranitrate (USAN)
D04126 Saralasin acetate (USAN)
D04128 Fandosentan potassium (USAN)
D04184 Fiduxosin hydrochloride (USAN)
D04192 Flindokalner (USAN/INN)
D04532 Indoramin hydrochloride (USAN)
D05024 Mibefradil dihydrochloride (USAN)
D05148 Nesiritide citrate (USAN)
D05206 Norepinephrine bitartrate (USP)
D05395 Pelanserin hydrochloride (USAN)
D05429 Aminophylline hydrate (JP18)
D05442 Perhexiline maleate (USAN)
D05466 Phenylpropanolamine polistirex (USAN)
D05637 Propylhexedrine (USP/INN)
D05648 Pseudoephedrine polistirex (USAN)
D05649 Pseudoephedrine sulfate (USP)
D05801 Saprisartan potassium (USAN)
D06104 Theophylline sodium glycinate (USP)
D06129 Tiapamil hydrochloride (USAN)
D06213 Treprostinil (JAN/USAN/INN)
D06234 Trimazosin hydrochloride (USAN)
D06380 Zolertine hydrochloride (USAN)
D06394 Dabuzalgron hydrochloride (USAN)
D06672 Terlipressin (USAN/INN)
D07097 Isometheptene mucate (USP)
D07560 Adrenalone hydrochloride
D07682 Clazosentan sodium (JAN/USAN)
D07833 Dihydroergocristine mesilate (BAN)
D07834 Dihydroergocristine (BAN)
D07943 Fendiline hydrochloride
D08067 Azilsartan medoxomil (USAN)
D08207 Methylergometrine (INN)
D08284 Norepinephrine hydrochoride
D08368 Phenylpropanolamine (INN)
D08444 Propylhexedrine hydrochloride
D08517 Sitaxentan sodium (USAN)
D08571 Terlipressin acetate (JAN)
D08628 Treprostinil monosodium salt
D08864 Azilsartan (JAN/USAN/INN)
D08865 Azilsartan kamedoxomil (USAN)
D08941 Levamlodipine malate (USAN)
D08966 Phenylephrine bitartrate (USP)
D09392 Telcagepant potassium (USAN)
D09572 Riociguat (JAN/USAN/INN)
D09789 Kirenidipine hydrochloride (JAN)
D09794 Norepinephrine hydrochloride (JAN)
D09820 Vasopressin tannate (JAN)
D09833 Levosemotiadil fumarate (JAN)
D09842 dl-Methylephedrine saccharinate (JAN)
D09994 Selexipag (JAN/USAN/INN)
D10430 Treprostinil diolamine (USAN)
D10463 Ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate (JAN)
D10628 Esuberaprost (USAN/INN)
D10703 Esuberaprost sodium (USAN)
D10738 Verosudil hydrochloride (USAN)
D11031 Netarsudil mesylate (USAN)
D11051 Vericiguat (JAN/USAN/INN)
D11102 Tamolarizine hydrochloride (JAN)
D11142 Angiotensin II acetate (USAN)
D11441 Aprocitentan (USAN/INN)
D11446 Esuberaprost potassium (USAN)
D11585 Terazosin hydrochloride anhydrous
D11630 Aminophylline dihydrate
D11723 Levamlodipine maleate (USAN)
D11899 Zavegepant hydrochloride (USAN)
D11975 Centhaquine citrate (USAN)
D12005 Treprostinil palmitil (USAN/INN)
D12369 Etrumadenant (USAN/INN)
D12629 Treprostinil phosphate (USAN)
D12840 Zilebesiran sodium (JAN/USAN)
D12934 Dibutepinephrine (USAN/INN)
D12935 Dibutepinephrine hydrochloride (USAN)
Other DBs
Organism
Homo sapiens (human) [GN:
hsa ]
Gene
148 ADRA1A; adrenoceptor alpha 1A [KO:K04135 ]
147 ADRA1B; adrenoceptor alpha 1B [KO:K04136 ]
146 ADRA1D; adrenoceptor alpha 1D [KO:K04137 ]
185 AGTR1; angiotensin II receptor type 1 [KO:K04166 ]
1909 EDNRA; endothelin receptor type A [KO:K04197 ]
552 AVPR1A; arginine vasopressin receptor 1A [KO:K04226 ]
553 AVPR1B; arginine vasopressin receptor 1B [KO:K04227 ]
2767 GNA11; G protein subunit alpha 11 [KO:K04635 ]
3778 KCNMA1; potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M alpha 1 [KO:K04936 ]
157855 KCNU1; potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily U member 1 [KO:K05274 ]
3779 KCNMB1; potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M regulatory beta subunit 1 [KO:K04937 ]
10242 KCNMB2; potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M regulatory beta subunit 2 [KO:K04938 ]
27094 KCNMB3; potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M regulatory beta subunit 3 [KO:K04939 ]
27345 KCNMB4; potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M regulatory beta subunit 4 [KO:K04941 ]
775 CACNA1C; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 C [KO:K04850 ]
776 CACNA1D; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 D [KO:K04851 ]
778 CACNA1F; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 F [KO:K04853 ]
779 CACNA1S; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 S [KO:K04857 ]
3708 ITPR1; inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 [KO:K04958 ]
3709 ITPR2; inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 [KO:K04959 ]
3710 ITPR3; inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 3 [KO:K04960 ]
59 ACTA2; actin alpha 2, smooth muscle [KO:K12313 ]
72 ACTG2; actin gamma 2, smooth muscle [KO:K12315 ]
94274 PPP1R14A; protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 14A [KO:K12328 ]
4659 PPP1R12A; protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 12A [KO:K06270 ]
4660 PPP1R12B; protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 12B [KO:K12329 ]
54776 PPP1R12C; protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 12C [KO:K17457 ]
2768 GNA12; G protein subunit alpha 12 [KO:K04346 ]
23365 ARHGEF12; Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 12 [KO:K07532 ]
9138 ARHGEF1; Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 [KO:K12330 ]
9826 ARHGEF11; Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 11 [KO:K12331 ]
387 RHOA; ras homolog family member A [KO:K04513 ]
135 ADORA2A; adenosine A2a receptor [KO:K04266 ]
136 ADORA2B; adenosine A2b receptor [KO:K04267 ]
796 CALCA; calcitonin related polypeptide alpha [KO:K12332 ]
797 CALCB; calcitonin related polypeptide beta [KO:K12332 ]
10203 CALCRL; calcitonin receptor like receptor [KO:K04577 ]
10267 RAMP1; receptor activity modifying protein 1 [KO:K08447 ]
10266 RAMP2; receptor activity modifying protein 2 [KO:K08448 ]
10268 RAMP3; receptor activity modifying protein 3 [KO:K08449 ]
10335 IRAG1; inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor associated 1 [KO:K12337 ]
Compound
C01245 D-myo-Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate
Reference
Authors
Akata T
Title
Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating vascular tone. Part 2: regulatory mechanisms modulating Ca2+ mobilization and/or myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Ogut O, Brozovich FV
Title
Regulation of force in vascular smooth muscle.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Hilgers RH, Webb RC
Title
Molecular aspects of arterial smooth muscle contraction: focus on Rho.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Schlossmann J, Feil R, Hofmann F
Title
Signaling through NO and cGMP-dependent protein kinases.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Mehta PK, Griendling KK
Title
Angiotensin II cell signaling: physiological and pathological effects in the cardiovascular system.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Kim HR, Appel S, Vetterkind S, Gangopadhyay SS, Morgan KG
Title
Smooth muscle signalling pathways in health and disease.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Fukata Y, Amano M, Kaibuchi K
Title
Rho-Rho-kinase pathway in smooth muscle contraction and cytoskeletal reorganization of non-muscle cells.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Dimopoulos GJ, Semba S, Kitazawa K, Eto M, Kitazawa T
Title
Ca2+-dependent rapid Ca2+ sensitization of contraction in arterial smooth muscle.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Hynynen MM, Khalil RA
Title
The vascular endothelin system in hypertension--recent patents and discoveries.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Brain SD, Grant AD
Title
Vascular actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide and adrenomedullin.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Roman RJ
Title
P-450 metabolites of arachidonic acid in the control of cardiovascular function.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Surks HK
Title
cGMP-dependent protein kinase I and smooth muscle relaxation: a tale of two isoforms.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Vanhoutte PM
Title
Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations: the history.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Davis MJ, Hill MA
Title
Signaling mechanisms underlying the vascular myogenic response.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Fleming I.
Title
Cytochrome p450 and vascular homeostasis.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Carvajal JA, Germain AM, Huidobro-Toro JP, Weiner CP
Title
Molecular mechanism of cGMP-mediated smooth muscle relaxation.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Ko EA, Han J, Jung ID, Park WS
Title
Physiological roles of K+ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Woodard GE, Rosado JA
Title
Natriuretic peptides in vascular physiology and pathology.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Berry C, Touyz R, Dominiczak AF, Webb RC, Johns DG
Title
Angiotensin receptors: signaling, vascular pathophysiology, and interactions with ceramide.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Hirano K, Hirano M, Kanaide H
Title
Regulation of myosin phosphorylation and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Freeman EJ, Ruehr ML, Dorman RV
Title
ANG II-induced translocation of cytosolic PLA2 to the nucleus in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Murphy TV, Spurrell BE, Hill MA
Title
Cellular signalling in arteriolar myogenic constriction: involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation pathways.
Journal
Related pathway
KO pathway